Assessing the potential suitable distribution areas and conservation gaps of a rare and endangered plant species, Lirianthe henryi in Xishuangbanna

MaxEnt model was utilized to assess the potential suitable distribution areas of the rare and endangered species Lirianthe henryi in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, based on 96 occurrence records and 22 environmental variables. The model achieved an AUC value of 0.9804, indicating high predictive performance and reliability in estimating the species’ geographic distribution. According to the contribution rates of environmental variables, the species’ distribution is primarily influenced by precipitation (coldest quarter, seasonality, and warmest quarter), elevation, and temperature variables that are strongly correlated with elevation. The predicted suitable habitat was primarily concentrated in central Jinghong and the south-central region of Mengla, with a total area of 10,691.80 km². Conservation gap analysis revealed that the actual suitable habitat was only 5,055.46 km², with merely 1,986.87 km² falling within designated protected areas, leaving an unprotected gap of 3,068.59 km². To enhance the conservation of Lirianthe henryi, it is recommended to implement ex situ conservation strategies such as artificial propagation and reintroduction, promote its application in ecological restoration, and strengthen research efforts in plant biology and ecological research to ensure the long-term survival of the species.