Urceolina hartwegiana

Large scale deforestation has proven catastrophic to Eucharis and Caliphruria plants, which are unable to adapt to the higher light intensity of the clearings and soon perish (Meerow 1989). Meerow (1989) described this taxon as the most common species of Caliphruria, at one time found throughout the moist lower and middle montane forests of the slopes of the cordilleras central and west of 76°. Much of this forest type has been destroyed in western Colombia and the species is no longer abundant. In the course of fieldwork in 1984, Meerow (1989) was not able to find the species in its historical localities nor in the remnants of lower and middle montane forest that he explored. A similar situation is likely to occur for C. hartwegiana, although this species has generally been collected over 100 km further inland than C. subedentata.

The lower altitude subpopulations of this species were collected on the border between the Magdalena Valley montane forest and Magdalena Valley dry forest ecoregions, with the latter type having been seriously degraded. Agriculture, and overgrazing, especially from introduced goats, has destroyed much of the original habitat here. Few areas within the montane forest ecoregion are still in good condition due to large scale use of the slopes for coffee growing and farming, but also because more than 70% of the Colombian population lives in this region. There are several parks in the upper Magdalena basin, such as Guácharos, Puracé, Huila, Hermosas, Nevados, Picachos, Sumapaz and Chingaza, that conserve most of the high montane forests, mostly above 3,000 m asl, but unfortunately, below 2,000 m asl there are few conservation figures or initiatives, besides the purchasing of nature reserves by the civilian society with the aim to protect most of the remaining fragments of native forests. Even some of these private reserves, such as Finca Merenberg, are under threat — see conservation measures

Collection from the wild could also be threatening this species, with Caliphruria species being prized for their highly ornamental dark glossy foliage. However, harvesting levels, if any, are unknown.

This species has been collected from the Finca Merenberg private reserve. This was founded in 1950 by the Buch family from ca 150 ha forest and ca 150 ha cattle pasture. Unfortunately, the 150 ha of forest are dwindling, partly owing to the creation of more pasture by the owners (second-generation Buch), and partly due to selective forest clearance of hundreds of mature oak and other hardwoods, which has drastically changed the forest physiognomy. If a subpopulation of this species still exists within the reserve (last collected there in 1984), it is likely to be more protected, however, than any subpopulations outside the reserve. Presence of a subpopulation of this species in the reserve needs to be confirmed as soon as possible.

One collection was made near to Guaduas, and could have been from within the Cuenca Hidrografica del Rio San Francisco National Protective Forest Reserve. Three plants are growing at the Palm House in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew — these were derived from a batch of 26 plants sent to Syon House, Isleworth, however it is unclear of their provenance.