CR

Vincetoxicum auritum

Unknown

Overview

Vincetoxicum auritum is a species of liana in the family Apocynaceae. It is endemic to the island of Hainan in southern China.

Vincetoxicum auritum faces severe population decline due to habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development across its limited Mediterranean range. The species is particularly vulnerable to grazing pressure from livestock, which damages its specialized rocky habitat requirements. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that affect the delicate moisture balance this plant requires for reproduction.

Threat summary

Habitat

This rare milkweed species inhabits rocky limestone outcrops, cliff faces, and stony slopes in Mediterranean scrubland environments. It requires well-drained calcareous soils and typically grows in crevices and ledges where it can access moisture while avoiding direct competition from larger vegetation.

Other threatened species in APOCYNACEAE

EN

Aspidosperma salgadense

Declining
EN

Rauvolfia steyermarkii

Declining
VU

Ceropegia rhynchantha

Declining
VU

Ceropegia loranthiflora

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Vincetoxicum auritum classified as Critically Endangered?
Vincetoxicum auritum is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Vincetoxicum auritum faces severe population decline due to habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development across its limited Mediterranean range. The species is particularly vulnerable to grazing pressure from livestock, which damages its specialized rocky habitat requirements. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that affect the delicate moisture balance this plant requires for reproduction.
Where does Vincetoxicum auritum live?
Vincetoxicum auritum occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Vincetoxicum auritum?
The main threats to Vincetoxicum auritum are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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