[6] Ileostylus micranthus is listed as endemic to Norfolk Island with a status of vulnerability under The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

[9] Ileostylus micranthus can be founded in locations that include the Northland Podocarpus totara forests, the Rotorua/Taupō area of the Taupō Volcanic Zone's regenerating scrub and forest, as well as the grey-scrub communities of Marlborough-Kaikōura, Banks Peninsula, Central Otago (the Lake District), and Dunedin.

[10] Ileostylus is also frequently connected to Cook Strait's coastal forests, saline marches, and portions of Nelson and Westland.

[11] Ileostylus micranthus has unique physiological characteristics and morphological structures that assist them to develop connections with its host plants.

The nutrients required for attachment and the growth of the first photosynthetic structures are supplied by maternal reserves when an Ileostylus micranthus seed is dispersed by birds to the host branch.

[4] Fully developed Ileostylus micranthus plants have a high use of water and nutrients (N and P), wide stomata and low stomatal density.

[14] Ileostylus micranthus accumulates the host plant species’ nutrients (C, K, N, P, Ca, and Mg) into their own tissues by making them soluble.

Seeds fail to germinate unless the fruit exterior, or exocarp, is removed, either manually or by passing through the gut of a bird.

[15] Ileostylus micranthus have unspecialized flowers which means that native and or introduced insect species can pollinate.

This could be related to a number of factors such as the competitive interactions being increased by the introduction of new insect species which are using resources such as honeydew for the intention of food supply.

Other species that are predators include the Brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula), Cats (Felis catus), Mustlelids and Mice (Mus musculus) which all prey on the dependable Ileostylus micranthus seed dispersers.

[17] The direct effect of these mammalian introduced species is the predation of the Ileostylus micranthus flowers and seeds, These predators impact the reproduction and survival rate due to the disturbance of the germination process (avian dispersers are unable to digest the seeds to remove the exocarp for germination).