Psychotria luzoniensis is an endemic tree species in the Philippines which naturally thrives in low to high-elevation primary, disturbed, and secondary forest in various provinces and localities in Luzon to Mindanao islands. It has a calculated extent of occurrence (EOO) of 490,479.801 km². Though its population size is currently not known, a continuous decline is expected due to habitat-threatening effects of commodity-driven deforestation, logging operations, shifting agriculture, mining and urbanization. However, despite these threats affecting the species' population and natural habitat quality, it is still assessed globally as Least Concern (LC) given its numerous occurrences and wide distribution. Still, its conservation both, in situ and ex situ will be important in preventing the species from being pushed into a threatened category in the future.

Psychotria luzoniensis is an endemic tree species and widely distributed throughout Philippines. The species has recorded in the provinces of  Albay, Ilocos Norte, Iloilo, Laguna, Negros Oriental, Oriental Mindoro, Rizal, Sorsogon, Abra, Agusan del Norte, Aurora, Bataan, Benguet, Cagayan, Capiz, Cebu, La Union, Manila, Marinduque, Masbate, Mountain Province, Negros Occidental, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Palawan, Pampanga, Quezon and Zambales (Merrill 1915, Pelser et al. 2011 onwards, Pro-seeds Development Association, Inc. 2019, Coracero and Malabrigo 2020, Batuyong et al. 2020, GBIF.org 2022). It is found naturally growing in primary, disturbed, and secondary forests at an elevation ranging from 150-2,000 m (Pelser et al. 2011 onwards, GBIF.org 2022). It has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 490,479.801 km² and is continuously threatened by commodity-driven deforestation, logging operations, shifting agriculture, mining and urbanization (GFW 2021)

In 2019, 51 individuals of Psychotria luzoniensis were recorded by Pro-Seeds Development Association, Inc. in the province of Nueva Vizcaya. Its population size, however, remains uncertain due to lack of research initiatives– which can be addressed by further inventories and documentations. Moreover, its expected continuous population decline is attributed to subsequent forest losses within its provinces of occurrence induced by unsustainable shifting agriculture, commodity driven deforestation, urbanization and losses from forest plantations and natural forest harvesting (GFW 2021).

Psychotria luzoniensis  is a small tree about one to six m high (GBIF.org 2022). It is found naturally growing in primary, disturbed, and secondary forests at an elevation ranging from 150-2,000 m (Pelser et al. 2011 onwards, GBIF.org 2022). The phenology seasons of P. luzoniensis are yet to be determined through further research and documentations, but current herbarium records indicated flower collections during months of January-June and August-December while fruits were collected during the months of February, March and April (Pelser et al. 2011 onwards, GBIF.org 2022).

One of the main threats being faced by Psychotria luzoniensis is the continuous loss in the extent and quality of its natural habitat which is primarily induced by shifting agriculture, community-driven deforestation, mining, urbanization, and large-scale forestry operations. This was supported by GFW (2021) analysis where 411,788 hectares of tree cover were lost from the provinces of the species’ sites of occurrences from 2001 to 2020. 

Psychotria luzoniensis has medicinal uses. The fresh leaves are used for headaches. A decoction of different plant parts of P. luzoniensis including young leaves, roots, and bark are used for cleansing ulcers and infected wounds, cure dysentery, and  taken for intestinal pains, respectively (Ong and Brotonogoro 2016).

Psychotria luzoniensis is not listed in the Philippine Red List and therefore not protected by law against illegal collection or extraction from the wild (DENR-BMB 2017). The population of the species, however, is protected in situ because of its presence in declared protected areas (PAs) such as Cabadbaran Watershed, Northern Negros Natural Park, Bulusan Volcano Natural Park, and 10 other PAs. Although these protected areas (PA) are supported by law, conservation of the species' population is not guaranteed due to several threats such as presence of commodity-driven deforestation and losses from forest plantations and natural forest harvesting. These may cause rapid population decline if the activities will continue in the future. The species was also found in some identified Philippine Key Biodiversity Area (KBAs), which are Mt. Hilong-hilong, Cuernos de Negros, Victoria and Anepahan Ranges, and 7 other KBAs. Though these areas are not officially protected by any implementing legislation, they are considered as top priority conservation areas in the country where site-scale conservation efforts would be the the best means for species and habitat protections (FPE 2020). Aside from these, no other conservation actions has been identified for the species. Thus, species-specific conservation programmes are strongly recommended. Species introduction to various botanic gardens for ex situ conservation is also suggested to ensure its continuous survival.