Magnolio de Jardin (Magnolia jardinensis) is a Colombian magnolia only known from a single population from the Western mountain range in the municipality of Jardin in Colombia. It is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, as it faces a very high risk of going extinct in the near future.
Magnolio de Jardin is a canopy tree of humid forests, and grows on steep slopes at 1,900-2,800 m altitude. Surveys estimate the population to be in decline and to contain fewer than 50 mature individuals.
The species is threatened by habitat conversion and habitat fragmentation. In addition the species is targeted by selective logging. However, loggers have commented on how few individuals are now left in the wild and consequently the exploitation is less frequent.
Magnolio de Jardin was only formally described as a new species in 2009, but has since then become the emblematic tree of the municipality of Jardin and in August 2009 it was included in the municipality’s new coat of arm.
Did you know?
Nearly half of the world’s Magnolia species are threatened with extinction.
Read more about threatened Magnolias here.