Zanthoxylum harrisii
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Zanthoxylum harrisii faces severe pressure from habitat destruction as Jamaica's montane forests are cleared for agriculture and development. The species' restricted range in the Blue Mountains makes it particularly vulnerable to localized disturbances, while its slow growth rate limits natural recovery from population declines. Climate change poses an additional threat as warming temperatures may force this cool-adapted species to higher elevations with increasingly limited suitable habitat.
Habitat
This endemic Jamaican species inhabits montane forests and forest edges in the Blue Mountains, typically occurring at elevations between 1,200-2,000 meters. It grows in cool, moist conditions within the island's remaining primary and secondary mountain forests.