CR

Wercklea flavovirens

Unknown

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Wercklea flavovirens faces severe threats from ongoing deforestation and agricultural expansion within its extremely limited range in Costa Rica's montane forests. The species' restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation, while climate change poses additional risks to the specific elevational zones where this endemic shrub occurs. Urban development and infrastructure projects continue to encroach upon remaining forest patches, further reducing available habitat for this critically endangered plant.

Threat summary

Habitat

Wercklea flavovirens is endemic to the montane cloud forests of Costa Rica, typically found at elevations between 1,200-2,000 meters. The species requires the humid, misty conditions characteristic of these high-altitude tropical forests, growing in the understory and forest edges where it benefits from filtered sunlight and consistent moisture.

Other threatened species in MALVACEAE

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Andeimalva machupicchensis

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Dombeya rariflora

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Wercklea flavovirens classified as Critically Endangered?
Wercklea flavovirens 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. Wercklea flavovirens faces severe threats from ongoing deforestation and agricultural expansion within its extremely limited range in Costa Rica's montane forests. The species' restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation, while climate change poses additional risks to the specific elevational zones where this endemic shrub occurs. Urban development and infrastructure projects continue to encroach upon remaining forest patches, further reducing available habitat for this critically endangered plant.
Where does Wercklea flavovirens live?
Wercklea flavovirens 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 Wercklea flavovirens?
The main threats to Wercklea flavovirens 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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