Distribution, Ecology and Conservation. Alcantarea galactea is a rupicolous species that is found on gneiss-granitic inselbergs between 300–630 m, under full sun. Along the type locality, the population is large, counting in the hundreds of individuals. So far, the species is only known to exist in Alfredo Chaves municipality, being observed at two other inselbergs close to the type collection place. It is important to mention that the areas surrounding the inselberg where this new taxon was found have been greatly altered for coffee plantations and creation of pastures; as well, some of the rocky outcrops along this area are now being mined for granite extraction. As highlighted by Barbará et al. (2007), the loss of forest patches that surround inselbergs may compromise the survival of floral visitors that act as pollinators of rupicolous species of Alcantarea. So, according to the criteria established by the IUCN (2001), A. galactea may be considered an endangered species, being sorted into the endangered category (EN) due to its restricted area of occurrence, small population size, and the possible decline in the quality of habitat (IUCN red list criteria, B2 a, biii). —SeeCoser et al. 2013
