14 PLANTS IN DANGER OF EXTINCTION IN PERU - BIOLOGY - 2025

Some of the endangered plants of Peru are the puya titanca, mahogany, cat's claw, amancaes flower, cinchona, queñoa or the hercampuri. Peru has more than 25 thousand species, which represents approximately 10% of the planet's flora. In addition, it has more than 7000 endemic species, plants originating in Peru, and that only develop in that region.

Unfortunately, human expansion practices such as logging, burning, overgrazing, and urbanization of virgin territories, make part of the Peruvian flora in vulnerable conditions.

List of plants in danger of extinction in Peru

Puja (

It is an endemic plant of the southern cone, more specifically, of Bolivia and Peru. It is a family of pineapples and is characterized by the "puyas" that stand out in its bunches.

Mahogany

It has a reddish wood that is highly valued in the timber market, due to its elegant appearance and how easy it is to carry out carving work.

It is in danger of extinction due to logging and indiscriminate burning, for the purpose of exploitation for fine furniture.

Cat's claw (

It is a climbing plant that grows in the virgin forests of Peru.

It is recognized for its medicinal properties as an anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antioxidant.

Flower of Amancaes (

This species appears only in the transitional stage between autumn and winter (June of each year), and is native to the Peruvian coasts.

Its flowers are yellow and it has a life of three days, on average.

Quina (

It is the national tree of Peru. Also known as cascarilla, kina or red quinine, this tree is widely known for its medicinal benefits.

Quina infusions are recommended as antipyretic, digestive, antiseptic and healing.

The Mangrove

This species grows, on average, between 3 and 5 meters in height. It has long branches, which intertwine with its external roots, forming the mangrove.

Modification of the natural course of water bodies, erosion and sedimentation of soils, represent risk factors for this species.

Not to (

It is characterized by developing at great heights, exceeding 3,200 meters of elevation above sea level.

Its habitat has been severely threatened by burning and logging, as well as the production of charcoal in its surroundings.

Orchid "Zapatito" (

It is native to Peru, and is protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), given the threat of extinction.

It grows in the tropical cloud forests of northern Peru, more than 1600 meters above sea level.

Carzo (

It develops towards the southeast of Peru, in the departments of Puno, Cuzco, Tacna and Ayacucho. This species is endemic, and is in critical danger of extinction.

Hercampuri (

It is located at more than 3,500 meters above sea level, throughout the entire Peruvian highlands, and usually remains alive for more than two years.

Medicinal properties are attributed to regulate the metabolism of fats and alleviate liver conditions. It is also used as a diuretic and anti-inflammatory.

Arrayán (

From the Myrtaceae family, the myrtle is located in the fog oases (hills) of Peru, specifically in the Arequipa region. Thus, it is a species of desert habitat and it is estimated that there are less than 600 specimens left.

The reasons for its critical situation are due to the excessive droughts in the area, as well as human activity (construction, mining, deforestation, etc.).

Canaquil gum (

Belonging to the Fabaceae family, they are a species of medium bushes that are located in the upper Marañón valley in northern Peru, being endemic to this semi-desert area.

It is believed that only about 150 or 200 specimens remain, with agriculture, logging and timber harvesting their main threats.

Axinaea (

Plant located in the Ecuadorian and Peruvian Andes. In the case of Peru, axinaea is located between 1000 and 3000 meters of altitude. It is difficult to determine the number of existing specimens, although there are reports that in the Piura area the population is decreasing rapidly.

Deforestation has been the main reason for its decline. The construction of railways or residential areas has also mitigated the options for these plants to reoccupy these lands.

Daphnopsis espinosae (

1. Calle, R. (2014). Trees of Peru. Recovered from: Ciencias.pe
2. Scientists will develop a new list of threatened species in the wild flora of Peru (2015). Diario Gestión Perú. Lima Peru. Recovered from: gestion.pe
3. The flora of Peru in danger of extinction (2016). El Popular newspaper. Lima Peru. Recovered from: elpopular.pe
4. The Peruvian flora (2014). National Service of Natural Areas Protected by the State. Lima Peru. Recovered from: sernanp.gob.pe
5. Plants in danger of extinction in Peru (2008). Recovered from: mundyeco.blogia.com/
6. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia (2017). Articles: Puya raimondii, Ismene amancaes, Haplorhus peruviana, Phragmipedium kovachii, Polylepis racemosa, Cinchona pubescens and Gentianella albo-rosea. Recovered from: es.wikipedia.org.