European Red List of Vascular Plants - European Commission

European Red List of 

Vascular Plants 

Melanie Bilz, Shelagh P. Kell, Nigel Maxted and Richard V. Lansdown

European Red List of 

Vascular Plants 

Melanie Bilz, Shelagh P. Kell, Nigel Maxted and Richard V. Lansdown 

IUCN Global Species Programme 

IUCN Regional Office for Europe 

IUCN Species Survival Commission

Published by the European Commission 

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ii

Table of contents 

Foreword ................................................................................................................................................................. v 

Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................................. vi 

Executive summary ................................................................................................................................................ ix 

1. Background........................................................................................................................................................1 

1.1 The European context....................................................................................................................................1 

1.2 European vascular plants: diversity and endemism.........................................................................................2 

1.3 Species threat status.......................................................................................................................................3 

1.4 Objectives of the assessment .........................................................................................................................3 

2. Assessment methodology...................................................................................................................................5 

2.1 Global and regional assessments....................................................................................................................5 

2.2 Geographic scope .........................................................................................................................................5 

2.3 Taxonomic scope...........................................................................................................................................5 

2.4 Assessment protocol......................................................................................................................................6 

2.5 Review workshop and evaluation of the assessments .....................................................................................6 

3. Plants listed in European and international policy instruments – selection and results ................................7 

3.1 Species selection ...........................................................................................................................................7 

3.2 Threat status of policy plants ......................................................................................................................10 

3.3 Spatial distribution of species.......................................................................................................................11 

3.3.1 Species richness .................................................................................................................................11 

3.3.2 Endemic species richness ...................................................................................................................13 

3.3.3 Distribution of threatened species......................................................................................................13 

3.4 Major threats to policy plants in Europe......................................................................................................14 

3.5 Population trends........................................................................................................................................16 

4. Crop wild relatives – species selection and results .........................................................................................17 

4.1 Background ................................................................................................................................................17 

4.1.1 Crop wild relatives: a critical resource for food security and economic stability in Europe .................17 

4.1.2 European crop wild relatives: diversity and endemism........................................................................18 

4.2 Selection of CWR species for assessment ....................................................................................................19 

4.3 Threat status of CWR..................................................................................................................................23 



4.4.2 Endemic species richness....................................................................................................................29 

4.4.3 Distribution of threatened species.......................................................................................................29 

4.5 Major threats to CWR in Europe................................................................................................................30 


5. European aquatic plants – selection and results .............................................................................................33 

5.1 Species selection .........................................................................................................................................33 

5.2 Threat status of aquatic plants .....................................................................................................................35 



5.3.2 Endemic species richness ...................................................................................................................38 

5.3.3 Distribution of threatened species......................................................................................................38 

5.4 Major threats to aquatic plants in Europe....................................................................................................40 


iii

6. Discussion .......................................................................................................................................................43 

6.1 Status and population trends of European vascular plants............................................................................43 

6.2 Major threats to European vascular plants...................................................................................................45 

6.3 Protection of habitats and species in Europe ...............................................................................................46 

6.4 Protection of habitats and species in the EU................................................................................................48 

6.5 Conservation management of vascular plants in the EU .............................................................................49 

6.6 Extinction risk versus conservation status....................................................................................................50 

6.7 Red List versus priority for conservation action...........................................................................................51 

7. Recommendations ...........................................................................................................................................53 

7.1 Overview and recommendations for conservation measures.........................................................................53 

7.2 Application of project outputs.....................................................................................................................54 

7.3 Future work.................................................................................................................................................54 

References...............................................................................................................................................................56 

Appendix 1. Threatened and extinct policy plants at the European and EU 27 level ...............................................61 

Appendix 2. Red List status of selected European vascular plants............................................................................70 

Appendix 3. Methodology for spatial analyses ......................................................................................................124 

Appendix 4. Example of species summary and distribution map ..........................................................................125 

iv

Foreword 

Europe is a continent rich in 

natural and cultural heritage, with a 

diverse range of habitat conditions 

from dry Mediterranean maquis in 

the south to the Arctic tundra of 

the far north. 

Possibly more than anywhere else in the world the 

European landscapes have been changed by human 

activities so that now the continent is covered with a 

mosaic of natural and semi-natural habitats surrounding 

urbanized areas. Although bringing higher diversity, this 

modification has obviously also placed great pressures 

on our wildlife and natural areas. In consequence, 

biodiversity loss is an enormous challenge in the 

EU today, with around one in four species currently 

threatened with extinction and 88% of fish stocks overexploited 

or significantly depleted. 

In line with global commitments made in Nagoya in 

October 2010, where world leaders adopted a package 

of measures to address global biodiversity loss over the 

coming decade, the European Commission has adopted 

in May 2011 an ambitious new strategy to halt the loss 

of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the EU by 2020. 

There are six main targets, and 20 actions to help Europe 

reach its goal. 

The six targets cover: 

1. full implementation of EU nature legislation to 

protect biodiversity 

2. better protection for ecosystems, and more use of 

green infrastructure 

3. more sustainable agriculture and forestry 

4. better management of fish stocks 

5. tighter controls on invasive alien species 

6. a bigger EU contribution to averting global 

biodiversity loss 

Numerous scientific studies show that biodiversity in 

Europe has been declining rapidly for some time during 

periods of expansion and intensification of land use. The 

reporting process under Article 17 of the EU Habitats 

Directive underlines this fact as most species and habitats 

of community interest are still not under a favourable 

conservation status. 

Regional European Red Lists are another important tool 

to scientifically assess and communicate the status of 

species. They usefully complement the reporting under 

the Habitats Directive as they usually address all species 

in a specific taxonomic group, not just those protected by 

EU legislation. They hence give important complementary 

and comprehensive information about the situation of 

biodiversity in Europe. 

This first assessment of Europe’s Vascular Plants has 

assessed 1,826 species. The assessment comprises three 

groups: plants included in European and international 

policy instruments, selected priority crop wild relatives, 

and aquatic plant species present in Europe. The assessment 

shows us that at least 467 species are threatened. 

Assessments carried out for other taxonomic groups at 

European level show that 44% of freshwater molluscs, 

37% of freshwater fishes, 23% of amphibians, 19% of 

reptiles, 15% of mammals and dragonflies, 13% of birds, 

and 9% of butterflies are threatened, groups that have been 

comprehensively assessed in Europe. Additional European 

Red Lists assessing a selection from species groups have 

shown that 20% of assessed terrestrial molluscs and 11% 

of assessed saproxylic beetles are also threatened. 

Unfortunately, the drivers for these declines are mostly 

still in place. Intensified livestock farming, recreational 

activities, tourism and urban development, wild 

plant collection, invasive alien species, natural system 

modification and pollution pose the main threats for 

vascular plants. 

What can we as Europeans do about this First and 

foremost, we need to fully implement the existing European 

legislation. The EU Habitats and Birds Directives are 

the main pieces of legislation ensuring the protection of 

Europe’s nature. The Natura 2000 network of protected 

sites and the efforts to conserve and restore biodiversity in 

the wider countryside are helping to guarantee its future 

conservation. But the challenge is a wider one, as the new 

EU Biodiversity Strategy shows. Sustainable use of our 

wider environment and the maintaining of ecosystem 

services have come to the centre of our attention. 

I hope that this European Red List for Vascular Plants 

will add another piece of evidence for the fact that efforts 

aimed at halting the loss of biodiversity need a major boost 

in the coming years. 

Pia Bucella 

Director 

Directorate B: Nature, Biodiversity & Land Use 

European Commission 

v

Acknowledgements 

All of IUCN’s Red Listing processes rely on the willingness 

of experts to contribute and pool their collective 

knowledge to make the most reliable estimates of species 

status. Without their enthusiastic commitment to species 

conservation, this kind of regional overview would not 

be possible. 

Coordination of the European Red List of Vascular Plants 

was carried out by Melanie Bilz (IUCN Global Species 

Programme). Shelagh Kell and Nigel Maxted (University 

of Birmingham; IUCN Crop Wild Relative Specialist 

Group) coordinated the selection, data collection and 

assessments of the European crop wild relatives while 

Richard Lansdown (Ardeola Environmental Services) 

coordinated the compilation of data and the assessments 

of European aquatic plants. Hassan Rankou and Mike 

Fay (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; IUCN Orchid 

Specialist Group) carried out the assessments of all 

European orchids. Chapter 3 of this report was written 

by Melanie Bilz, chapter 4 was written by Shelagh Kell 

and Nigel Maxted while chapter 5 was written by Richard 

Lansdown and Melanie Bilz. All four authors contributed 

to the remaining chapters. Ana Nieto was central to this 

project as she provided support and guidance on finance, 

facilitation, data editing, review, maps, and fundraising. 

She also organized the two evaluation workshops. 

Annabelle Cuttelod, Helen Temple, Craig Hilton- 

Taylor and Jean-Christophe Vié provided guidance, 

encouragement, and good advice throughout the project. 

Teresa Oliveros Martinez, Anna Rosenberg, Maureen 

Martindell, Amy Burden, and Hugo Ruiz Lozano 

assisted substantially with financial management of the 

project. Vineet Katariya, Adrian Hughes, Yichuan Shi, 

and Jim Ragle provided high-quality support on GIS and 

database issues. 

For the organisation and hosting of the workshop on crop 

wild relatives in Cascais (Portugal) in April 2010 and for 

the financial support we would like to thank Cascais 

Natura and Cascais City Council. For the organisation 

and hosting of the workshop on policy species in Brest 

(France) in June 2010, we would like to thank the 

Conservatoire Botanique National de Brest. Our hosts 

arranged for effective working environments in beautiful 

surroundings and we enjoyed their warm hospitality. 

For facilitation at the workshop we would like to thank 

Annabelle Cuttelod, Ana Nieto, Leah Collett, Maiko 

Lutz, Amy Burden, and Maria Dolores Peraza Zurita. 

This project had the help of many volunteers who 

dedicated their time to edit and review assessments and 

to create maps. For the policy plants and aquatic plant 

species we would like to thank Maria Dolores Peraza 

Zurita, Diego Juffe Bignoli, Yichuan Shi, Pip Goodwin, 

Rebecca Catford, Joe Wood, Jennifer Love, Pramod 

Lamsal, Joe Osborne, and Thomas Nott. For the crop 

wild relative species, we extend our gratitude to staff and 

students Joana Magos Brehm, Serene Hargreaves, Joe 

Osborne, and Hannah Fielder. 

For advice on the species selection we would like to 

thank Jane Smart, Hugh Synge, Elizabeth Radford and 

the Planta Europa Steering Committee. For the provision 

of substantial data sets we would like to thank Werner 

Greuter, Eckhard Raab-Straube and Anton Guentsch 

(The Botanic Garden Berlin-Dahlem, Germany), 

Helmut Knüpffer (The Leibniz Institute of Plant 

Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Germany), 

John Wiersema and Stephanie Greene (The United 

States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research 

Service, USA), Suzanne Sharrock and Meirion Jones 

(Botanic Gardens Conservation International), Milko 

Skofic (Bioversity International), Graham French (Joint 

Nature Conservation Committee, UK), José M. Iriondo 

(Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Spain), Mauricio Parra- 

Quijano (Centre of Plant Genetic Resources of Spain and 

Universidad Polytechnica de Madrid, Spain), Samantha 

Dobbie (University of Birmingham, UK), Doug Evans 

and Dominique Richard (European Topic Centre on 

Biological Diversity, Muséum National d’Histoire 

Naturelle, France), and Stephane Buord and Jean Yves 

Lesouëf (Conservatoire Botanique National de Brest, 

France). We would like to thank the project Atlas de 

Flora Amenazada by the Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, 

y Medio Rural y Marino, and Sociedad Española de 

Biología de la Conservación de Plantas, Spain, for access 

to their national red list information, data, maps and 

images. 

Many of the experts that contributed to this project 

are members of an IUCN/SSC Specialist Group 

(SG) and we would like to thank the chairs and Red 

List Authorities of those groups for mobilising their 

network and for supporting this project: Arctic Plant 

SG, Conifer SG, Crop Wild Relative SG, Global Tree 

SG, Macaronesian Island Plant SG, Mediterranean 

Island Plant SG, Medicinal Plants SG, and Orchid 

SG. 

vi

Data were provided by many experts throughout Europe and 

we would like to thank in particular the following people 

for their major contribution to this project (in alphabetical 

order by family name – we apologize if we have inadvertently 

missed anyone): 

Thomas Abeli 

Aurelio Acevedo Rodríguez 

Carlos Aguiar 

Aulikki Alanen 

Antun Alegro 

Alessandro Alessandrini 

Paulo Alves 

Maria Ansaldi 

Mora Aronsson 

Pier Virgilio Arrigoni 

Åsmund Asdal 

Gianluigi Bacchetta 

Stefano Bacci 

Steven Bachman 

Simonetta Bagella 

Ángel Bañares Baudet 

Giuseppina Barberis 

Francisco Barreto Caldas 

Ioannis Bazos 

Gianni Bedini 

Erwin Bergmeier 

Regina Berjano Pérez 

A. Bernardello 

Karl-Georg Bernhardt 

Alessio Bertolli 

Gabriel Blanca 

Emanuele Bocchieri 

Éva Bőhm 

Mauro Bovio 

Ferdinando Branca 

John Bruinsma 

Gabriela Buffa 

Zofia Bulińska 

Stéphane Buord 

Baltasar Cabezudo Artero 

Maria do Carmo Tavares 

Eduardo Carqué Álamo 

Angelino Carta 

Robert Caruana 

José Augusto Carvalho 

Miguel Carvalho 

Charalambos S. Christodoulou 

D. Cobo 

Manuel B. Crespo 

Gilberto M. Cruz Trujillo 

Aaron P. Davis 

Pinelopi Delipetrou 

A. Della 

Eduardo Manuel Ferreira Dias 

Elisabeth Dodinet 

Gianniantonio Domina 

Domizia Donnini 

Alena Dostalova 

David Draper 

Maria Cristina Duarte 

Ehsan Dulloo 

Garifalia Economou 

Pavol Eliás 

Stefan Ericsson 

Aljos Farjon 

Mike Fay 

Giuseppe Fenu 

Viera Feráková 

Francisco Fernandes 

Bruno Foggi 

Brian Ford-Lloyd 

Lothar Frese 

Ewan Gage 

Fabio Garbari 

Antonio García Gallo 

Pablo Garcia Murillo 

Domenico Gargano 

Rodolfo Gentili 

Király Gergely 

Lorenzo Gianguzzi 

Guillaume Gigot 

Ricardo González González 

Thomas Gregor 

Patrick Grillas 

Jaime Güemes 

Andreas Gygax 

Andreas Ch. Hadjichambis 

Thomas Hadjikyriakou 

Iva Hodálová 

Vojtech Holubec 

Zdenka Hroudova 

Laetitia Hugot 

Irina Illarionova 

José Iriondo 

Anne Jäkäläniemi 

Nejc Jogan 

Nicolas Juillet 

C. Kailis 

Zdenek Kaplan 

Andreas Katsiosis 

Shelagh Kell 

Eija Kemppainen 

Chris Kik 

Michael Kleih 

Helena Korpelainen 

Gregor Koslowski 

Hörður Kristinsson 

Angelos Kyratzis 

Thomas Kyriacou 

Juozas Labokas 

Richard Lansdown 

Cesare Lasen 

Danna Leaman 

Joana Magos Brehm 

Federico Mangili 

Rossella Marcucci 

Karol Marhold 

Manuel V. Marrero Gómez 

Águedo Marrero Rodríguez 

Stefano Marsili 

Katia Martín Cáceres 

Victoria Eugenia Martín Osorio 

Oleg Maslovky 

Efisio Mattana 

Nigel Maxted 

Leopoldo Medina 

Viktor Melnyk 

Pavol Mereďa 

Ricardo Mesa Coello 

Zbigniew Mirek 

Justin Moat 

Chiara Montagnani 

Bertrand de Montmollin 

Juan Carlos Moreno Saiz 

Juan Francisco Mota Poveda 

José Naranjo Suárez 

Patricia Navas 

Valeria Negri 

Baudewijn Odé 

Santiago Ortiz 

María Ángeles Ortiz Herrera 

Joe Osborne 

Päivi Paalamo 

Ángel Palomares Martínez 

Constantinos Papasavvas 

Demetra Paraskeva-Hadjichambi 

Julio Pastor 

Simonetta Peccenini 

Julio Peñas 

vii

Andrés Vicente Pérez Latorre 

Lorenzo Peruzzi 

Antoaneta Petrova 

Danka Petrović 

Halina Piękoś-Mirkowa 

Livio Poldini 

Cristiano Pontecorvo 

Miguel Porto 

Gert Poulsen 

Filippo Prosser 

Hassan Rankou 

Valerijus Rašomavičius 

Jorge Alfredo Reyes Betancort 

Tim Rich 

Gabriele Rinaldi 

Octavio Rodríguez Delgado 

Graziano Rossi 

Fred Rumsey 

Terhi Ryttäri 

Per Harald Salvesen 

Isabel Santana López 

Annalisa Santangelo 

Arnoldo Santos Guerra 

Hanno Schaefer 

Stephan Scholz 

Tamara Smekalova 

Dubravka Soljan 

Heidi Solstad 

Jitka Stepankova 

Vladimir Stevanović 

Darrin Stevens 

Silvia Strajeru 

Salvador Talavera Lozano 

François Tapia 

Philip Thomas 

Anna Trias Blasi 

Alessandro Tribulato 

Angelo Troia 

Takis Tsintides 

Dana Turonova 

Katya Uzundzhalieva 

Clara de Vega Durán 

Åslaug Viken 

Rudolf Vögel 

Gabor Vörösváry 

Kevin Walker 

Klaus van de Weyer 

Thomas Wilhalm 

Paul Wilkin 

Tim Wilkins 

Philip Wilson 

Peter Wind 

Elena Zappa 

Dimitri Zubov 

We are very grateful for the contributions of several 

members of the Societa Botanica Italiana and the 

Conservatoires Botaniques Nationaux in France that are 

not named above. We would furthermore like to thank 

the many people who contributed images for publication 

with the assessments. 

The European Plants Assessments and consequently 

this report were requirements of the framework of 

a service contract with the European Commission 

(Service Contract No. 070307/2007/483311/MAR/ 

B2). We would like to thank Isabel Lourenco De 

Faria, for ensuring the smooth coordination between 

Expert participants at the European Plants Red List workshop, June 2010, Brest, France. 

Photograph © Melanie Bilz. 

the project and the European Commission and Frank 

Vassen for his constructive comments and feedbacks. 

Additional financial support for the crop wild relative 

workshop was provided by Cascais Natura and Cascais 

City Council. Substantial in-kind support for the crop 

wild relative assessments was provided by the University 

of Birmingham through provision of staff time and 

resources. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or 

recommendations expressed in this material are those of 

the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of 

the European Commission or the International Union 

for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). 

Expert participants at the European Crop Wild Relatives Red List workshop, April 2010, 

Cascais, Portugal. Photograph © Melanie Bilz. 

viii

Executive summary 

Aim 

The European Red List is a review of the conservation 

status of c. 6,000 European species (mammals, reptiles, 

amphibians, dragonflies, butterflies, freshwater fishes, and 

selected groups of beetles, molluscs, and vascular plants) 

according to IUCN regional Red Listing guidelines. 

It identifies those species that are threatened with 

extinction at the regional level – in order that appropriate 

conservation action can be taken to improve their status. 

This Red List publication summarises results for selected 

vascular plants in Europe. 

Scope 

In Europe, there are more than 20,000 species of vascular 

plants 1 . This Red List includes 1,826 selected species of 

vascular plants native to Europe or naturalised before AD 

1500. The species selected belong to one or more of three 

groups: 

■■ Plants listed under European or global policy 

instruments such as the Habitats Directive, Bern 

Convention, Convention on International Trade in 

Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) 

and the EU Wildlife Trade Regulation 

■■ Crop wild relatives (CWR) of priority crops 

■■ Aquatic plant species 

Geographical scope is continent-wide, extending from 

Iceland in the west to the Urals in the east, and from 

Franz Josef Land in the north to the Canary Islands in 

the south. The Caucasus region is not included. Red 

List assessments were made at two regional levels: for 

geographical Europe, and for the 27 current Member 

States of the European Union. 

Status assessment 

The status of all species was assessed using the IUCN Red 

List Criteria (IUCN 2001), which are the world’s most 

widely accepted system for measuring extinction risk. All 

assessments followed the Guidelines for Application of 

IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional Levels (IUCN 2003). 

These assessments were compiled from information from 

a large network of experts from almost every country and 

from an extensive literature review. The assessments were 

then completed and reviewed during two workshops 

held in Cascais (Portugal) and Brest (France) through 

discussions as well as through email correspondence 

with relevant experts. Assessments are available on the 

European Red List website and data portal: 

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/conservation/ 

species/redlist and http://www.iucnredlist.org/europe. 

Results 

Three groups of vascular plants have been assessed, 

totalling 1,826 species among which 467 have been 

identified as threatened with extinction. Species listed 

in policy instruments have a high number of threatened 

species with at least 44.9% at European and 47.3% at EU 

27 level. A further 9.5% are classed as Near Threatened. 

This high percentage can be explained with the fact that 

this group of species had already been identified as being 

of conservation concern. Of the CWR species assessed, at 

least 11.5% are threatened at European level and 10.5% 

in the EU 27 member states, with another 4.5% that are 

Near Threatened. The group of aquatic plants shows that 

at least 6.6% of the species in Europe and 7.2% in the 

EU 27 are threatened with extinction. Moreover, 7.4% 

are Near Threatened. 

By comparison, 44% of freshwater molluscs, 37% of 

freshwater fishes, 23% of amphibians, 19% of reptiles, 

15% of mammals and dragonflies, 13% of birds, and 

9% of butterflies are threatened, groups that have been 

comprehensively assessed in Europe (Cuttelod et al. 

2011, Freyhof and Brooks 2011, Temple and Cox 2009, 

Cox and Temple 2009, Temple and Terry 2007, Kalkman 

et al. 2010, BirdLife International 2004a, van Swaay et 

al. 2010). Additional European Red Lists assessing a 

selection from species groups have shown that 20% of 

terrestrial molluscs and 11% of the saproxylic beetles are 

also threatened (Cuttelod et al. 2011, Nieto and Alexander 

2010). No other groups have yet been comprehensively 

assessed at the European level. Looking at the population 

trend, it is noted that 38.4% of the policy plants, 15.8% 

of the aquatic plants and 10.9% of the crop wild relatives 

1 Source: Euro+Med Plantbase 2006-2011 

ix

are declining. But more interestingly it needs to be noted 

that the population trend is unknown for 48.2% of the 

crop wild relatives, 36.7% of the policy plants and 18.6% 

of the aquatic plants. 

The main current threats emerging in the analysis were: 

Intensified livestock farming, recreational activities, 

tourism and urban development, wild plant collection, 

invasive alien species, natural system modifications and 

pollution. 

Conclusions and recommendations 

■■ Threatened European vascular plants require 

further conservation actions to improve their status. 

In particular: ensuring the adequate protection and 

management of important plant habitats, identifying 

hotspots of diversity that may then be subject to more 

active conservation, drawing up and implementing 

Species Action Plans for threatened species, improving 

land management policies, and revising national 

and European legislation, taking account of species 

identified as threatened where needed. 

■■ It is important to conserve both inter- and intraspecific 

genetic diversity to ensure that the full range 

of genetic diversity of a species is protected and in 

the case of CWR, available for utilization for crop 

improvement. For the in situ conservation of CWR 

genetic diversity, the establishment of a European 

network of genetic reserves is needed. For all vascular 

plant species, the maximum range of ecogeographic 

diversity should be included in the European protected 

area network. 

■ ■ In situ conservation measures need to be 

accompanied by adequate ex situ maintenance in 

botanic gardens or gene bank collections. There is 

a need for systematic gap analysis of all threatened 

and priority species to ensure they are being actively 

conserved both in situ and ex situ. 

■■ 

■■ 

■■ 

■■ 

■■ 

The knowledge base on European vascular plants 

needs to be expanded. The taxonomic coverage of 

this Red List needs to be increased as only around 8% 

of Europe’s plant species have been assessed in this 

project. Species identified as Data Deficient should be 

a priority for fieldwork and research. 

A co-ordinated system of vascular plant recording 

and monitoring needs to be established in every 

European country to improve future assessments 

and assess the impact of conservation measures and 

future environmental change. This will improve our 

knowledge of population trends which is currently 

lacking for many European plant species. 

There is an urgent need for a coordinated European 

approach to CWR conservation, given the growing 

problem of global food insecurity resulting from climate 

change and other threats (as well as the global interdependence 

of nations in terms of food security). The 

results of this initiative show that a significant proportion 

of the CWR species assessed are threatened or are likely 

to become threatened in the near future and that some 

crop complexes, such as the cultivated beets, brassicas, 

oat, lettuce and wheat are particularly at risk – these 

species should be subject to immediate conservation gap 

analysis and concerted in situ and ex situ actions. 

Biodiversity and agrobiodiversity conservation 

activities need to be integrated and coordinated. 

Conservation actions are often hindered through 

the unnecessary departmentalisation of European 

biodiversity and agrobiodiversity communities 

leading to duplication of knowledge, poor integration 

of conservation action and limited implementation – 

working more closely together will itself yield better 

conservation outcomes. 

The network of European plant experts needs to 

be strengthened by providing training, improving 

communication, and mobilisation of financial resources. 

Specialist Groups play a vital role in this network and 

in the implementation of conservation measures. 

x

1. Background 

1.1 The European context 

Europe is one of the seven traditional continents of 

the Earth, although physically and geologically it is the 

westernmost peninsula of Eurasia. Europe is bound 

to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the west by the 

Atlantic Ocean, to the south by the Mediterranean Sea, 

and to the southeast by the Black Sea and the Caucasus 

Mountains. In the east, Europe is separated from Asia by 

the Ural Mountains and the Caspian Sea (see Figure 1). It 

is the world’s second-smallest continent in terms of area, 

covering approximately 10,400,000 square kilometres 

(4,010,000 square miles) or 2% of the Earth’s surface. In 

terms of human population, Europe is the third-largest 

continent (after Asia and Africa) with a population of 

some 731 million – about 11% of the world’s population. 

Europe is the most urbanised and, together with Asia, 

the most densely populated continent in the world. 

The European Union, comprising 27 Member States, is 

Europe’s largest political and economic entity. It is the 

world’s largest economy with an estimated GDP in 2008 

of 18.9 trillion US dollars (Central Intelligence Agency 

2009). Per-capita GDP in many EU states is among the 

highest in the world, and rates of resource consumption 

and waste production are correspondingly high – the 

EU 27’s “ecological footprint” has been estimated to 

exceed the region’s biological capacity (the total area of 

cropland, pasture, forest, and fishing grounds available 

to produce food, fibre and timber, and absorb waste) by 

2.6 times (WWF 2007). 

The EU’s Member States stretch from the Arctic Circle 

in the north to the Mediterranean in the south, and 

from the Atlantic coast in the west to the Pannonian 

steppes in the east – an area containing a great diversity 

of landscapes and habitats and a wealth of flora and 

fauna. European biodiversity includes 489 species of 

birds (IUCN 2011), 260 species of mammals (Temple 

and Terry 2007, 2009), 151 species of reptiles, 85 species 

of amphibians, 546 species of freshwater fishes (Kottelat 

and Freyhof 2007), 20-25,000 species of vascular 

plants (Euro+Med Plantbase 2006-2011) and well over 

100,000 species of invertebrates (Fauna Europaea 2004). 

The Mediterranean part of Europe, which is particularly 

rich in plant and animal species, has been recognised as 

Figure 1. Regional assessments were made for two areas – geographical Europe and the EU 27 

1

a global “biodiversity hotspot” (Mittermeier et al. 2004, 

Cuttelod et al. 2008). 

Europe has arguably the most highly fragmented 

landscape of all continents, and only a tiny fraction 

of its land surface can be considered as wilderness. 

For centuries, most of Europe’s land has been used by 

humans to produce food, timber and fuel and to provide 

living space, and currently in western Europe, more than 

80% of land is under some form of direct management 

(European Environment Agency 2007). Consequently, 

European species are to a large extent dependent upon 

semi-natural habitats created and maintained by human 

activity, particularly traditional, non-intensive forms of 

land management. These habitats are under pressure from 

agricultural intensification, urban sprawl, infrastructure 

development, tourism pressure, land abandonment, 

acidification, eutrophication and desertification. 

Many species are directly affected by overexploitation, 

persecution and impacts of alien invasive species, as well 

as climate change being set to become an increasingly 

serious threat in the future. Europe is a huge, diverse 

region and the relative importance of different threats 

varies widely across its biogeographic regions and 

countries. Although considerable efforts have been made 

to protect and conserve European habitats and species 

(e.g. see Sections 6.3, 6.4, 6.5), biodiversity decline and 

the associated loss of vital ecosystem services (such as water 

purification, crop pollination and carbon sequestration) 

continues to be a major concern in the region. 

1.2 European vascular plants: diversity 

and endemism 

Plants are a fundamental part of ecosystems, forming 

their physical structure, and are of essential importance to 

the functioning of the planet’s atmosphere. The majority 

of plants conduct photosynthesis, a process that by using 

sunlight energy, converts carbon dioxide and water into 

organic compounds (such as sugar), water and most 

importantly into oxygen. Plant species provide habitat, 

enable the life of animal species and are primary producers 

for the food web. Plant cover significantly influences the 

climate, water resources and soil stability and composition 

(Hamilton and Hamilton 2006). Humankind has relied 

on plants for thousands of years for food, shelter, fuel, 

fibre, clothing, for medicinal purposes and for their 

ornamental and cultural value. 

The publication on Centres of Plant Diversity (WWF 

and IUCN 1994) stated that there are 12,500 vascular 

plant species in Europe with 28% of the plants being 

endemic to the region. More recent figures indicate that 

the total number of vascular plant taxa in Europe is 20- 

25,000 (Euro+Med Plantbase 2006-2011). Twenty four 

centres of plant diversity have been identified of which 

nine occur on the Iberian Peninsula and 14 are mountain 

ranges (e.g. Alps, Pyrenees, Troodos Mountains and 

Carpathians) (WWF and IUCN 1994). The main natural 

vegetation is mixed forests. Agricultural expansion and 

human settlements have reduced the forest cover to 30% 

in Europe (Sharrock and Jones 2009). 

The areas with the highest plant richness in Europe are 

in the Mediterranean region. The Iberian Peninsula and 

Balearic Islands have around 7,500 taxa (species and 

subspecies) (Castroviejo 2010), followed by Italy with 

6,711 species (Conti et al. 2005). In Greece, the total 

number of species is around 5,700 (Strid and Tan 1997) 

and in France, it reaches 4,630 species (Walter and Gillett 

1998). However, per unit area Greece is the country with 

the highest concentration of native plant species. 

The Iberian Peninsula is an important area of plant diversity in Europe. Two threatened plant species that are endemic to Spain: Silene hifacensis (left) and Helianthemum alypoides. 

Photographs © Javier Fabado Alós and Juan Mota Poveda/Proyecto AFA. 

2

1.3 Species threat status 

The conservation status of plants and animals is one 

of the most widely used indicators for assessing the 

condition of ecosystems and their biodiversity. It also 

provides an important tool in establishing priorities 

for species conservation. At the global scale, the best 

source of information on the conservation status of 

plants and animals is the IUCN Red List of Threatened 

Species (see www.iucnredlist.org; IUCN 2011). The 

Red List is designed to determine the relative risk of 

extinction, with the main purpose of cataloguing and 

highlighting those taxa that are facing a higher risk 

of extinction. It provides taxonomic, conservation 

status, and distribution information on taxa that have 

been evaluated using the IUCN Red List Categories 

and Criteria: Version 3.1 (IUCN 2001). There are nine 

Categories, ranging from Least Concern, for species 

that are not threatened, to the Extinct category, for 

species that have disappeared from the planet 2 . The 

IUCN Red List Categories are based on a set of 

quantitative criteria linked to population trends, 

population size and structure, and geographic range. 

Species classified as Vulnerable, Endangered and 

Critically Endangered are considered as ‘threatened’. 

When conducting regional or national assessments, 

two additional categories are used: Regionally Extinct, 

and Not Applicable for non-native species (IUCN 

2003) (Figure 2). 

The IUCN Red List is intended to be policy-relevant, 

and it can be used to inform conservation planning 

and priority setting processes, but it is not intended to 

be policy-prescriptive, and it is not in itself a system for 

setting biodiversity conservation priorities. 

1.4 Objectives of the assessment 

The European regional assessment has four main 

objectives: 

■■ To contribute to regional conservation planning 

through provision of a baseline dataset reporting the 

status of European vascular plants. 

■■ To identify those geographic areas and habitats needing 

to be conserved to prevent extinctions and to ensure 

that European vascular plants reach and maintain a 

favourable conservation status. 

■■ To identify the major threats and to propose mitigating 

measures and conservation actions to address them. 

■■ To strengthen the network of experts focused on 

conservation of vascular plants in Europe so that 

the assessment information can be kept current 

and expertise can be targeted to address the highest 

conservation priorities. 

Figure 2. IUCN Red List Categories at regional scale 

2 For a description of each of the global IUCN Red List Categories go to: http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/categories-and-criteria/2001- 

categories-criteria#categories 

3

The assessment provides three main outputs: 

■■ This summary report on the status and distribution 

of selected groups of European vascular plants; their 

main threats and recommendations for conservation 

measures, as well as a poster on their status. 

■■ A freely available database holding the baseline data for 

monitoring the status and distribution of European 

vascular plants; 

■■ A website and data portal (http://ec.europa.eu/ 

environment/nature/conservation/species/redlist and 

http://www.iucnredlist.org/europe) showcasing this 

data in the form of species factsheets for all European 

plants that were assessed, along with background and 

other interpretative material; 

The data presented in this report provides a snapshot 

based on knowledge available at the time of writing. The 

database will continue to be updated and made freely and 

widely available. IUCN will ensure wide dissemination 

of this data to relevant decision makers, NGOs and 

scientists to inform the implementation of conservation 

actions on the ground. 

Marsilea batardae is endemic to the Iberian Peninsula where it has a limited range in the basins of the rivers Tejo, Sado, Guadiana and Guadalquivir. This aquatic plant suffers from the 

general destruction and degradation of water bodies such as the construction of dams, embankment of streams or pollution. Marsilea batardae has been assessed as Endangered and is 

protected under the Habitats Directive and Bern Convention. Photograph © Richard V. Lansdown. 

4

2. Assessment Methodology 

2.1 Global and regional assessments 

The extinction risk of a species can be assessed at global, 

regional or national level. One species can have a different 

category in the Global Red List and a Regional Red List. 

For example, a species that is common worldwide and 

classed as Least Concern (LC) in the Global Red List 

could face a high level of threat and fit the Endangered 

category (EN) in a particular region (see Figure 2 for a 

list of the IUCN categories). In order to avoid an overor 

underestimation of the regional extinction risk of 

a species, the Guidelines for the application of IUCN 

Red List Criteria at Regional Level should be applied 

(IUCN 2003). Logically, an endemic species should 

have the same category at regional and global level, as it 

is not present in any other part of the world. 

2.2 Geographic scope 

The geographical scope is continent-wide, extending from 

Iceland in the west to the Urals in the east (including 

European parts of the Russian Federation), and from 

Franz Josef Land in the north to the Mediterranean in the 

south (see Figure 1). The Canary Islands, Madeira and 

the Azores were also included. In the southeast, where 

definitions of Europe are most contentious, the Caucasus 

region was not included. Red List assessments were made 

at two regional levels: 1) for geographical Europe (limits 

described above); and 2) for the area of the 27 Member 

States of the European Union. 

2.3 Taxonomic scope 

The requirements for this project were to assess c. 2,000 

vascular plant species including all the ones that are 

listed under the Annexes II, IV and V of the Habitats 

Directive. We looked at the families covered under 

the Habitats Directive to see whether there were any 

families which could be assessed completely and which 

were a potential conservation priority. But this approach 

was soon disregarded and in consultation with different 

experts from within and outside IUCN/SSC Plant 

Specialist Groups we decided to look at functional groups 

of plants. The most logical step was to expand the list of 

species under the Habitats Directive by including other 

vascular plant species that are listed under other policy 

instruments, namely the Bern Convention, Convention on 

International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna 

and Flora (CITES), and the EU Wildlife Trade regulation. 

In addition, aquatic plant species were assessed as a group 

because freshwater systems are among the most threatened 

ecosystems and as this group would align well with other 

freshwater species that were being assessed (amphibians, 

fishes, molluscs, dragonflies). Finally, priority crop wild 

relatives were selected due to their importance for food 

security and because a very active and knowledgeable 

IUCN/SSC Crop Wild Relative Specialist Group was 

already in place to advance those red list assessments. More 

detailed information on the selection of species for each of 

the three groups can be found in chapters 3, 4 and 5. 

During the project, experts offered to submit independent 

assessments for a small number of species. Seven 

Italian endemics (Bellevalia webbiana, Callianthemum 

kernerianum, Centaurea corensis, Dianthus morisianus, 

Limonium calabrum, Limonium sibthorpianum, Sanguisorba 

dodecandra) and one species endemic to Ukraine and the 

Central Russian upland (Daphne sophia) were therefore 

added to the list of plants in Appendix 2. These species 

were not included in any of the analysis in chapter 3, 4 or 

5, but have been included in the overall figure of threatened 

plants. 

All selected plant species included in this assessment 

are native to Europe or naturalised before AD 1500. 

The selection of species for the European Red List of 

Vascular Plants took place in summer/autumn 2008 and 

the taxonomy followed at that time was published and 

unpublished material from Euro+Med Plantbase (2006- 

2011). In addition names of species were checked against 

the International Plant Names Index to ensure that they 

had been validly published. Over the last decade the Royal 

Botanic Gardens Kew and Missouri Botanical Garden have 

been continuously working on compiling a comprehensive 

global plant checklist. As a result, new global databases have 

become available online since the start of this project such 

as The World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (The 

Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew 2010- 

2011) or The Plant List (2010-2011). As a consequence, 

there have been some significant changes in what taxa are 

now recognized as being accepted names and under which 

genera they are placed; many taxa previously accepted as 

good species have been lumped with others and relegated 

to synonymy or they are now treated as infra-specific 

taxa, former infra-specific taxa have been raised to species 

5

level, and species complexes have been split into multiple 

species. Therefore, the taxonomy used in the European 

Red List of Vascular Plants is not concurrent with all the 

recent developments and in some cases reflects the available 

taxonomic knowledge at the time of assessment. 

The situation is made even more complicated by the 

molecular work that has been conducted on flowering 

plants by a team of researchers across the world (known 

as the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group – APG) in recent 

years. Based on the findings from both molecular and 

morphological studies the APG team have been developing 

a new and completely revised phylogeny of the world’s 

plants. The latest version of this phylogenetic arrangement, 

known as APG3, has gained widespread acceptance across 

the botanical community with many herbaria rearranging 

their collections to match this new treatment. The new 

treatment has resulted in the complete reordering of plant 

Orders and Families, new Families have been created, some 

have been lumped and genera have been moved between 

them and in some cases even split between families. 

The IUCN Red List has up until now been using the 

more traditional approach followed at RBG Kew which 

involved a mixture of Cronquist’s Orders and Brummitt’s 

treatment of Families and Genera. This has been mainly 

followed in this project but not exclusively. However, now 

that the APG approach has reached a fairly stable point 

and is widely accepted and used, it is envisaged that this 

approach will be followed by the IUCN Red List. When 

this happens, it will have consequences for the European 

Red List of Vascular Plants as the numbers of species 

previously recorded in various Genera, Families and Orders 

will change considerably as the changes are implemented. 

Distinct subspecies were only assessed as part of this 

project when they were listed in the EC Habitats Directive 

or the Bern Convention, or in cases where a species is only 

represented in its wild form at subspecies level. However, 

due to the taxonomic developments described above, a 

few species selected in 2008 have since been reclassified as 

subspecies and are therefore included in this Red List. Other 

species from the original selection were discarded during 

the assessment process as they were not taxonomically 

valid anymore. More notes on the taxonomy followed for 

the specific groups can be found in chapters 3, 4 and 5. 

■■ 

■■ 

■■ 

■■ 

■■ 

■■ 

■■ 

■■ 

■■ 

Geographic range (including a distribution map) 

Red List Category and Criteria 

Population information 

Habitat preferences 

Use and trade information 

Major threats 

Conservation measures 

Other general information 

Key literature references 

2.5 Review workshop and evaluation of 

assessments 

Two workshops involving around 25 national and taxon 

experts each were organised on 12-16 April 2010 in 

Cascais/Portugal for crop wild relatives and 21-24 June 

2010 in Brest/France for the policy and a selection 

of the aquatic plant species. During the workshops, 

focussed working groups were organised to discuss the 

preliminary assessments and to add new information to 

the species summaries and maps. Red List Categories 

were then defined for each species at the European and 

EU 27 levels. 

Following the review workshop, the data were edited, 

and outstanding questions were resolved through 

communications with the experts. Consistency in the 

use of IUCN Criteria was checked by IUCN staff from 

the IUCN Red List Unit. The resulting finalised IUCN 

Red List assessments are a product of scientific consensus 

concerning species status and are backed by relevant 

literature and data sources. 

Chaenorhinum serpyllifolium ssp. lusitanicum is endemic to the southwestern coast of 

Portugal, occupying an area smaller than 300 km². The subpopulations are isolated 

and this fragmentation will increase due to the high pressure from urban and tourism 

development at the coast. It is therefore listed as Endangered. Photograph © Pedro 

Arsénio. 

2.4 Assessment protocol 

For the selected plant species that are part of this study, 

the following data were entered into the database (IUCN 

Species Information Service – SIS): 

■■ Species’ taxonomic classification 

6

3. Plants listed in European and 

international policy instruments – 

selection and results 

3.1 Species selection 

This group of plants includes species that are listed under 

European or international policy instruments of which 

there are four major instruments that concern plant 

species: 

■■ Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the 

conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and 

flora (Habitats Directive) 

■■ Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife 

and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention) 

■■ Convention on International Trade in Endangered 

Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) 

■■ Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 of 9 December 

1996 on the protection of species of wild fauna and 

flora by regulating trade therein 

The Bern Convention is a binding international 

agreement that aims to conserve wild flora and fauna 

and their natural habitats and to promote European 

co-operation towards that objective. Its geographical 

scope does not only include Europe but extends into 

neighbouring territories of North Africa and Asia (e.g. 

Turkey). The Bern Convention was the basis for designing 

the Habitats Directive, a strong legal instrument that 

needs to be transposed into national law by the European 

Union member states. There are three annexes of direct 

relevance to plant species: Annex II, which is by far the 

most important in terms of conservation impact, requires 

the designation of Special Areas of Conservation for the 

species listed in there; Annex IV lists species for which it is 

prohibited to pick, collect, cut, uproot or destruct plants 

in their natural range in the wild (Article 13.1(a)) and 

to keep, transport, sell or exchange those plants (Article 

13.1(b)). Annex IV covers all plant species listed in Annex 

II plus additional ones. Plants listed under Annex V may 

require management measures for its collection from the 

wild and exploitation. Under Article 17 of the Habitats 

Directive, member states are required to report on the 

status of the species and on the conservation measures 

taken. The last country reports were provided in 2008 

and this information was taken into account for the Red 

List assessments. Annexes II, IV and V of the Habitats 

Directive list 641 plant species and subspecies. The Bern 

Adonis vernalis, Menyanthes trifoliata and Anacamptis pyramidalis are all subject to trade regulations. Photographs © Karl-Georg Bernhardt. 

7

Convention includes 612 European plant taxa and there is 

an overlap of 438 species between the two instruments. 

CITES regulates the international trade in endangered 

species and is legally binding to its parties. It provides a 

framework for countries to establish national legislation 

to implement the convention. The trade for all the species 

listed in Appendix II should be controlled in the form of 

export permits and re-export certificates being required. 

For Europe there are only species listed under Appendix 

II. This includes all snowdrop species (genus Galanthus) 

with a total of seven occurring in Europe of which three 

are endemic to the region. The genus Sternbergia has 

only two species occurring in Europe: S. colchiciflora and 

S. lutea. Furthermore, Adonis vernalis is listed and all 

Cyclamen species of which ten occur in Europe. Moreover, 

the whole orchid family is included under Appendix II 

totalling around 140 European species. The EU Wildlife 

Trade Regulation (338/97) lists additional species to 

CITES that need management at European level. Only 

six species fall outside CITES under this regulation: 

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Arnica montana, Biarum davisii, 

Gentiana lutea, Lycopodium clavatum and Menyanthes 

trifoliata. 

In total, there are around 950 species in this group 

which will be from now on referred to as the “policy 

species”. Many of them are listed in more than one policy 

instrument and some are also aquatic plants or crop wild 

relatives 3 . This report analyses the assessments of 891 

species. Unfortunately not all species could be assessed, in 

particular information on mainly single country endemics 

from the Azores (24 species), Greece (13 species), Spain (8 

species), and nine Cyclamen species could not be secured 

for this report. There are assessments that were still under 

debate at the time of print or have not received feedback 

from a reviewer yet. Appendix 2 in this publication 

lists all species assessed so far and shows whether they 

are included in any of the policy instruments. A few 

taxonomic changes have taken place since the Annexes 

of the Habitats Directive and Bern Convention were 

drawn up and Table 1 shows a list of those species that are 

included here under a different name. Other species are not 

recognised as distinct species anymore (e.g. Centaurium 

Galanthus nivalis is listed under Annex V of the Habitats Directive – all snowdrops are also included in CITES as they are thought after for trade. Photograph © R. Wilford. 

3 Species that occur in more than one group are included in the analysis of each of the groups they belong to. A list of all species assessed in this project and 

whether they belong to more than one group can be found in Appendix 2 of this document. 

8

igualii, Ophrys scolopax ssp. oestrifera, Ophrys melitensis, 

Semele maderensis, Colchicum fominii, Gladiolus felicis or 

Narcissus triandrus ssp. capax – although the latter three 

now form part of valid species that are included in the 

Annexes). Then there is Pharbitis preauxii, listed on the 

Bern Convention but no distribution data in any of the 

available taxonomy sources could be found; and Reseda 

decursiva seems to not be present in Europe at all. 

Table 1. Species listed in the Habitats Directive and/or Bern Convention that changed name 

Included 

in Habitats 

Directive 

Included 

in Bern 

Convention 

Old name 

Currently accepted name 

II/IV Anacamptis urvilleana Anacamptis pyramidalis 

IV I Androcymbium europaeum Androcymbium gramineum 

I Astragalus aitosensis Astracantha arnacantha ssp. aitosensis 

II/IV I Astragalus centralpinus Astragalus alopecurus 

IV Bellevalia hackelii Bellevalia dubia ssp. hackelii 

I Bromopsis moesiaca Bromus moesiacus 

II/IV I Campanula gelida Campanula bohemica ssp. gelida 

II/IV Campanula zoysii Favratia zoysii 

II/IV I Centaurea alba ssp. heldreichii Centaurea heldreichii 

II/IV I Centaurea alba ssp. princeps Centaurea princeps 

II/IV I Centaurea balearica Carthamus balearicus 

II/IV Centaurea vicentina Centaurea fraylensis 

II/IV I Ceropegia chrysantha Ceropegia dichotoma ssp. krainzii 

II/IV I Chionodoxa lochiae Scilla lochiae 

I Chrysanthemum zawadskii Dendranthema zawadskii 

IV I Colchicum cousturieri Colchicum cupanii ssp. cupanii 

I Colchicum davidovii Colchicum szovitsii ssp. szovitsii 

I Colchicum fominii Colchicum arenarium 

II/IV I Euphorbia lambii Euphorbia bourgeana 

I Fritillaria tuntasia Fritillaria obliqua ssp. tuntasia 

I Gladiolus felicis Gladiolus palustris 

II/IV Gymnigritella runei Gymnadenia runei 

II/IV Hyacinthoides vincentina Hyacinthoides mauritanica 

II/IV I Iberis arbuscula Iberis runemarkii 

II/IV Iris humilis ssp. arenaria Iris humilis 

II/IV I Leucojum nicaeense Acis nicaeensis 

V Lilium rubrum Lilium pomponium 

II/IV Luzula arctica Luzula nivalis 

V Murbeckiella pinnatifida ssp. herminii Murbeckiella boryi 

II/IV I Muscari gussonei Leopoldia gussonei 

I Narcissus angustifolius Narcissus poeticus ssp. radiiflorus 

II/IV Narcissus fernandesii Narcissus jonquilla ssp. fernandesii 

II/IV Narcissus humilis Narcissus cavanillesii 

V Narcissus juncifolius Narcissus assoanus 

II/IV Narcissus triandrus ssp. capax Narcissus triandrus 

II/IV I Nepeta dirphya Nepeta argolica ssp. dirphya 

II/IV Odontites holliana Odontites hollianus 

I Ononis hackelii Ononis maweana 

IV I Orchis scopulorum Orchis mascula ssp. scopulorum 

II/IV I Palaeocyanus crassifolius Cheirolophus crassifolius 

II/IV I Sambucus palmensis Sambucus nigra ssp. palmensis 

I Senecio hermosae Canariothamnus hermosae 

II/IV Serratula lycopifolia Klasea lycopifolia 

II/IV I Silene furcata ssp. angustiflora Silene involucrata ssp. tenella 

I Trachelium asperuloides Campanula asperuloides 

9

3.2 Threat status of policy plants 

The status of species listed under policy instruments 

was assessed at two regional levels: geographical Europe 

and the EU 27. As these species were pre-identified as 

needing conservation attention it is not surprising that 

the percentage of threatened species is very high. At the 

European level, at least 44.9% of the species (400 species) 

are considered as threatened. Of those, at least 11.9% are 

Critically Endangered, 17.2% Endangered and 15.8% 

Vulnerable (Table 2 and Figure 3 and 4). A further 9.5% 

(85 species) are classified as Near Threatened as they are 

significantly declining in parts of their range and need at 

least to be monitored. Within the EU 27, at least 47.3% 

of the plants (405 species) are threatened, of which at least 

12.6% are Critically Endangered, 18.4% Endangered 

and 16.2% Vulnerable. In addition, 10.9% of species are 

considered as Near Threatened. Two species are Regionally 

Extinct at the EU 27 level: Veronica euxina is not found 

in Bulgaria anymore but still occurs in Moldova and 

Ukraine; and Mandragora officinarum is Regionally Extinct 

in the EU 27 region as it has disappeared from Italy, but 

is still present in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina 

where it is classed as Endangered. Three species are 

considered Extinct in Europe and globally: Centaurea 

pseudoleucolepis, Euphrasia mendoncae and Viola cryana. A 

further three European endemic plant species are classed 

as Extinct in the Wild: the grasses Bromus bromoideus 

and Bromus interruptus, and Lysimachia minoricensis. Two 

species, Primula egaliksensis and the Canarian endemic 

plant Kunkeliella psilotoclada are considered as Critically 

Endangered, Possibly Extinct. The latter was last seen 

in the wild in 1983 but there is still hope that dormant 

seeds survived in the soil and the species is conserved in 

a botanic garden. A list of the species classed as Extinct 

and threatened (Critically Endangered, Endangered and 

Vulnerable) at the European and EU 27 level can be 

found in Appendix 1. 

Table 2. Summary of numbers of European policy plants within each category of threat 

Threatened 

categories 

IUCN Red List categories 

No. species Europe 

(no. endemic species) 

No. species EU 27 


Extinct (EX) 3 (3) 2 (2) 

Extinct in the Wild (EW) 3 (3) 3 (3) 

Regionally Extinct (RE) 0 2 (0) 

Critically Endangered (CR) 106 (104) 108 (103) 

Endangered (EN) 153 (126) 158 (120) 

Vulnerable (VU) 141 (124) 139 (111) 

Near Threatened (NT) 85 (58) 93 (49) 

Least Concern (LC) 219 (101) 203 (77) 

Data Deficient (DD) 181 (120) 149 (88) 

Total number of species assessed* 891 (639) 857 (553) 

* This table does not include species that do not occur in the EU 27 and are therefore considered as Not Evaluated for that region 

Figure 3. Red List status of policy plants in Europe Figure 4. Red List status of policy plants in the EU 27 

10

A total of 181 species (20.3%, compared to 17.4% in the 

EU 27) are classed as Data Deficient and there are several 

reasons for this listing. A species can be Data Deficient 

if its taxonomic concept is being debated which is the 

case for 19 of the 181 species. But in most cases a Data 

Deficient category is triggered by insufficient information 

for the species which might be due to no recent field work 

or no monitoring data being available. However, in this 

project, some national country endemics needed to be 

assessed as Data Deficient as no reliable contact could 

be established with country experts. This problem mainly 

concerned plants endemic to Romania and to European 

Turkey. Although national red lists classed the species 

as threatened, the necessary supporting information 

could not be obtained and a full assessment could not be 

carried out. The lack of information from some countries 

also affected more widespread species that showed a 

decline everywhere and were marked as threatened in 

several countries. As most plant species were assessed 

using a criterion based on restricted range and declining 

populations, range data missing from one country could 

already make an assessment Data Deficient as it was not 

clear whether the thresholds for a threatened category 

would be met. Another criterion used for widespread 

but declining species is based on a certain percentage 

of population decline over a certain time span. This 

percentage of population decline would be needed from 

each of the countries of occurrence in order to make 

an informed decision about a European-wide rate of 

decline. This was impossible in most cases as this type of 

monitoring data is only available for a few sites but hardly 

even for a population at country level. Examples for 

those species being Data Deficient are Gladiolus palustris, 

Pulsatilla patens, Tozzia carpathica or Typha shuttleworthii. 

However, the information available for Data Deficient 

species is presented in the assessment text and there is the 

hope that after publishing the incomplete results, experts 

will develop new research projects and come forward with 

the needed information to fully assess the threat status of 

these Data Deficient species. 

It might also surprise that 24.6% (or 23.7% in the EU 

27) of the species are considered to be of Least Concern 

having in mind that the group of policy species have 

been pre-identified as being of conservation concern. 

The IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria are 

designed to assess the risk of extinction and a species 

that is slowly declining throughout its range but still 

occurs in numerous countries is sometimes not likely to 

go completely extinct in all of Europe. It needs to be 

stressed that although they are listed as Least Concern, 

they need conservation attention and should be at least 

monitored. A considerable part of the populations 

should be included in protected areas. There are also 

cases where the protection under the Habitats Directive 

or CITES already benefited species in a way that there 

are no threats anymore and the populations are stable. 

They would be assessed as Least Concern but that is by 

no ways an argument to loosen the current protection. 

A good case to demonstrate that fact is Cypripedium 

calceolus – this attractive orchid is listed under the 

Habitats Directive, Bern Convention and CITES and 

has strong populations in Europe. It is classed as Near 

Threatened for the moment as it is thought that the current 

protection and the fact that its collection is prohibited 

are responsible for its favourable status and that as soon 

as this protection would cease, the populations could 

decline massively. There are furthermore a few cases 

where due to taxonomic changes a restricted range taxon 

now belongs to a more widespread species that is not 

under threat, e.g. Murbeckiella pinnatifida ssp. herminii 

is now included in Murbeckiella boryi. 

Finally, it should be noted that the percentages of 

threatened policy plant species mentioned earlier 

represent minimum estimates. A more realistic value may 

be calculated based only on the surviving species which 

have been assessed for their extinction risk (i.e. omitting 

DD, EX and RE from the total). In this scenario 56.6% 

of policy plants are threatened in Europe and 57.5% are 

threatened in the EU 27. Considering that the policy 

plant species were pre-identified as being of conservation 

concern, it is likely that a very high percentage of the 

DD species is also threatened, which would bring the 

overall percentage of threatened species even higher. 

3.3 Spatial distribution of species 

3.3.1 Species richness 

The following table and figures do not represent actual 

species richness but reflect how active member states were 

in including their species in the annexes of the policy 

instruments and how much data were available for these 

plants. 

Within this group the Iberian Peninsula holds most of the 

species with 318 occurring in Spain and 211 in Portugal. 

It is followed by Italy, Greece, and France. Although, 

the figures do not per se represent species richness, it 

coincides with the fact that the Mediterranean countries, 

in particular the Iberian Peninsula, Italy and Greece are 

the countries with the highest species richness in Europe 

and the EU 27. 

11

Figure 5. Species richness of policy plants (excluding species assessed as Data Deficient) 

Figure 6. Distribution of endemic policy plant species in Europe (excluding species assessed as Data Deficient) 

12

Figure 5 highlights areas of particular high concentrations 

of policy species. Not surprisingly, the highest number of 

species is found in the Mediterranean region, the Alps and 

the Balkan Peninsula. However, a serious note of caution 

needs to be issued when interpreting the three maps in 

chapter 3.3. Maps were created using the distribution 

data available from different literature and internet 

sources and the data available differed immensely. For 

some countries it was only known that the species exists 

in this country and therefore the distribution was mapped 

to the whole country (e.g. Bulgaria, Romania). For other 

countries, such as Spain, and for many of the species on 

the Habitats Directive, distribution data was provided in 

10x10 km grid cells and is therefore very precise. In some 

cases data was available at subnational level and a species 

was mapped to the administrative unit (e.g. regions 

in Italy or départments in France). In order to analyse 

the spatial data, a species count per hexagonal grid cell 

(864 km²) was carried out and displayed. This results 

in the illusion that wide areas on the Balkan Peninsula 

are very species rich compared to the Iberian Peninsula 

when in fact the latter hosts the most species assessed 

per country. The data situation is further complicated by 

plant distribution being coded in geographic units (e.g. 

floristic regions) that have not caught up with political 

developments 4 . The most obvious one is the distribution 

of plant species occurring in former Yugoslavia which in 

fact now comprises seven individual countries. Moldova 

is joined in one floristic region with Ukraine and the 

Baltic States are referred to as one region without further 

statement in which of the three countries the species is 

found. In many cases, we had no access to lists of the 

national flora and it is likely that the countries named 

above were omitted or wrongly added in the distribution 

of the plant. 

3.3.2 Endemic species richness 

Figure 6 shows the distribution of endemic policy species 

(e.g. those that are unique to Europe and are found 

nowhere else in the world). Particularly high numbers 

of endemic species are found in the Mediterranean, 

the Macaronesian Islands and Central Europe. The 

Macaronesian Islands also host a variety of species that 

are not only endemic to Europe but often endemic to 

the islands: 93 species are only found in the Canary 

Islands and 41 only in Madeira. The number of species 

endemic to only one country is high overall with 460 out 

Table 3. Number of policy plant species in the 27 current 

EU Member States (excluding introduced species) 

Country 

Total number of species 

Austria 117 

Belgium 58 

Bulgaria 123 

Cyprus 62 

Czech Republic 109 

Denmark 51 

Estonia 56 

Finland 68 

France 171 

Germany 109 

Greece 180 

Hungary 106 

Ireland 33 

Italy 221 

Latvia 60 

Lithuania 58 

Luxembourg 44 

Malta 31 

Netherlands 46 

Poland 105 

Portugal 211 

Romania 132 

Slovakia 99 

Slovenia 98 

Spain 318 

Sweden 89 

United Kingdom 64 

of 891 assessed. Here again, the Iberian Peninsula hosts 

the highest number of single country endemics with 63 

species found only in mainland Portugal and 51 only in 

mainland Spain. It is followed by mainland Greece (40 

species), mainland Italy (34) and Cyprus (18). 

3.3.3 Distribution of threatened species 

The distribution of threatened vascular plants in Europe 

(Figure 7) reveals that in particular the Macaronesian 

Islands with their unique flora host many threatened 

species. It is furthermore interesting that a high 

concentration of threatened species is found along coasts 

(southern and western Iberian Peninsula, northern 

Norway, Greece, south Crimea) and on Mediterranean 

4 For more information on the geographic units used see The World Checklist on Selected Plant Families (The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, 

Kew 2010) and the Euro+Med Plantbase (2006-2011). 

13

Figure 7. Distribution of threatened policy plants in Europe 

Figure 8. Major threats to policy plants in Europe 

14

islands (Corsica, Cyprus, the Greek islands, and Sardinia). 

Another area that flagged up as being of concern is the 

centre of the Pannonian Plain in Hungary. 

3.4 Major threats to policy plants in 

Europe 

The major threats to each species were coded using the 

IUCN Threats Classification Scheme. A summary of the 

relative importance of the different threatening processes 

is shown in Figure 8. 

The main threat to the threatened plant species in this 

group is intensified livestock farming, and especially 

intensive grazing activities have the worst impacts. Plant 

species are directly affected through livestock eating 

them or due to trampling and increased nitrification. 

The conversion of grasslands into agricultural land for 

livestock, arable farming or forestry is a serious threat 

leading to habitat loss or at least degradation. On the 

other hand, many species are in need of moderate 

disturbance and were thriving well in areas under 

traditional agricultural use such as extensive grazing. 

Whereas an intensification of agricultural activities leads 

to the disappearance of those species on one hand, the 

complete abandonment of these activities poses also a 

serious threat (listed under ecosystem modifications). The 

abandonment leads to changes in the vegetation dynamic 

and succession of woody plants and shrubs that lead to 

an increased competition and therefore disappearance of 

plant species. 

Recreational activities such as hiking, mountaineering, 

or walking are the second biggest factor causing species 

to be directly or indirectly threatened. Ecosystems 

frequented by humans often notice a decrease in quality 

and the plants are in danger of being trampled. Skiing 

activities in mountain areas, for example, threaten the 

plant Campanula bohemica. Another example are species 

growing in sand dunes and beaches affected by vehicles 

accessing the coast, such as in the case of Anchusa crispa. 

Invasive alien species and problematic native species are 

particularly threatening the flora on the Canary Islands 

and Madeira but also in the Mediterranean. Introduced 

plants such as Carpobrotus edulis and Opuntia ficus- 

Carpobrotus edulis, native to South Africa has been introduced widely to the Mediterranean as an ornamental plant and now replaces native vegetation in many parts of that region as 

seen here at the coast of Cascais in Portugal. Photograph © Melanie Bilz. 

15

indica aggressively compete for space, light and other 

resources with native species in a way that often leads to 

the disappearance of the latter. Grazing and trampling by 

introduced or native herbivores (such as rabbits, goats or 

sheep) impact several plants. But also increased seagull 

populations can cause problems with eutrophication 

for example for the Portuguese island endemic Armeria 

berlengensis. 

Many plant species are very attractive and therefore 

collected for their beauty. This collection ranges from 

the occasional picking to systematic collection for the 

horticultural trade (e.g. snowdrops - Galanthus spp., 

orchids), medicinal use (e.g. Artemisia granatensis or 

Mandragora officinarum), or for food (Thymus spp., 

Micromeria taygetea). Here the threat is not only the 

removal of the species from the wild but there are 

indirect implications such as a reduced reproductive 

success due to overcollection. It needs to be said that for 

many species under legislation the collection is already 

forbidden, restricted, or regulated although this does not 

exclude illegal activities. 

A major driver of habitat loss is urban and tourism 

development as well as transport infrastructure which 

affects most of the policy plant species assessed. It is not 

only the fact that the plants can not cope with a change 

of its habitat due to an increased use by humans. But the 

expansion of urban environments or the development of 

new tourist complexes or roads is creating impermeable, 

sealed surfaces and a loss of soil habitat for the species. 

Mining and quarrying is another driver of habitat loss 

and degradation. 

Many species listed in this group are found in rocky areas, 

on cliffs, in scree or instable substrate and are vulnerable 

to geological events such as landslides and avalanches. 

Although this is not a human induced threat, it can 

seriously affect a population especially if the species is rare 

and found at very few localities or with a low number 

of individuals in the first place. Fires, which can occur 

naturally or be set by humans can have devastating effects 

on plant populations. An example is the fire that took 

place in the Central Mountain Massif of Madeira in 

summer 2010 where it is still not clear how it affected 

several endemic plant species such as Viola paradoxa or 

Sorbus maderensis. 

to other plants or change the native species dynamic 

and increase competition. Especially plants bound to 

freshwater environments are affected by water pollution. 

The effects of climate change on the selected plant species 

namely establishes itself in the form of increased droughts, 

particularly in the Mediterranean area. Other impacts are 

an increase in storms and floods, habitat shifting and 

alteration, and temperature extremes (Arnell 2004). 

For several species human disturbance in form of work 

activities such as cleaning of beaches (Kosteletzkya 

pentacarpa), mowing activities at inappropriate times 

(Biscutella neustriaca), removal of forest undergrowth or 

roadside vegetation (Erodium rupicola), etc. is causing 

population declines. 

Last but not least, it should be noted that most plants are 

faced by more than one threat and that a combination of 

these can worsen the situation for a species even more, 

for example, increased drought also increases the risk of 

fires. 

3.5 Population trends 

For the selected policy plant species, 38.4% have a 

declining population trend, whereas 21.8% of the plants 

have stable populations. More than one third (36.7%) 

have an unknown trend and a small part of the group 

(3.1%) have increasing populations (Figure 9). 

Figure 9. Population trends of European policy plants 

Pollution comes in the form of water pollution and of 

garbage disposal. Water pollution is mainly caused by 

run-off from agricultural fields and the application of 

fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides which can be harmful 

16

4. Crop wild relatives – species 

selection and results 

4.1 Background 

4.1.1 Crop wild relatives: a critical resource for food 

security and economic stability in Europe 

Plant genetic resources (PGR) are defined as the genetic 

material of plants which is of value as a resource for 

present and future generations of people (IPGRI 

1993). Specifically, plant genetic resources for food and 

agriculture (PGRFA) are PGR most directly associated 

with human food production and agriculture which 

are of current and future economic and food security 

benefit for humankind (Maxted et al. 2008a). A major 

component of PGRFA are crop wild relatives (CWR) – 

the wild species closely related to crops that are defined 

by their potential ability to contribute beneficial traits for 

crop improvement (Maxted et al. 2006). 

CWR have been used increasingly in plant breeding since 

the early 20 th century and have provided vital genetic 

diversity to enhance food crops – for example, to confer 

resistance to pests and diseases, improve tolerance to 

environmental conditions such as extreme temperatures, 

drought and flooding and to improve nutrition, flavour, 

colour, texture and handling qualities (Maxted and Kell 

2009). Gene introductions have tended to be most effective 

when the wild species are close relatives of the crop, or are 

even direct ancestors of it; however, recent technological 

advances have improved the ease of transfer of traits 

between distantly related species and expanded the value 

of CWR by increasing their usefulness into the secondary 

and tertiary crop gene pools (Meilleur and Hodgkin 

2004). The contribution of CWR is growing and has 

largely been through the donation of useful genes coding 

for pest and disease resistance, abiotic stress tolerance and 

higher nutritional value (Hajjar and Hodgkin 2007). 

For example, in wheat, single gene-controlled traits have 

been introduced from CWR to provide powdery mildew 

resistance, and increased nutritional value has been 

fulfilled through the introduction of genes for higher 

protein content. Genes from wild Brassica oleracea plants 

have created domestic broccoli with high levels of anticancer 

compounds (Hodgkin and Hajjar 2008). The 

extensive use of CWR in crop improvement is reviewed 

by Maxted and Kell (2009). 

In monetary terms, CWR have contributed significantly 

to the agricultural and horticultural industries, and to the 

world economy (Maxted et al. 2008a, Maxted and Kell 

2009). For example, Pimentel et al. (1997) estimated that 

wild relatives contribute approximately US$ 20 billion 

toward increased crop yields per year in the United States 

and US $115 billion worldwide. Further, Phillips and 

Meilleur (1998) noted that losses of rare wild plants 

represent a substantial economic loss to agriculture, 

estimating that the endangered food crop relatives have 

a worth of about US$ 10 billion annually in wholesale 

farm values. Although these figures show significant 

divergence, they highlight the major global economic 

value of CWR diversity to humankind. 

Aegilops tauschii is a secondary wild relative of bread and durum wheat, as well as a 

number of other cultivated wheats. It is a drought-tolerant species and a possible gene 

source for pest and disease resistance. It has contributed traits to bread wheat for good 

baking qualities and winter hardiness, and is also a good quality fodder plant for spring 

and early summer. In Europe, this species has a restricted range in Crimea and South 

European Russia where it grows on plains, beaches, dry hillsides and near roads. It is 

threatened by development for tourism and recreational activities and is regionally 

assessed as Endangered. Photograph © Vojtech Holubec. 

17

Today, agricultural production is challenged by climate 

change – current climate change models predict that it 

will alter the environmental conditions under which 

our crops grow and is expected to have a dramatic 

impact on agriculture and horticulture (FAO 2010); 

for example, it has been estimated that by 2100, wheat 

yields will be reduced by 40% at low latitudes unless 

climate change mitigation is undertaken (IPCC 2007). 

It is likely that many current crop varieties will need 

replacement to enable them to better suit the new and 

changing environments under which they will be forced 

to grow and breeders will therefore have to provide 

varieties able to cope with the impacts of changing 

growing conditions – failure to meet this challenge will 

have a devastating impact on the global economy and 

social well-being (Maxted and Kell 2009, FAO 2010, 

Maxted et al. 2011). 

The genetic diversity within CWR offers an insurance 

against the predicted harmful impacts of climate 

change. CWR populations are particularly likely 

to contain the abiotic adaptive genes necessary to 

develop new varieties because of the wide variety 

of habitats in which they grow and broad range of 

conditions they are adapted to (FAO 2008). Thus, 

they are recognized as a critical resource with a vital 

role in food security and economic stability, as well as 

contributing to environmental sustainability (Prescott- 

Allen and Prescott Allen 1986, Hoyt 1988, Maxted 

et al. 1997a, Meilleur and Hodgkin 2004, Stolten et 

al. 2006). However, CWR, which are intrinsically no 

different to any other group of wild species, are subject 

to an increasing range of threats in their host habitats 

and more systematic attention to their conservation 

is required (FAO 1996, 1998; Maxted et al. 2008a; 

Maxted and Kell 2009). 

As recognized by Planta Europa (2008), our reliance on 

a limited number of crops in Europe, combined with 

their genetic vulnerability and the anticipated impacts 

of climate change, mean that food security in the 

region is far from guaranteed. Food crop production 

is also a major contributor to the European economy. 

Native European CWR are a tangible resource that may 

offer insurance against crop failure, food shortages and 

economic instability; further, as components of natural 

and semi-natural habitats, CWR are important for 

maintaining a stable and healthy ecosystem. Therefore, 

Europe has a number of incentives to ensure the longterm 

conservation and increased utilization of Europe’s 

native crop species and their wild relatives, as outlined 

in the FAO Global Plan of Action on the Conservation 

and Sustainable Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources 

for Food and Agriculture (Gass and Thormann 1999). 

4.1.2 European crop wild relatives: diversity and 

endemism 

Europe has significant endemic genetic diversity 

of global value in crops of major socio-economic 

importance and their wild relatives (Heywood 1999), 

such as oats (Avena sativa L.), sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris 

L.), carrot (Daucus carota L.), apple (Malus domestica 

Borkh.), annual meadow grass (Festuca pratensis Huds.), 

perennial rye grass (Lolium perenne L.) and white clover 

(Trifolium repens L.). Gene pools of many minor crop 

species and their wild relatives are also present in the 

region, such as arnica (Arnica montana L.), asparagus 

(Asparagus officinalis L.), lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), sage 

(Salvia officinalis L.) and raspberries and blackberries 

(Rubus spp.), as well as herbs and aromatic plants 

such as mints (Mentha spp.) and chives (Allium spp.) 

(Maxted et al. 2008a). Europe is also an important 

region for forest genetic resources, such as pine, poplar 

and sweet cherry (Pinus, Populus and Prunus spp.), and 

ornamental plants, such as sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus), 

sweet pinks (Dianthus spp.) and violets (Viola spp.). 

The eastern Mediterranean region is a particularly rich 

centre of CWR diversity as it comprises or borders three 

important Vavilov centres of crop diversity (Vavilov 

1926). It is also the major centre of CWR diversity for 

important crops such as wheat (T. aestivum L.), barley 

(Hordeum vulgare L.), oats (A. sativa L.), chickpea 

(Cicer arietinum L.), lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.), pea 

(Pisum sativum L.), faba bean (Vicia faba L.), lucerne 

(Medicago sativa L.), white clover (T. repens L.), grape 

(Vitis vinifera L.), fig (Ficus carica L.), olive (Olea 

europaea L.) and pistachio (Pistacia vera L.), as well as 

the minor crops flax (Linum usitatissimum L.), melon 

(Cucumis melo L.), lettuce (L. sativa L.) and sage (S. 

officinalis L.) (Maxted et al. 2008a). For each of these 

groups, the crop species and its wild relatives are found 

within the Euro-Mediterranean region. 

Kell et al. (2005) created the first comprehensive 

catalogue of CWR for Europe and the Mediterranean 

using a broad definition of a CWR (i.e., any species in 

the same genus or closely related genera to a cultivated 

plant species), and found that approximately 80% 

of the flora of the region consists of crops and their 

wild relatives. Further analysis revealed that more 

than 15,000 species are native to Europe, of which at 

least half are endemic (Kell et al. 2008a). The authors 

18

found that four countries contain more than 20% of 

the species in the Euro-Mediterranean region: Turkey, 

Spain, Italy and France, which is consistent with the 

overall proportions of the flora of the region that occur 

in these countries; however, per unit area, Greece has 

the highest concentration of CWR diversity in the 

region. A high percentage of CWR species occur on the 

EU’s oceanic islands, such as the Canary Islands (Spain) 

and the Azores (Portugal), but also other islands such as 

Sicily (Italy), Malta and Corsica (France); for example, 

around 10% of the crop and CWR taxa of the Spanish 

territories occur in the Canary Islands – taxa that are not 

found in mainland Spain (Kell et al. 2008a). This is not 

surprising since islands exhibit high levels of endemism 

due to their isolation from continental areas, so they are 

natural reservoirs of unique genetic diversity (Dulloo et 

al. 2002). 

The broad definition of a CWR adopted to create the 

CWR Catalogue for Europe and the Mediterranean 

resulted in a large proportion of the flora of the region 

that can be considered as crops or their wild relatives. 

However, in terms of food security, the most important 

CWR are those related to food crops (Maxted and Kell 

2009, Kell et al. in prep.). Based on food crops of major 

significance and secondary or local importance listed by 

Groombridge and Jenkins (2002), Kell et al. (2008a) 

found that four of the 38 major food crops of the world 

are native to the Euro-Mediterranean region: cereals – 

H. vulgare L. (barley) and T. aestivum L. (wheat); leaf 

vegetables – B. oleracea L. (cabbage); and oil crops – O. 

europaea L. (olive). Three of these crops are native to 

Europe: wheat, cabbage and olive. Within the 28 major 

food crop genera of the world, 57 species are endemic 

to the Euro-Mediterranean region, and of these, at 

least 11 species are endemic to only one nation, many 

being limited to islands (e.g., Brassica balearica Pers., 

endemic to the Balearic Islands (Spain), B. rupestris Raf., 

B. macrocarpa Guss. and B. villosa Biv., endemic to the 

islands of Sicily (Italy) and Malta, and B. hilarionis Post, 

endemic to Cyprus) (Kell et al. 2008a). The authors found 

that within the minor food crop genera, 938 species and 

372 subspecific taxa (subspecies and varieties) can be 

found growing in the region – of these, 382 species and 

46 subspecies are endemic and at least 99 species and 

41 subspecies are endemic to only one nation. Of the 

69 minor food crops of the world, 23 (33%) are native 

to the Euro-Mediterranean region and 22 are native to 

Europe. 

4.2 Selection of CWR species for 

assessment 

Wild relatives of a list of priority crops were selected based 

primarily on their food and economic security importance 

in Europe. Species were selected from the CWR 

Catalogue for Europe and the Mediterranean (Kell et al. 

2005) which contains taxon and distribution data from 

Euro+Med PlantBase (2006). At the time of production 

of the species list, the taxonomic and distribution data 

in Euro+Med PlantBase (www.emplantbase.org/home. 

html) had been revised for several families; including 

three of the largest families – Compositae, Poaceae and 

Rosaceae 5 . These revised data were combined with the 

2006 data set for the remaining families to form the basis 

for species selection, as well as the taxonomic standard for 

the CWR list. The taxon selection process involved five 

steps (Kell et al. in prep.). 

Step 1: CWR native to Europe 

As the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria should only 

be applied to wild populations inside their natural range, 

or to populations resulting from benign introductions 

(IUCN 2001), the first step in the target taxon selection 

procedure was to select CWR native to Europe. Each taxon 

occurrence recorded in Euro+Med PlantBase is coded 

using the Plant Occurrence and Status Scheme (POSS); 

this was used to filter the records and select those recorded 

as native, formerly native, doubtfully native or those for 

which the presence is questionable. This resulted in a list 

of 19,345 species, including wild relatives of agricultural 

and horticultural crops, forestry species, ornamentals, 

and medicinal and aromatic plants. 

Step 2: CWR of human and animal food crops 

Data from three primary sources were used to select a list 

of priority crop genera containing wild relatives native to 

Europe – the CWR Catalogue (Kell et al. 2005), GRIN 

Taxonomy for Plants (USDA, ARS, National Genetic 

Resources Program 2009) and Mansfeld’s World Database 

of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops (Hanelt and 

IPK Gatersleben 2001, IPK Gatersleben 2003). Genera 

containing cultivated taxa used for human and animal 

food were initially selected as priority groups. This list 

contains 262 genera, within which there are 7,324 CWR 

species native to Europe. 

Step 3: CWR of high priority human food crops 

CWR of a number of human food crops that are 

5 In February 2011, a major revision of Euro+Med PlantBase was published; the changes made to the families other than Compositae, Poaceae and Roasaceae 

are not reflected in the list of CWR species selected for inclusion in the European Red List. 

19

particularly important to Europe in terms of production 

quantity and/or value were selected. In terms of production 

quantity, there are 18 crops or crop groups of which 

Europe produced an average of >1MT in five years from 

2003–2007 that have CWR native to Europe that may 

be important for crop improvement: wheat, sugar beet, 

barley, grapes, rapeseed, apples, oats, cabbages (and other 

brassicas), rye, olives, carrots and turnips, onions, peaches 

and nectarines, peas, lettuce and chicory, pears, plums 

and sloes, and strawberries (Figure 10). Note that there 

are other economically important crops excluded from 

this list (e.g., potato) that have wild relatives in Europe, 

but they are very distant wild relatives – the centre of 

diversity of the potato gene pool being in South America 

– and are therefore not considered a priority in terms of 

their potential as gene donors for crop improvement. 

Figure 11 shows the average value of crops or crop groups 

produced in Europe over five years from 2004–2008 that 

have CWR native to Europe which may be important 

for crop improvement. All of the crops or crop groups 

included in this analysis are also included in the priority 

list of human food crops based on production quantity. 

This selection of 18 crops or crop groups is found within 

19 genera within which there are 279 species native to 

Europe. 

Step 4: CWR of animal food crops 

The production quantity and economic value data that 

are available for human food crops are not available for 

animal food crops on an individual crop basis; therefore, 

it is not possible to prioritize animal food crops according 

to these criteria. However, of the 279 CWR species 

identified in the high priority human food CWR group, 

106 are wild relatives of forage and/or fodder crops, as 

well as human food crops; therefore, CWR of a number 

of animal food crops are included in this list. 

Step 5: CWR of other human and animal food crops 

To add to the high priority list of 279 species described 

above, Annex I of the International Treaty on Plant 

Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) 

was also used as the basis for species selection. This is a 

list of PGRFA established according to criteria of food 

security and interdependence and includes 78 genera 

containing human or animal food crops. Fifty-nine of 

these genera contain taxa that are native to Europe, some 

of which are already included in the high priority CWR 

list defined above. Annex I of the ITPGRFA is divided 

into two lists: 1) human food crops, and 2) forages. 

The human food crop list mainly lists entire genera 

because the CWR of these crops are recognized as being 

important for food security. The forage list only includes 

specific species because a) the crops are mainly selections 

from wild species and the CWR are less likely to be used 

for crop improvement, and b) many of the forage genera 

contain a very large number of species; for example, 

Festuca contains 204 species native to Europe. 

Additional human food crop genera listed in Annex I of 

the ITPGRFA that were included in the list of CWR for 

assessment are: Asparagus, brassica complex (Armoracia, 

Barbarea, Camelina, Crambe, Diplotaxis, Eruca, Isatis, 

Lepidium, Raphanus, Rorippa and Sinapis 6 ), Cicer, 

Lathyrus (only those in Gene Pools (GP) 1b and 2 and 

Taxon Groups (TG) 1b and 2 – see Maxted et al. 2006), 

Lens, wheat complex (Agropyron and Elymus 7 ), and Vicia 

(GP1b, TG1b, GP2, TG2 and four species for which 

data were readily available). Lathyrus and Vicia species 

were limited to the close wild relatives only, due to the 

large number of species included in these genera. 

Fifty-two of the forage species listed in Annex I of the 

ITPGRFA are native to Europe. These were all included 

for assessment as their continued existence in the wild is 

important for the future of these crops; thus, knowing 

their conservation status in the wild is important to 

inform conservation planning. In addition, all Medicago 

species native to Europe were included on the basis of 

data availability. 

This selection process concluded with a list of 596 species; 

however, subsequently some of these were removed as 

they are hybrids. At a later stage in the project, some 

additional species were added by experts at a European 

CWR Red List workshop; these included five species 

in the genus Sinapidendron, which is related to brassica 

crops and endemic to the Madeira archipelago, and 

some recently described species of Crambe endemic to 

the Canary Islands. The final list of CWR species for 

assessment comprised 591 species in 25 crop gene pools/ 

groups (Table 4), 188 of which are endemic to Europe. 

Twenty-four of these species are also included in either 

annexes of the EU Habitats Directive or of the Bern 

Convention that were assessed as part of the European 

Red List initiative. It is also important to note that a 

further 634 of the species in the policy list are included in 

the CWR Catalogue for Europe and the Mediterranean 

6 Brassica spp. are included in the high priority human food crop list. 

7 Triticum, Aegilops and Secale spp. are included in the high priority human food crop list. 

20

Figure 10. Crops/crop groups of which Europe produced an average of >1MT in five years from 2003–2007 that have CWR 

native to Europe which may be important for crop improvement (Kell et al. in prep). Data source: FAOSTAT (FAO 2009). 

Figure 11. The average value (millions of Euros) of crops/crop groups produced in Europe over five years from 2004–2008 

that have CWR native to Europe which may be important for crop improvement (Kell et al. in prep). Data source: 

Eurostat (European Communities 1995–2009). 

21

ecause they are wild relatives of a range of other crops; 

including minor food crops, forage crops, forestry 

species, and medicinal and ornamental plants. Therefore, 

in addition to the sample selected due to their high 

potential economic importance as gene donors to human 

and animal food crops that are particularly important 

in Europe, the assessment of the policy species will also 

contribute to our knowledge of the threat status of other 

European CWR which are of less immediate priority in 

terms of their potential as gene donors. 

Table 4. Overview CWR species selected for assessment 

Crop gene pool/group Genus (or genera) Total no. of 

species in gene 

pool/group 8 

No. of species 

assessed (% of gene 

pool/group) 

Brassica complex 

Armoracia, Barbarea, Brassica, Camelina, Crambe, 

Diplotaxis, Eruca, Isatis, Lepidium, Raphanus, Rorippa, 

Sinapidendron, Sinapis 

506 142 (28%) 

Onion, leek, garlic etc. Allium 750 118 (16%) 

Legume forages 

Astragalus, Hedysarum, Lotus, Lupinus, Medicago, 

Melilotus, Onobrychis, Ornithopus, Securigera, Trifolium 

3469 93 (3%) 

Wheat Aegilops, Agropyron, Elymus,Triticum 213 36 (17%) 

Lettuce Lactuca 130 27 (21%) 

Faba bean/vetch Vicia 160 23 (14%) 

Asparagus Asparagus 120 19 (16%) 

Grass pea Lathyrus 160 19 (12%) 

Stone fruits and almond Prunus 200 16 (8%) 

Grass forages 

Agrostis, Alopecurus, Arrhenatherum, Festuca, Lolium, 

Phalaris, Phleum, Poa 

1210 14 (1%) 

Oat Avena 25 13 (52%) 

Carrot Daucus 22 12 (55%) 

Pear Pyrus 15 11 (73%) 

Cultivated beets Beta, Patellifolia 13 10 (77%) 

Barley Hordeum 32 8 (25%) 

Lentil Lens 5 5 (100%) 

Apple Malus 40 5 (13%) 

Chickpea Cicer 44 4 (9%) 

Chicory Cichorium 6 3 (50%) 

Strawberry Fragaria 330 3 (1%) 

Rye Secale 3 3 (100%) 

Other forages Atriplex, Salsola 380 2 (1%) 

Garden pea Pisum 3 2 (67%) 

Olive Olea 33 2 (6%) 

Grape Vitis 65 1 (2%) 

Totals 7933 591 (7%) 

8 Data primarily sourced from Mabberley (2008). 

22

4.3 Threat status of CWR 

Out of the 591 CWR species for which regional assessments 

were carried out, 19 were assessed as Not Applicable, either 

due to their marginal occurrence in Europe or because they 

were introduced after AD 1500. The status of the remaining 

species was assessed at two regional levels: geographical 

Europe (572 species) and the EU 27 (521 species). At 

the European level, at least 11.5% (66) of the species are 

considered as threatened, with at least 3.3% (19) of them 

being Critically Endangered, 4.4% (22) Endangered and 

3.8% (25) Vulnerable – a further 4.5% (26) of the species 

are classified as Near Threatened (Table 5, Figure 12). 

Within the EU 27, at least 10.5% (55) of the CWR 

species assessed are threatened, of which at least 3.5% 

(18) are Critically Endangered, 3.3% (17) Endangered 

and 3.8% (20) Vulnerable – in addition, 4.0% (21) of 

the species are considered as Near Threatened (Table 5, 

Figure 13). One species (Allium jubatum J.F. Macbr.) 

is Regionally Extinct within Europe and the EU; it is 

native to Asiatic Turkey and Bulgaria, but according to 

Mathew (1996), it has not been found in Bulgaria since 

its original collection in 1844. Species classed as Extinct 

or threatened (Critically Endangered, Endangered and 

Vulnerable) at the European and EU 27 level are listed 

in Table 6. 

Table 5. Summary of numbers of selected CWR species within each category of threat 

Threatened 

categories 






Extinct (EX) 0 0 

Extinct in the Wild (EW) 0 0 

Regionally Extinct (RE) 1 (0) 1 (0) 


Endangered (EN) 22 (18) 17 (13) 

Vulnerable (VU) 25 (16) 20 (15) 




Total number of species assessed 572 (188) 521 (128) 

* This table does not include the Not Applicable species in Europe and/or the EU (species introduced after AD 1500 or species of 

marginal occurrence). For the EU 27 assessment the Not Evaluated species (species which do not occur in the EU) are also excluded. 

Figure 12. Red List status of CWR in Europe Figure 13. Red List status of CWR in the EU 27 

23

Table 6. Threatened and extinct CWR at the European and EU 27 level 

Family Species Red List Status 

Europe 

Red List Status 

EU 27 

Endemic to 

Europe 

ALLIACEAE Allium jubatum RE RE 

ALLIACEAE Allium corsicum CR CR Yes 

CHENOPODIACEAE Beta patula CR CR Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Brassica macrocarpa CR CR Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Crambe feuillei CR CR Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Crambe sventenii CR CR Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Crambe tamadabensis CR CR Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Crambe wildpretii CR CR Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Diplotaxis siettiana CR CR Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Diplotaxis vicentina CR CR Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Lepidium turczaninowii CR NE Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago citrina CR CR Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago fischeriana CR NE 

CHENOPODIACEAE Patellifolia webbiana CR CR Yes 

ROSACEAE Pyrus magyarica CR CR Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Rorippa valdes-bermejoi CR CR Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Sinapidendron angustifolium CR CR Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Sinapidendron rupestre CR CR Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Vicia costae CR CR Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Vicia ferreirensis CR CR Yes 

GRAMINEAE Aegilops tauschii EN NE 

GRAMINEAE Agropyron cimmericum EN NE Yes 

GRAMINEAE Agropyron dasyanthum EN NE Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium pervestitum EN NE Yes 

ASPARAGACEAE Asparagus fallax EN EN Yes 

ASPARAGACEAE Asparagus nesiotes EN EN Yes 

GRAMINEAE Avena insularis EN EN 

GRAMINEAE Avena murphyi EN EN 

CRUCIFERAE Barbarea lepuznica EN CR Yes 

CHENOPODIACEAE Beta macrocarpa EN EN 

CRUCIFERAE Brassica hilarionis EN EN Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Cicer canariense EN EN Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Cicer graecum EN EN Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Crambe laevigata EN EN Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Crambe microcarpa EN EN Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Crambe pritzelii EN EN Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Crambe scoparia EN EN Yes 

COMPOSITAE Lactuca watsoniana EN EN Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Lathyrus cassius EN EN 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago cretacea EN NE 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago rupestris EN NE 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago saxatilis EN NE Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Sinapidendron frutescens EN EN Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Sinapidendron sempervivifolium EN EN Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Vicia capreolata EN EN Yes 

GRAMINEAE Aegilops bicornis VU VU 

ALLIACEAE Allium exaltatum VU VU Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium pardoi VU VU Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium pyrenaicum VU VU Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium schmitzii VU VU Yes 

ASPARAGACEAE Asparagus arborescens VU VU Yes 

ASPARAGACEAE Asparagus pastorianus VU VU 

ASPARAGACEAE Asparagus plocamoides VU VU Yes 

24


Europe 


EU 27 

Endemic to 

Europe 

CHENOPODIACEAE Beta adanensis VU VU 

CHENOPODIACEAE Beta nana VU VU Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Brassica glabrescens VU VU Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Crambe arborea VU VU Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Crambe aspera VU NE 

CRUCIFERAE Crambe gomerae VU VU Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Crambe scaberrima VU VU Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Isatis platyloba VU VU Yes 

COMPOSITAE Lactuca singularis VU VU Yes 

COMPOSITAE Lactuca tetrantha VU VU Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago glandulosa VU NE 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago kotovii VU NE Yes 

ROSACEAE Prunus lusitanica VU VU 

ROSACEAE Prunus ramburii VU VU Yes 

GRAMINEAE Elymus fibrosus DD VU 

Beta macrocarpa is a primary wild relative of cultivated beets and is a potential donor of salt tolerant genes. The diploid type is distributed in the Mediterranean Basin but the unique 

tetraploid type is endemic to the Canary Islands and has been proposed for reclassification as a separate taxon. The species grows in dry coastal sites, often in salt marshes and beside 

salt pans and is threatened by aquaculture, development for tourism, recreation and urbanization. B. macrocarpa is regionally assessed as Endangered; however, the Canary Island 

subpopulation warrants global assessment due to its unique genetic diversity. Photograph © Arnoldo Santos Guerra. 

25

It should be noted that the percentages of threatened 

CWR mentioned above represent minimum estimates. 

If we consider only those species that are surviving 

and for which we have enough data to assess the risk 

of extinction (excluding DD, EX and RE species), we 

might receive a more realistic value, assuming that the 

percentage of threat among DD species is similar to 

the overall percentage of threatened species within this 

group. In this case, 16.3% of the assessed CWR are 

threatened at European level and 14.4% at the EU 27 

level. 

Table 7 shows the Red List status of the selected 

European CWR species by crop gene pool/group and the 

percentages of species assessed as threatened. Note that 

re-evaluation of the species assessed as Data Deficient 

may increase these percentages; further, the species 

assessed as Near Threatened are those that are likely to 

become threatened in the near future unless remedial 

action is implemented that alleviates the threats to these 

populations and negates any declines. None of the crop 

gene pools/groups are endemic to Europe; therefore, 

this is not a comparison of the Red List status between 

Table 7. Red List status of selected CWR species by crop gene pool/group, showing the percentages of the species assessed 

as threatened 

Crop gene pool/group 

No. of 

Red List status of species assessed % threatened 

assessed 9 RE CR EN VU NT LC DD 

species 

Brassica complex 137 0 11 8 6 7 61 44 18.2% 

Onion, leek, garlic etc. 115 1 1 1 4 4 42 62 5.2% 

Legume forages 10 89 0 2 3 2 6 69 7 7.9% 

Wheat 33 0 0 3 1 1 22 6 12.1% 

Lettuce 27 0 0 1 2 3 14 7 11.1% 

Faba bean/vetch 11 21 0 2 1 0 1 17 0 14.3% 

Asparagus 19 0 0 2 3 0 9 5 26.3% 

Grass pea 12 19 0 0 1 0 3 14 1 5.3% 

Stone fruits and almond 16 0 0 0 2 0 5 9 12.5% 

Grass forages 14 0 0 0 0 0 14 0 0.0% 

Oat 13 0 0 2 0 0 7 4 15.4% 

Carrot 12 0 0 0 0 0 8 4 0.0% 

Pear 11 0 1 0 0 0 3 7 9.1% 

Cultivated beets 10 0 2 1 2 0 3 2 50.0% 

Barley 7 0 0 0 0 0 6 1 0.0% 

Lentil 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0.0% 

Apple 5 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 0.0% 

Chickpea 4 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 50.0% 

Chicory 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0.0% 

Strawberry 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0.0% 

Rye 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0.0% 

Other forages 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0.0% 

Garden pea 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0.0% 

Olive 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0.0% 

Grape 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.0% 

Totals 572 1 19 25 22 26 313 166 16.3% 

9 Excluding species evaluated as Not Applicable. 

10 Only species listed in Annex I of the ITPGRFA. 

11 Only species in GP1b, TG1b, GP2, TG2 and five species for which data were readily available were assessed. 

12 Only species in GP1b, TG1b, GP2 and TG2 were assessed. 

26

entire crop gene pools/groups because only species that 

are native to Europe were assessed (see Table 4) and the 

species that are not endemic to Europe were regionally 

(not globally) assessed. Further, not all species native 

to Europe were assessed in each genus – for the legume 

forages, only species listed in Annex I of the ITPGRFA 

were assessed and due to the large numbers of species in 

Lathyrus and Vicia, only species in Gene Pool (GP)1b, 

Taxon Group (TG)1b, GP2, TG2 (i.e., the closest 

wild relatives – see Maxted et al. 2006) were assessed 13 . 

However, these results provide an indication of the crop 

gene pools or complexes that are under greatest threat 

of extinction in Europe. 

It is particularly notable that five of the ten species 

assessed in the beet gene pool are threatened – three 

globally and two regionally. The centre of diversity 

of the beet gene pool is in Europe, with ten out of 

the 13 species native to Europe; therefore, we know 

that at least 30% of the species in the gene pool are 

threatened with extinction. The brassica complex is 

also of particular concern as 27% (137) of the species 

are native to Europe and more than 18% (25) of these 

are threatened (24 globally and one regionally), with a 

further 5% (7) considered to be Near Threatened. The 

threat status of the wheat, oat and lettuce gene pools 

are also of considerable concern because, like beet 

and brassica crops, these are also highly economically 

important crops in Europe which have a relatively large 

proportion of their gene pools native to the region. 

Furthermore, they contain a comparatively high 

number of species evaluated as Data Deficient. 

Since the goal of CWR conservation is to conserve 

the widest pool of genetic diversity as possible, we are 

not only interested in the percentage of threatened 

species per crop gene pool or complex, but also in the 

percentage of threatened genetic diversity. It cannot be 

assumed that the percentage of threatened species in a 

gene pool is equivalent to the percentage of threatened 

genetic diversity; however, in the absence of genetic 

data to prove otherwise, it is necessary to take the 

precautionary approach and assume that in percentage 

terms, the risk of extinction to genetic diversity at least 

equates to the risk of extinction to taxonomic diversity 

(Kell et al. 2011a). In fact, Maxted et al. (1997a) and 

Maxted (2003) pointed out that while it is difficult, if 

not impossible, to quantify the loss of genetic diversity 

within CWR species, it must be faster than the loss 

of species, because there will be some genetic erosion 

(loss of genetic diversity) from the species that remain 

extant and complete loss of genetic diversity from those 

that become extinct, given that both extant and extinct 

species face the same threats. Therefore, if we assume that 

genetic diversity is strongly correlated with occurrences 

of species at particular localities and that some of those 

occurrences are threatened, then we may validly infer 

that the percentage of threatened species in a gene pool 

could signify a greater level of threat to overall genetic 

diversity in the gene pool than to taxonomic diversity 

(Kell et al. 2011a). 

Table 8. Number of assessed CWR species in the 27 

current EU Member States (based only on the sample of 

CWR assessed and excluding species evaluated as Not 

Applicable). 

Country 

Number of CWR species assessed 

Austria 123 

Belgium 89 

Bulgaria 226 

Cyprus 140 


Denmark 53 

Estonia 60 

Finland 44 

France 236 

Germany 106 

Greece 291 

Hungary 125 

Ireland 53 

Italy 280 

Latvia 55 

Lithuania 60 

Luxembourg 80 

Malta 157 


Poland 84 

Portugal 191 

Romania 177 

Slovakia 111 

Slovenia 145 

Spain 283 

Sweden 80 


13 An additional five species of Vicia were also assessed for which data were readily available. 

27

Figure 14. Species richness of European CWR (based on the sample included in the European Red List, excluding species 

assessed as Not Applicable and Data Deficient) 

Figure 15. Species richness of European CWR endemic to Europe (based on the sample included in the European Red 

List, excluding species assessed as Not Applicable and Data Deficient) 

28



Figure 14 shows the geographic distribution of species 

richness of the sample of CWR assessed (excluding 

species evaluated as Data Deficient and Not Applicable). 

As expected, species richness is highest in those areas 

of the region that are floristically rich – the countries 

of southwestern and southeastern Europe. The Eastern 

Mediterranean was recognized as a global Centre of 

Crop Diversity by Vavilov (1926); therefore, it is not 

surprising that as indicated in Figure 14, this area has 

a particularly high concentration of CWR species. 

Species richness in the countries of the EU (including 

species evaluated as Data Deficient) is shown in Table 

8. The top five countries in terms of species richness are: 

Greece, Spain, Italy, France and Bulgaria. 


Figure 15 shows the numbers and distribution of the 

species endemic to Europe (excluding species evaluated 

as Data Deficient and Not Applicable). Of the sample 

of CWR assessed, 188 are endemic to Europe (Table 

5) and of these, 119 are single country endemics. 

Endemism is highest in the Spanish territories (37 

species), Greece (22), Italy (15) and the Portuguese 

territories (14). Many of these nationally endemic 

species occur in the Canary Islands and Balearics 

(Spain), Sicily (Italy) and Madeira (Portugal). Cyprus is 

also a hotspot of endemism of CWR species – although 

only six national endemics were included in this sample, 

the level of endemism is high taking into account the 

size of the country. Crimea also exhibits a high degree 

of endemism which is due to the geographical isolation 

of the land mass – the main area of diversity being on 

the south side of the escarpment. As is the case for other 

wild plant species, mountainous regions are also rich in 

endemic CWR species – for example, in Greece, Italy 

and Spain. 


Figure 16 shows the distribution of threatened CWR 

species in the sample assessed. As might be expected, 

the highest numbers of threatened species are found in 

the countries of southern and eastern Europe which are 

known to have comparatively large floras and thus a large 

number of CWR species. It is notable that many of the 

Figure 16. Distribution of threatened CWR species in Europe (based on the sample included in the European Red List) 

29

threatened species are endemic to the Canary Islands and 

to the Madeira and Azores archipelagos, as well as to Sicily 

– this is of course no surprise, since not only do these 

islands have a high degree of endemism, but many island 

habitats are highly degraded, fragmented and fragile (Kell 

et al. 2008a). 

4.5 Major threats to CWR in Europe 

The major threats to each CWR species were coded using 

the IUCN Threats Classification Scheme. Threats were 

reported for 279 (49%) of the CWR species assessed 

and for 223 of these species, they were recorded to be 

ongoing. A summary of the relative importance of the 

most threatening processes is shown in Figure 17 14 . 

Intensified livestock farming in the form of overgrazing 

is indicated to have by far the greatest impact on CWR 

in Europe, affecting 22 out of 66 threatened species and 

75 species in total. Intensive arable farming was reported 

as a threat to 22 species, six of which are threatened – an 

associated threat is the use of herbicides and pesticides 

which was reported for 22 species (four species were 

coded for both of these threats, three of which are 

threatened). However, we should not conclude from 

these results that all types of farming are threatening 

CWR diversity; in fact, farmed areas (including arable 

land and pasture) are one of the primary habitats of 

CWR species. It is intensive and unsustainable farming 

practices, such as severe overgrazing, conversion of 

land to monocultures and the over-use of fertilizers, 

herbicides and pesticides that are the major threats to 

CWR that grow in agricultural areas – this includes 

grazing in semi-natural habitats such as Mediterranean 

maquis (Kell et al. 2011a). 

Development for tourism and recreation is also a 

major threat to European CWR, impacting 19 out of 

66 threatened species and 44 species overall. This is 

affecting species throughout Europe but is concentrated 

in Greece, Ukraine, Cyprus, Portugal, Spain and Italy. 

Coastal development in these countries is particularly 

pervasive and is having a severe impact on populations 

that grow in coastal habitats. Housing and urban 

development is also a significant threat, affecting 38 

species, 12 of which are threatened. 

Other threats having a major impact on CWR diversity 

in Europe include invasive alien species (impacting 

nearly 29% of threatened species), recreational activities 

(affecting more than 18% of threatened species), 

transport infrastructure development (affecting 

Figure 17. Major threats to CWR species in Europe 

14 Based only on threats reported to be ongoing (i.e., not those that have affected the species in the past, are expected to affect them in the future or those for 

which the timing was reported as ‘unknown’). 

30

more than 16% of threatened species), an increase 

in fire frequency or intensity (or sometimes also fire 

suppression), severe weather events, such as drought and 

flooding, and intensive forestry (including pollutants 

from forestry activities). 

Although Figure 17 shows intensified livestock farming 

as the most widespread threat to CWR species, if the 

proportion of threatened to non-threatened species is 

considered, only 29% of CWR impacted by livestock 

farming are assessed as threatened. The opposite is the case 

for the impact of alien invasive species on CWR, where 

66% of species impacted are threatened. This may lead to 

the conclusion that in Europe alien invasive species are 

a more pernicious threat to CWR species than livestock 

farming; however, this result has to be interpreted with 

care. Firstly, overall more threatened and Near Threatened 

species are affected by intensified livestock farming (32 

species) than by invasive species (21 species). Secondly, 

many species are affected by more than one threat and it 

might be a certain combination of threats that increases 

the species’ risk of extinction. These potential cumulative 

effects have not been analysed. Further, the Red List 

assessments are only a measure of the threatened status of 

species as entities (i.e., taxonomic diversity), not of intraspecific 

diversity. Livestock farming and indeed many 

of the other threats impacting CWR could be causing 

significant levels of genetic erosion; however, without 

regular and long-term monitoring of genetic diversity 

within and between a broad range of CWR species, we 

cannot make any supported assumptions. 

Climate change is also a significant threatening factor 

for CWR species. It is predicted to increase average 

temperatures by 2–4°C over the next 50 years and cause 

considerable changes in regional and seasonal patterns of 

precipitation (IPCC 2007). Within Europe, Thuiller et 

al. (2005) predict that by 2080 climate change will result 

in a 27–42% loss of species, with potential extremes 

ranging from 2.5–86% loss of current floristic diversity. 

There have been few studies of the likely impact on 

CWR diversity; however, Jarvis et al. (2008) undertook 

a comparative study of three crop gene pools – Arachis, 

Solanum and Vigna – and compared current distribution 

Beta patula is a primary wild relative of cultivated beets and is an important gene source for enhancing drought and virus resistance. It is endemic to two small, uninhabited islets in 

the Madeira archipelago – Ilhéu do Desembarcadouro and Ilhéu Chão – where it grows in dry, rocky places by the sea. It is threatened by invasive alien species, rabbit grazing and an 

increase in the seagull population, and is globally assessed as Critically Endangered. B. patula is listed in Annex II of the EU Habitats Directive and the islands on which it occurs are 

part of the Parque Natural da Madeira which is designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protected Area (SPA); however, special management measures are needed 

to ensure the survival of this species. Photograph © Brian Ford-Lloyd. 

31

with the predicted range in 2055. Their results indicated 

that for the three genera, 16–22% of species would go 

extinct; the majority of species showed greater than 50% 

loss of distributional range and the range that remained 

was highly fragmented, placing the extant species under 

greater threat of genetic erosion or extinction. The loss 

of such a high number of species is extremely disturbing; 

however, the potential range decreases of 85–94% for 

extant Arachis spp. reported by the authors are also a grave 

concern because although it is unlikely that range loss is 

directly correlated to genetic diversity, range loss of this 

magnitude must question the viability of populations in 

terms of retaining sufficient genetic diversity to maintain 

the long-term survival of the species. Although this study 

was of non-European crop gene pools, it is likely that the 

impact on CWR diversity in Europe could be similarly 

catastrophic. 

trend and 21 are thought to be stable – for 23 of these 

species, the population trend is unknown. It is clear that 

the 48 species assessed as threatened or Near Threatened 

with a decreasing population trend should be flagged up 

as an urgent priority for conservation action – particularly 

those endemic to Europe. Those with unknown population 

trends should have monitoring programmes put in place 

immediately and the species reported to be stable should 

also be closely monitored to ensure that potential changes 

in the trend can be reported. 

Figure 18. Population trends of 571 European CWR 

species 


At least 10.9% (62) of the species assessed are in decline, 

while for 38.7% (221) of the species the populations are 

considered to be stable and for a small percentage (13 

species) they are thought to be increasing; however, the 

population trend for the majority of species (48.2%) is 

unknown (Figure 18). 

Forty-eight of the 92 species assessed as threatened or Near 

Threatened are reported to have a decreasing population 

Lepidium turczaninowii is a wild relative of brassica crops and garden cress, L. sativum. It is endemic to the surroundings of Feodosija in eastern Crimea where it grows on sea bluffs 

and slopes. It is ecologically sensitive as it is adapted to permanent erosion of soils, moisture deficit and open plant communities. Competition from other plant species, housing 

developments and slope stabilization work are its main threats and it is globally assessed as Critically Endangered. Photograph © Viktor Melnyk. 

32

5. European aquatic plants – selection 

and results 

5.1 Species selection 

Aquatic plants provide a wide range of functions in 

freshwater ecosystems. They supply water with oxygen, 

fix atmospheric carbon, recycle nutrients, regulate water 

temperature and light, protect against erosion in flowing 

water and where the banks or margins are threatened by 

backwash from boat traffic (García Murillo et al. 2009). 

They also provide vital habitat and food for fish and 

aquatic invertebrates, which themselves support other 

animals and humans. 

The aim of this assessment is to review the conservation 

condition of around 400 species of vascular plants which 

occur in Europe and are dependent upon standing or 

flowing fresh or at most slightly salty water for their 

survival. The main difficulty with this process was the 

adoption of a definition of what constitutes an “aquatic 

plant” which would include the target species and be 

unambiguous. One of the most important issues is 

that of obligation or tolerance. A large number of 

vascular plants, such as most linear-leaved pondweeds 

(Potamogeton subgenus graminifolii) cannot survive 

out of water and may be considered obligate aquatics. 

Conversely many species including species of dandelion 

(Taraxacum), thistle (Cirsium) and even brambles 

(Rubus) can tolerate even quite long submersion and 

may be considered facultative aquatics or not aquatic 

at all. Clearly it was critical to include the former but 

exclude the latter from this assessment. However the 

situation is further complicated by taxa which either 

germinate and initially grow under water, but flower 

and fruit in the air (termed “emergent”) and those 

which are dependent upon temporary or ephemeral 

water bodies, often remaining dormant beneath 

standing water and germinating as water levels drop. 

Ranunculus fluitans, an obligate aquatic with emergent flowers, R. Creuse, Indre, France. Photograph © Richard V. Lansdown. 

33

The following definition was considered the most clear 

and unambiguous available: “Vascular aquatic plants are 

interpreted as all Pteridophytina and Spermatophytina 

whose photosynthetically active parts are permanently 

or, at least, for several months each year submerged in 

water or float on the surface of water” (Cook 1996). 

The only ambiguous element of this definition is the 

duration of inundation, details of which are unknown 

for the majority of plants. Following this definition, we 

consider the group of aquatic plants comprehensively 

assessed at European and EU 27 level. 

The growth forms of aquatic vascular plants include taxa 

which are: 

■■ Always completely submerged (obligate submerged 

aquatics) such as the naiads (Najadaceae). 

■■ Submerged with sexually reproductive parts emergent 

(held above the water), such as water-fan (Aldrovanda 

vesiculosa) and the bladderworts (Utricularia). 

■■ Emergent, where the roots and base of the plant 

are submerged, but some photosynthetic parts and 

sexually reproductive parts are emergent, such as most 

of the Cyperaceae, including sedges (Carex), spikerushes 

(Eleocharis) and club-rushes (Schoenoplectus). 

■■ Floating, without roots or with roots hanging in the 

water column, such as rigid hornwort (Ceratophyllum 

demersum), floating fern (Salvinia natans) and 

duckweeds (Lemnaceae). 

■■ 

Amphibious, growing from the land over the water 

or adopting a variety of the above forms, such as 

amphibious bistort (Persicaria amphibia). 

All obligate submerged aquatics and those with their 

sexually reproductive parts emergent were assessed, as 

were all floating plants. Most emergent or amphibious 

species were also included, but those which are equally 

capable of surviving in seasonally inundated habitats were 

mainly excluded to make the scale of the assessment more 

practical. The following taxa were also excluded from the 

assessment: 

■■ 

■■ 

■■ 

Taxa known or suspected to not be native to Europe; a 

few cases required individual consideration, for example 

the decision was taken to include Lemna turionifera 

because specimens have been found from Scandinavia 

dating from the 1800s, however this species certainly 

appears to be an alien in most European countries. 

Hybrids and taxa below species level. 

Two species; Schoenoplectus corymbosus and Persicaria 

lanigera were considered Not Applicable because 

European populations represent only a very small 

proportion of the global population. 

There are many areas of taxonomic uncertainty affecting 

aquatic plants, in particular, the taxonomy of Ranunculus 

subgenus Batrachium is very poorly elucidated and 

Salvinia natans, a floating aquatic, remnant of the former Amik Gölü, Turkey. Photograph © Richard V. Lansdown. 

34

the subject of three different concurrent treatments 

(Lansdown 2007). Similarly, the taxonomy of the waterchestnuts 

(Trapa) is very complex with at least 20 named 

taxa only one of which is widely recognised. Where the 

information was available, the taxonomic treatment by 

the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (The 

Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew 

2010) was followed. In cases where genera had not yet 

been treated by this checklist, appropriate authorities, 

such as Flora Iberica (Castroviejo et al. 1986-2001), Flora 

Nordica (e.g. Jonsell, 2000) and Flora Europea (Tutin et 

al. 1964-1980) were followed. In general, Med Checklist 

(now included in Euro+Med Plantbase 2006-2011) was 

considered too iconoclastic and not sufficiently generally 

accepted and was not followed. The initial species list 

comprised 400 species but during the review process five 

had to be omitted for various reasons and the final list in 

this publication includes 395 species. 

5.2 Threat status of aquatic plants 

The status of aquatic plants was assessed at two regional 

levels: geographical Europe and the EU 27. At the 

European level, at least 6.6% of the species (26 species) are 

considered threatened with extinction, with at least 1.3% 

of them being Critically Endangered, 2% Endangered and 

3.3% Vulnerable (Table 9 and Figures 19 and 20). A further 

7.4% (29 species) are classified as Near Threatened. Within 

the EU 27, at least 7.2% of aquatic plants (27 species) 

are threatened with extinction, of which at least 1.3% 

are Critically Endangered, 2.4% Endangered and 3.5% 

Vulnerable. In addition, 8.6% (32 species) are considered 

Table 9. Summary of numbers of European aquatic plant species within each category of threat 

Threatened 

categories 






Extinct (EX) 1 (1) 0 

Extinct in the Wild (EW) 0 0 

Regionally Extinct (RE) 0 0 


Endangered (EN) 8 (5) 9 (4) 

Vulnerable (VU) 13 (7) 13 (6) 




Total number of species assessed 393 (63) 372 (34) 

* This table does not include the Not Applicable species in Europe and/or the EU (species introduced after AD 1500 or species of 

marginal occurrence). For the EU 27 assessment the Not Evaluated species (species which do not occur in the EU) are also excluded. 

Figure 19. Red List status of aquatic plants in Europe Figure 20. Red List status of aquatic plants in the EU 27 

35

Near Threatened. One species is Extinct at the European 

level, the Serbian endemic Trapa annosa; however the 

taxonomy of the genus Trapa is far from clear and it is not 

certain that T. annosa is a good species. The Greek endemic 

Isoetes heldreichii, is listed as Critically Endangered/ 

Possibly Extinct as it has not been seen since 1885, in spite 

of searches in the type locality, however there is also a need 

to resolve the taxonomic status of this species, particularly 

in relation to populations recently found on the island of 

Lesvos (I. Bazos pers. comm. 2010). 

A temporary pool on karstic limestone which supports half of the European population 

of Callitriche pulchra, Gavdos Island, Greece Photograph © Richard V. Lansdown. 

Finally, it should be noted that the percentages of threatened 

aquatic plants mentioned above represent minimum 

estimates. A more realistic value may be calculated based 

only on the surviving species which have been assessed for 

their extinction risk (i.e. omitting DD and EX from the 

total). In this case, 7.9% of aquatic plants are threatened at 

European level and 8.1% at EU 27 level. The Extinct and 

threatened species (Critically Endangered, Endangered, 

and Vulnerable) at European and EU 27 level are listed 

in Table 10. 

Table 10. Threatened and Extinct aquatic plants at the European and EU 27 level 


Europe 


EU 27 

Endemic to Europe 

TRAPACEAE Trapa annosa EX NE Yes 

CALLITRICHACEAE Callitriche pulchra CR CR 

CRUCIFERAE Rorippa valdes-bermejoi CR CR Yes 

ISOETACEAE Isoetes heldreichii CR CR Yes 

ISOETACEAE Isoetes malinverniana CR CR Yes 

UMBELLIFERAE Apium bermejoi CR CR Yes 

CALLITRICHACEAE Callitriche regis-jubae EN EN 

CALLITRICHACEAE Callitriche transvolgensis EN NE Yes 

ISOETACEAE Isoetes boryana EN EN Yes 

ISOETACEAE Isoetes fluitans EN EN Yes 

LYTHRACEAE Lythrum thesioides EN EN 

MARSILEACEAE Marsilea batardae EN EN Yes 

MARSILEACEAE Pilularia minuta EN EN 

UMBELLIFERAE Eryngium viviparum EN EN Yes 

ALISMATACEAE Alisma wahlenbergii VU EN Yes 

ALISMATACEAE Damasonium polyspermum VU VU 

ALLIACEAE Allium schmitzii VU VU Yes 

CONVOLVULACEAE Ipomoea sagittata VU VU 

CYPERACEAE Cyperus cyprius VU VU Yes 

ELATINACEAE Elatine brochonii VU VU 

HYDROCHARITACEAE Najas flexilis VU VU 

ISOETACEAE Isoetes azorica VU VU Yes 

LENTIBULARIACEAE Pinguicula mundi VU VU Yes 

MARSILEACEAE Marsilea azorica VU VU Yes 

MARSILEACEAE Marsilea strigosa VU VU 

PRIMULACEAE Anagallis crassifolia VU VU 

UMBELLIFERAE Thorella verticillato-inundata VU VU Yes 

HIPPURIDACEAE Hippuris tetraphylla LC VU 

HYDROCHARITACEAE Najas tenuissima DD EN 

36



Figure 21 shows the geographic distribution of aquatic 

plant species across Europe; it does not include Data 

Deficient species although these are included in Table 11. 

To interpret this map it is necessary to know that detailed 

distribution data were available for some countries 

(such as Spain, France and Fennoscandia) whereas for 

others the only data available were presence or absence 

at a national level and therefore the map was created by 

selecting the whole country (Balkan states and Central 

and East Europe). This gives a false impression of a high 

density over very large areas in the centre and southeast 

of Europe. 

In fact, the top five EU countries in terms of aquatic plant 

species richness (in descending order) are: France, Italy, 

Spain, Germany and Poland (Table 11). It is notable, 

that most aquatic plants have a very wide distribution, 

occurring in a large number of countries. Perhaps the most 

remarkable is Potamogeton pusillus which has an almost 

cosmopolitan distribution, from Europe through Russia 

east to eastern Russia, Japan and the Korean Peninsula, 

south through the Ryukyu Islands to Papua New Guinea, 

Table 11. Number of aquatic plant species in the 27 

current EU Member States (excluding introduced species) 

Country 

Total number of species 

Austria 217 

Belgium 203 

Bulgaria 207 

Cyprus 59 


Denmark 193 

Estonia 161 

Finland 179 

France 288 

Germany 244 

Greece 205 

Hungary 200 

Ireland 181 

Italy 270 

Latvia 153 

Lithuania 156 

Luxembourg 176 

Malta 66 


Poland 223 

Portugal 207 

Romania 214 

Slovakia 182 

Slovenia 202 

Spain 261 

Sweden 210 


Figure 21. Species richness of aquatic plant species in Europe (excluding species assessed as Not Applicable and Data 

Deficient) 

37

through Africa north and south of the Sahara and more or 

less throughout the Americas, the only places where it is 

absent are Australia, New Zealand and islands in the Pacific 

and Indian Oceans. Of the 27 EU countries only seven 

support fewer than 200 species and the main correlation 

appears to be that south of Fennoscandia, it is the size 

of the country that has the greatest influence over the 

number of aquatic species which a country supports. Of 

the 395 species assessed, 38 are found in only one country, 

of which 17 (45%) belong to genera known to have 

taxonomic problems; Isoetes, Trapa or Zannichellia many 

of which may, in time, be shown to simply be forms of 

other taxa; 24 occur in two countries; 307 (approximately 

three quarters) occur in five or more countries and 197 

(approximately half) occur in 20 or more countries. 


Figure 22 shows the distribution of endemic aquatic 

plant species (e.g. those that are unique to Europe and 

are found nowhere else in the world). The distribution of 

endemic plants shows that there is a high rate of endemism 

in the north and west of the Iberian Peninsula, central 

and northern France, Belgium and the Netherlands with 

the UK, Germany and Denmark as well as Ukraine and 

Russia. Regarding the size of the areas covered by endemic 

species, the same caveat as in Figure 21 applies. 


Of the 26 threatened aquatic plant species, most are found 

in the Atlantic region, the Iberian Peninsula and other 

parts of the Mediterranean, with only a few occurring 

in northern countries. The importance of the Iberian 

Peninsula for threatened species can be seen in Figure 23. 

Two threatened species Eryngium viviparum and Thorella 

verticillato-inundata can be considered to fall within the 

Atlantic region. Six threatened species are endemic to 

the Iberian Peninsula: Apium bermejoi, Rorippa valdesbermejoi 

(Critically Endangered); Isoetes fluitans. Marsilea 

batardae (Endangered), Allium schmitzii and Pinguicula 

mundi (Vulnerable). Two threatened species are endemic 

to the Azores: Isoetes azorica and Marsilea azorica (both 

Vulnerable), although it has recently been suggested that 

the latter is in fact M. hirsuta, probably introduced from 

Australia. Fourteen threatened species can be considered 

predominantly Mediterranean in distribution, of which 

four are mainly eastern: Trapa annosa (Extinct, Serbia), 

Callitriche pulchra, Isoetes heldreichii (Critically Endangered, 

Greece) and Cyperus cyprius (Vulnerable, Cyprus); six 

Figure 22. Distribution of endemic aquatic plant species in Europe (excluding species assessed as Not Applicable and Data 

Deficient) 

38

are mainly western: Isoetes malinverniana (Critically 

Endangered, Italy), Isoetes boryana (Endangered, France), 

Elatine brochonii (Vulnerable, France and Spain), Anagallis 

crassifolia and Marsilea strigosa (Vulnerable, France, Italy 

and the Iberian Peninsula) and three occurring more or less 

throughout: Pilularia minuta (Endangered), Damasonium 

polyspermum and Ipomoea sagittata (Vulnerable). 

Wetland with Schoenoplectus corymbosus, Parque Nacional Coto de Doňana, Spain. 

Photograph © Richard V. Lansdown. 

Only four threatened species have a predominantly 

northern distribution, Alisma wahlenbergii (Vulnerable in 

Europe, Endangered in the EU 27), Hippuris tetraphylla 

(Vulnerable in the EU 27) and Najas tenuissima 

(Vulnerable) are more or less restricted to Scandinavia 

and Russia, while Najas flexilis occurs from Ireland, east 

to Poland, and north through Scandinavia and Russia. 

Lythrum thesioides (Endangered) has a curious distribution, 

occurring in France, Italy, Hungary and Russia. It seems 

likely that the major gaps in its distribution must be due 

to under-recording or taxonomic confusion. 

The concentration of threatened aquatic plants in the 

Iberian Peninsula and the Mediterranean is more a 

consequence of the combination of the high diversity of 

threatened plants, particularly endemic species, and the 

distribution of the most vulnerable habitat types, mainly 

ephemeral pools. 

Figure 23. Distribution of threatened aquatic plants in Europe 

39

5.4 Major threats to aquatic plants in 

Europe 

The major threats to each species were coded using the 

IUCN Threats Classification Scheme. A summary of the 

relative importance of the different threatening processes 

is shown in Figure 24. 

The biggest threat to aquatic plants in Europe is direct 

habitat loss; individual wetlands and parts or all of wetland 

complexes are still drained for development, agriculture 

or even pasture throughout the region. This is significant 

not only when it affects large wetlands and wetland 

complexes, but equally when it involves small superficially 

unimportant sites, such as seasonally inundated field 

corners, wet hollows in pasture and stock ponds. In the 

UK, for example pressure on land use has led to a general 

tidying up of the landscape, resulting in the loss of damp 

habitats in fields, seasonally wet tracks and ephemeral 

ponds, with a consequent decline in many species which 

were formerly abundant or are still abundant elsewhere, 

such as Damasonium alisma, Limosella aquatica, Mentha 

pulegium and Ranunculus tripartitus. 

may be achieved simply by raising a bund or installing 

a sluice or which may involve the construction of major 

dams, can eradicate entire populations of these species. 

Zannichellia obtusifolia appears to be declining because 

water levels in some sites where it occurs are stabilised to 

increase the biomass to attract more hunters to the area. 

Surface or groundwater abstraction can similarly have a 

significant adverse impact on aquatic plants, for example, 

Carex cretica, which is endemic to Crete, is threatened 

by the abstraction of water for irrigation. Many 

wetland systems, such as rivers and streams in limestone 

catchments, soligenous fens and naturally fluctuating 

Glyceria maxima, entirely covering the margins of a large ditch, Spalding, Lincolnshire, 

UK. Photograph © Richard V. Lansdown. 

Species which do not spend their whole life cycle within 

the water often depend upon fluctuating water levels to 

supress more aggressive taxa such as the larger grasses, 

including Glyceria maxima, Phalaris arundinacea and 

Phragmites australis. Stabilisation of water levels which 

Figure 24. Major threats to aquatic plants in Europe 

40

meres, have level and flow regimes tied to the behaviour 

of the water table. Abstraction of water from the ground, 

both for potable supply and agricultural use, is known to 

affect both the levels and the periodicity of fluctuation of 

water tables which in turn affect the timing and quantity 

of supply to natural springs and seepages upon which 

these wetland and river plants depend. The abstraction 

of water from rivers and lakes leads as well to ecological 

change with various consequences including the decrease 

of surface area of flooded wetlands and the duration of 

flooding. 

Rivers and other wetlands have been modified since 

humans first started to grow crops and keep livestock, 

from minor diversions to form stock ponds up to hard 

defences, channelization and damming of major rivers. 

In many countries, even the smallest high altitude flushes 

and headwaters have been modified. In the uplands of 

the UK, for example, sheep farmers routinely dam and 

divert the small streams which will eventually become 

our main rivers; in many areas unregulated exploitation 

of river gravels destroys the structure and vegetation of 

river floodplains. It appears likely that in much of Europe 

the vegetation of rivers has been in severe decline for 

hundreds of years and it is difficult to establish which 

species natural river systems would have supported. 

Most wetland types are naturally highly dynamic, 

resulting from natural processes at the ecosystem level, 

e.g. seasonal and non-seasonal fluctuations of water 

levels, succession to other habitats, the lateral movement 

of rivers and the actions of large herbivores. Many aquatic 

and wetland plant populations appear to function as 

dynamic metapopulations; these populations are linked 

by exchange of genetic material (e.g. pollen, propagules 

or even plant fragments) thus increasing their resilience 

to natural changes in the availability of suitable habitats. 

Modification of wetland systems and complexes disrupts 

connections between populations within metapopulations 

by increasing the distance between patches further 

enhancing the probability of extinction. Fragmentation 

of wetland habitats also leads to the decrease in the total 

surface area and thus in the total size of populations, as 

well as the size of the remaining habitat patches which 

increases their vulnerability. 

Aquatic plants are often sensitive to changes in their 

freshwater environments such as increases in nutrients, 

changes in salinity, pH, temperature, etc. and they may be 

important as indicators of ecosystem health. It is therefore 

not surprising that pollution is a big threat and the main 

cause is the use of fertilisers and herbicides or pesticides 

in agricultural landscapes. Nutrient levels in wetlands are 

increasing, through run-off from agriculture, sediment 

leaching in from various practices which break up the 

soil surface, from fish-farming and from atmospheric 

deposition. Whilst the evidence for direct impacts of 

increased nutrient loads on aquatic and wetland plants 

is scant, they are extremely vulnerable to the knockon 

effects of increased nutrient loads, developing 

from an increase in productivity and the replacement 

of oligotrophic species (which are often rare, such as 

Eryngium viviparum and Thorella verticillato-inundata) 

by meso- and eutrophic-species including aggressive 

colonial perennial grasses and exotic invasive species; 

if enrichment continues, most higher plants disappear, 

displaced by algal mats, phytoplankton and eventually 

anoxic crises. Eutrophication of large water bodies tends 

to slow down or decrease in developed countries; however 

eutrophication of headwaters is often increasing as is use 

of xenobiotic pollutants such as herbicides. Pollution 

from domestic or industrial sources and garbage disposal 

is affecting the ecosystem in similar ways. 

Recreational use of water bodies is another threat 

factor; plants can suffer from excessive trampling due 

to recreational activities or from work activities such as 

removal of vegetation while “cleaning up” water bodies. 

Similarly, water sports have, for example, been described 

as a threat to Isoetes boryana which grows in shallow water 

on the margins of large lakes 

The invasion of exotic species such as Crassula helmsii, 

Ludwigia species and Sagittaria subulata leads to increased 

competition for space with native aquatic plants and 

affects most threatened aquatic plant species. Climate 

change and particularly an increase in droughts pose a 

problem for aquatic plants especially in the Mediterranean 

countries. The direct effect is that less suitable habitat will 

be available but this be aggravated by higher demand on 

the existing water resources in times of drought. Several 

consecutive dry years may also adversely affect the 

reproduction capacity of some species. 


In addition to the complexities of definition of aquatic 

plants and taxonomic issues, there are fundamental 

problems with attempts to quantify population trends 

for aquatic plants. Many, if not most aquatic plants 

reproduce mainly by vegetative means, either through 

fragmentation followed by rooting of fragments, such 

as water-starworts (Callitriche), or by turions, such as 

pondweeds (Potamogeton); they may also reproduce by self- 

41

fertilisation. As a consequence many plant populations are 

clonal, such that the same genetic individual may extend 

over kilometres or even throughout entire river systems. 

This likelihood has been supported by the fact that all 

plants of some alien taxa such as nuttall’s and Canadian 

waterweed (Elodea nuttallii and E. canadensis) in the UK 

are female and most derive from a very small number of 

introductions, but they have been capable of spreading 

more or less throughout the region. The capacity of plants 

to spread by creeping stems and stolons, combined with 

their capacity to spread by vegetative methods, means 

that it is difficult or impossible to delineate a single plant. 

Without this capacity it is almost impossible to assess the 

size of a population, let alone measure trends. 

This lack of genetic variation also means that it is difficult 

to interpret abundance in terms of the potential survival 

of the species. For example, in the UK it appears likely 

that the population of floating water-plantain (Luronium 

natans) in the Montgomery Canal, which numbers 

millions of plants, is genetically identical or at least shows 

very low genetic diversity, in contrast, populations in 

natural water bodies in the Welsh mountains appear to 

be very genetically diverse (Kay et al. 1999), but they 

are much smaller. Without genetic data, it might be 

concluded that the species is not of conservation concern 

because of the presence of vast populations, however in 

genetic terms, the high altitude populations are small 

and highly vulnerable and represent most of the genetic 

diversity of the species in the UK. 

the conservation status of populations have in many cases 

been made simply based on the number of sites from 

which a taxon is recorded. There are many aquatic plant 

taxa in Europe which are known to be declining in some 

areas, but appear to be frequent in other areas. Without 

numerical data it has been impossible to interpret this 

in relation to the IUCN classes and these species are 

generally listed as Least Concern. 

The information collected at species level shows that 

about 16% of the European aquatic plants are considered 

to be declining whereas around two thirds (64.3%) of 

them seem to have stable populations. A small fraction 

(1.3%) has an increasing population trend and the trend 

of about one fifth (18.6%) is unknown (Figure 25). 

Figure 25. Population trends of European aquatic plants 

For most aquatic plant taxa we lack both the numerical 

data that would enable trend analysis and genetic 

information that would enable assessment of the relative 

importance of different populations and so decisions on 

Nymphaea candida is widespread in Europe with stable populations and is currently assessed as Least Concern. Photograph © Richard V. Lansdown. 

42

6. Discussion 

6.1 Status and population trends of 

European vascular plants 

Three groups of vascular plant species were assessed at 

European and EU 27 regional level: species listed under 

European and international policy instruments, crop 

wild relatives and aquatic plants. In total, 1,826 species 

and subspecies have been assessed which is a sample of 

around 8% of the European flora. Although the selected 

plant groups are very different in their scope, there are 

similarities in the threats that they are facing. Moreover, 

some of the species selected belong to more than one 

group: 24 species are crop wild relatives listed under 

the Habitats Directive or Bern Convention annexes, 

29 species are aquatic plants listed under the policy 

instruments, and five species are crop wild relatives that 

grow in aquatic habitats. The following discussion will 

look for similarities in the results but will also underline 

specific issues of the different groups and accentuate their 

specific needs. 

The group of policy species comprises 891 species and 

subspecies in total. Not surprisingly, a high proportion 

of them are threatened as they have already been 

identified as being in need of conservation attention. 

At the European level, at least 44.9% (400) of the 

species are considered as threatened. Of those, at least 

11.9% are Critically Endangered, 17.2% Endangered 

and 15.8% Vulnerable. A further 9.5% (85) of species 

are classified as Near Threatened as they are significantly 

declining in parts of their range and need monitoring 

or are conservation dependent. Within the EU 27 the 

proportion of threatened plants is higher with at least 

47.3% of the plants (405 species) being threatened, of 

which at least 12.6% are Critically Endangered, 18.4% 

Endangered and 16.2% Vulnerable. In addition, 10.9% 

of species are considered as Near Threatened. 

Within the CWR group, regional assessments were 

carried out for 591 species. At the European level, at least 

11.5% (66) of the species are considered threatened, with 

at least 3.3% of them being Critically Endangered, 4.4% 

Endangered and 3.8% Vulnerable – a further 4.5% of the 

species are classified as Near Threatened. Within the EU 

27, the percentage of threatened species is slightly lower 

with at least 10.5% (55) of the CWR species assessed 

as threatened, of which at least 3.5% are Critically 

Endangered, 3.3% Endangered and 3.8% Vulnerable – 

in addition, 4.0% of the species are considered as Near 

Threatened. 

The assessment of 395 aquatic plants shows us that at 

the European level, at least 6.6% (26) of the species are 

considered threatened with extinction, with at least 1.3% 

of them being Critically Endangered, 2.0% Endangered 

and 3.3% Vulnerable. A further 7.4% are classified as 

Near Threatened. Within the EU 27 the level of threat 

is slightly higher as at least 7.2% of aquatic plants (27 

species) are threatened, of which at least 1.3% are Critically 

Endangered, 2.4% Endangered and 3.5% Vulnerable. In 

addition, 8.6% are considered Near Threatened. 

The results of the three groups above compare to the risk 

of extinction of other taxa assessed at European level. 

It is known that 44% of freshwater molluscs, 37% of 

freshwater fishes, 23% of amphibians, 19% of reptiles, 

15% of mammals and dragonflies, 13% of birds, and 

9% of butterflies are threatened, groups that have been 

comprehensively assessed in Europe. Additional European 

Red Lists assessing a selection from species groups have 

shown that 20% of terrestrial molluscs and 11% of the 

saproxylic beetles are also threatened. 

The proportion of threat for the three plant groups can 

not be summarized in form of a percentage as they are 

very different in their scope. They were selected by either 

being listed in a policy instrument, providing a specific 

service to livelihoods or being defined by their ecology. 

Although there are species from every geographic region in 

Europe, the selected plant species are not a representative 

sample of the European flora. It will therefore not be 

attempted to state a percentage of threat out of all species 

assessed but we do know that at least 467 species are 

threatened with extinction at European level, with 124 

being Critically Endangered, 178 Endangered and 165 

Vulnerable. The total number of Near Threatened species 

is 135. Of the plant species assessed, 863 are endemic 

to Europe and of these, 408 are threatened. We have a 

global responsibility for the conservation of these species 

and the diversity they present. 

Two policy species are Regionally Extinct at the EU 

27 level: Veronica euxina and Mandragora officinarum. 

Three species are considered Extinct in Europe and 

globally: Centaurea pseudoleucolepis, Euphrasia mendoncae 

and Viola cryana. A further three European endemic 

43

plant species are classed as Extinct in the Wild: the 

grasses Bromus bromoideus and Bromus interruptus, and 

Lysimachia minoricensis. One CWR species, Allium 

jubatum, is Regionally Extinct within Europe and the 

EU. Furthermore, one aquatic species is Extinct at the 

European and global level, the Serbian endemic Trapa 

annosa; however it is not certain that T. annosa is a valid 

species. Two aquatic plant species and 19 CWR that are 

of marginal occurrence in Europe were considered in this 

assessment, but were classed as Not Applicable. 

The relatively high percentage of species assessed as Data 

Deficient (CWR: 29%, policy species: 20.3%, aquatic 

plants: 16%) is attributable to three main factors: a) 

insufficient knowledge of the species to apply the Red 

List criteria, b) difficulties in accessing data for some 

countries, and c) taxonomic issues. In many cases, 

knowledge of the species’ distribution was available, but 

there was little, if any information about the population 

size, structure or trend. General knowledge about the 

habitats of the species, where known, could often be 

used to make inferences about threats to the species, but 

this is not enough to make a reasoned judgement about 

its threat status. The Data Deficient Category had to 

be applied to a number of species that showed declines 

in several countries, had been listed as threatened on 

national red lists, and had no evidence of a stronghold 

or centre of abundance anywhere. In those cases it would 

have been necessary to calculate an overall rate of decline 

within the last three generations or ten years – this 

type of information was simply not available and more 

research is needed to define the regional extinction risk 

of these species. Moreover, knowledge in the plant expert 

community in Europe extends mainly to populations 

within one single country and there are few botanists 

familiar with a species throughout its whole range. This 

causes two problems: firstly, data need to be collected 

from every national red list or other national sources and 

experts for each individual country need to be contacted 

which is complex and very time consuming. Secondly, 

different countries store data in different ways and 

national red lists do not necessarily provide more data 

than just the threat category and do not always follow the 

IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. Data collected 

from each country was often so diverse that it was difficult 

to combine it in one assessment. Moreover, when experts 

where contacted via email or in a workshop, it proved 

difficult to review widespread species as most experts only 

wanted to provide a judgement at national level but were 

hesitant to do so for the European range of a species. It 

is clear that more work needs to be done to improve our 

knowledge of the threatened and conservation status of 

Mandragora officinarum, is Regionally Extinct in the EU 27 but hosts small populations 

in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina and is therefore assessed as Endangered in 

Europe. It has been used in traditional medicine and is a mythical plant that was 

associated with witchcraft and magic. Photograph © Michaela Wernisch. 

these species and that the network of European botanists 

needs to be strengthened. 

Looking at the population trends, 38.4% of the policy 

species, 16.0% of the European aquatic plants and at 

least 10.9% of the CWR species assessed are in decline. 

Stable populations have been reported for 21.8% of the 

policy species, 38.7% of the CWR species, and nearly 

two thirds (64.3%) of the aquatic plants. The percentage 

of species that have expanding populations is very low in 

each of the groups. The percentage of populations with 

an unknown population trend is notable: no population 

trend could be determined for nearly half of the CWR 

species (48.2%), compared to more than one third of the 

policy species (36.7%) and nearly one fifth (18.6%) of the 

aquatic plants. However, policy species are more likely to 

be monitored and therefore more population data were 

available. The population trend analysis in this report was 

based in many cases on survey data from only a small part 

of the species range or on subjective assessments based on 

known threats or habitat decline. It must be recognised 

that in many cases, particularly with wetland-dependent 

taxa, population counts are meaningless, either because 

plants mainly undergo vegetative and therefore clonal 

reproductions, are annuals (and therefore capable of 

achieving populations in excess of a thousand individuals 

in the space of one or two generations) or because much 

of their growth is subterranean and it is not possible to 

define a single individual. In such cases we are obliged 

to fall back on weak definitions of populations or a 

measure of presence at a site. Better monitoring of the 

plants assessed is urgently needed, especially for those 

with an unknown and declining trend and those classed 

as threatened, Near Threatened and Data Deficient. 

44

The results of the assessment of CWR show that a 

significant proportion of species are threatened with 

extinction and that many are also likely to become 

threatened in the near future unless immediate remedial 

action is taken. Crop complexes that are of particular 

concern include beet, brassicas, oat, lettuce and wheat. 

Although a significant proportion of the species assessed 

are thought to have a stable population trend, a major 

concern is that for almost half of the species assessed, the 

population trend is unknown, underlining our lack of 

knowledge of the status of these species in the wild. More 

than half of the species evaluated as threatened or Near 

Threatened are in decline and are therefore in urgent need 

of conservation attention. This loss of plant diversity can 

occur at both taxonomic (species) and genetic level. It is 

difficult, if not impossible, to quantify the loss of genetic 

diversity within CWR species; however, it must be 

faster than the loss of species, because there will be some 

genetic erosion from the species that remain extant and 

complete loss of genetic diversity from those species that 

become extinct (Maxted et al. 1997c, 2003). It therefore 

seems likely that virtually all CWR species are currently 

suffering loss of genetic diversity to varying degrees. 

Maxted et al. (1997c) estimated that 25–35% of plant 

genetic diversity would be lost between the ratification 

of the CBD in 1993 and the 2010 Biodiversity Target 

date. Loss of any genetic diversity means that plants may 

not be able to adapt to changing conditions quite so 

readily in the future – in a time of ecosystem instability 

this is a serious concern, since many of these species form 

the basis of our future food security. Further, in terms 

of the raison d’etre for singling out CWR as a specific 

group of plants, it is their utility to plant breeders and the 

maximum range of CWR genetic diversity that breeders 

require, so any loss of diversity impacts on their potential 

utility and thus their value as a natural resource. 

At first sight, the level of threat in the aquatic plants 

group appears low, especially compared to other species 

groups bound to aquatic habitats. Aquatic animal species 

are among the most threatened in Europe with 44% of 

freshwater molluscs, 37% of all freshwater fish and 23% of 

amphibians being threatened with extinction. The main 

reason for the low percentage of threat in aquatic plants 

is that they are mostly widespread and the number of 

restricted endemics is low compared to the other groups. 

Among aquatic plants there are species that are adapted 

to survive periods without water – this is not the case 

for freshwater molluscs or fishes. Some plants are also 

quite mobile by using seed distribution via birds or wind. 

However, it is notable that the most widespread threat 

for freshwater species is water pollution, in particular 

from agriculture, although this is not necessarily the most 

serious threat. 

6.2 Major threats to European vascular 

plants 

Vascular plants are subject to the same threats as any 

other wild species, which, fundamentally, are caused 

by the conflict between supply and demand for natural 

resources (Stuart and Adams 1990). The species assessed 

are therefore mainly affected by loss, degradation and/ 

or increased fragmentation of their habitats that result 

from unsustainable human mismanagement of the 

environment. 

Intensified livestock farming and in particular intensive 

grazing activities were identified as the major threats to 

the policy species and CWR. Many of the species assessed 

require a certain level of grazing to keep the habitat open 

and to protect the species from the encroachment by 

plants that compete more aggressively for resources and 

light; therefore, while intensive grazing poses a major 

threat, a lack of grazing is also a threat to some European 

plant populations. This has important implications for 

the conservation of those species as they require careful 

habitat management. The second major threat to the 

policy species and CWR is posed by recreational activities 

and infrastructure development related to tourism and 

urbanisation. Whereas the first leads to species disturbance 

such as trampling and habitat degradation, the latter causes 

actual habitat loss. The spread of invasive alien species is 

the third most serious threat for those two groups. Policy 

plants are also seriously affected by problematic native 

species, often in the form of overgrazing. Collection 

of wild plant species is causing a loss of species and a 

reduction of their reproductive success, this has been 

identified as an important threat for the policy plants in 

particular. Some species are used as medicinal plants or 

for food, others are collected for their beauty. If species 

are known to become rare or threatened with extinction, 

it seems to increase their value for collectors and increases 

the pressure on those species which in the end proves 

detrimental to their survival. 

Aquatic plants are also affected by the threats named 

above, but ecosystem modifications poses an overall 

more severe threat. Drainage and the abandonment of 

traditional grazing activities fall under this category. The 

transformation of wetland habitats into agricultural fields 

and an intensification of agricultural activities have severe 

effects on aquatic plants. Intensification is accompanied 

by a higher input of nutrients and pesticides which get 

45

into water bodies as run-off and cause eutrophication. 

The main impacts of pollution are the secondary effects 

of inputs from domestic or industrial sources, which 

contribute to the imbalance of aquatic ecosystems. 

European CWR are increasingly threatened by genetic 

erosion and extinction due to habitat fragmentation, 

over-exploitation and adverse agro-policy interventions 

(Maxted et al. 1997c, Maxted 2003); further, 

intensification of agricultural systems has led to the loss 

of prime habitats for a number of CWR species that 

favour disturbed habitats and are now restricted to field 

margins (Maxted et al. 2008a). 

Plant populations that occur on islands are extremely 

vulnerable to genetic erosion because of the disruption 

caused by human colonization and associated biological 

invasions, as highlighted by Kell et al. (2008a) for CWR, 

and an additional pressure on island populations is the 

degradation and fragmentation of their habitats due to 

development for tourism and recreation, particularly in 

coastal areas. Island ecosystems are more vulnerable to 

invasion by alien species and many of the Macaronesian 

island species on this Red List are declining due to invasive 

plants or animals. 

In the longer term, climate change is predicted to become 

a significant threatening factor to plant species – most 

significantly for CWR. Changes in temperature and 

more importantly in water availability are likely to result 

in alterations in species distribution and assemblages and 

in strong selection pressure for more adaptive genotypes 

(Maxted et al. 2008a). It is ironic that the very resources 

that humans may increasingly rely on for ecosystem 

stability and food security in the face of climate change 

are also severely affected by its deleterious impacts. 

6.3 Protection of habitats and species in 

Europe 

European countries and EU member states are not only 

signatories to the aforementioned 1979 Bern Convention 

on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural 

Habitats and the Convention on International Trade in 

Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) 

but also the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity 

(CBD) (UNEP 1992). In addition, many European 

countries and their regions afford vascular plants some 

form of protective species legislation. 

The CBD promotes biodiversity conservation, sustainable 

use of its components and the equitable sharing of the 

benefits arising from the use of biodiversity. Specifically, 

in relation to plants, the Global Strategy for Plant 

Conservation (GSPC) (CBD 2002a) was adopted 

by the CBD at its sixth conference of the parties; and 

updated at the tenth conference. The GSPC sets targets 

and objectives for the period 2011-2020 (CBD 2010a) 

which are of direct relevance to the groups of species 

assessed. Notable, Target 2 demands “an assessment of 

the conservation status of all known plant species, as far as 

possible, to guide conservation action”. The assessments 

published in the course of this project are one step to fulfill 

this target and will act as a baseline for the fulfillment 

of other targets such as Target 5 on the establishment of 

Important Plant Areas, and Targets 7 and 8 which deal 

with in situ and ex situ conservation of threatened species. 

Of particular relevance to CWR species is Target 9: “70 

per cent of the genetic diversity of crops including their 

wild relatives and other socio-economically valuable 

plant species conserved, while respecting, preserving and 

maintaining associated indigenous and local knowledge” 

(note the explicit mention of conserving the genetic 

diversity of CWR species). Target 11 states “no species 

of wild flora endangered by international trade” and 

the current assessment of all European plants listed on 

CITES will support monitoring under this target. 

The CBD 2010 Biodiversity Target (CBD 2002b), 

committed the parties “to achieve by 2010 a significant 

reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss at the 

global, regional and national level as a contribution to 

poverty alleviation and to the benefit of all life on earth” 

– a target that has not been achieved. More recently, 

the CBD Strategic Plan agreed in Nagoya, Japan (CBD 

2010b) established a further 20 target actions. Of 

particular relevance are target 12: “By 2020 the extinction 

of known threatened species has been prevented and 

their conservation status, particularly of those most in 

decline, has been improved and sustained” and target 13 

that stipulates: “By 2020, the loss of genetic diversity of 

cultivated plants and farmed and domesticated animals 

and of wild relatives, including other socio-economically 

as well as culturally valuable species is maintained and 

strategies have been developed and implemented for 

minimizing genetic erosion and safeguarding their genetic 

diversity”. 

European countries and the EU have made the 

commitment to reduce (or halt) the loss of biodiversity 

within Europe. This means that not only should 

extinctions be prevented, but population declines should 

also be reversed and populations restored. The result of 

this Red List shows that this is a great challenge. The 

46

CBD targets for 2010 were not met, but these baseline 

data will aid efforts to meet the new targets for 2020. 

In order to coordinate the implementation of the 

GSPC at regional level, the European Strategy for Plant 

Conservation (ESPC) was adopted. The first European 

Strategy was developed in 2001 by Planta Europa and 

the Council of Europe (2001) and was valid until 2007. 

At the fifth Planta Europa Conference, the Strategy was 

reviewed and renewed and has set targets for the period 

2008-2014 (Planta Europa 2008) which are aligned 

to the GSPC. Target 2 is again of major relevance as it 

requests “A preliminary assessment of the conservation 

status of all known plant species at national, regional and 

international levels”. In more detail, sub-target ESPC 

2.1 states that “European Red Lists produced by 2014 

(review of progress in 2011), vascular plants completed 

by 2010.” This project contributed to fulfilling the target 

by providing an assessment of 1,826 European plant 

species. It will also be of vital use for the completion 

of Target ESPC 7.1 “60% of species of European 

conservation priority plant* and fungal species, including 

crop wild relatives, conserved in situ by 2014 through 

the implementation of national strategies for conserving 

priority species (*prioritised according to their inclusion 

in regional and national legislation, including the EC 

Habitats and Species Directive, the Bern Convention and 

IPA programmes, and with reference to European Red 

Lists for all taxonomic groups as they are developed)”. 

It furthermore provides baseline information for the 

achievement of Targets 8 and 11 at European level. 

ESPC Target 9.1 stipulates by 2014: “Establishment of 

25 European crop wild relative genetic reserves covering 

the major hotspots of species and genetic diversity”. This 

will involve: 

■■ Establishing a baseline of genetic diversity for priority 

crop complexes of European socio-economically 

important wild species; 

■■ Assessing genetic diversity change against time for 

these species; 

■■ 

■■ 

■■ 

■■ 

Creating a preliminary list of CWR in situ hotspots of 

species and genetic diversity at national and European 

levels; 

Gap analysis review of ex situ holdings of European 

CWR species; 

Preparation of a priority list of European CWR; 

Promotion of the Crop Wild Relative Information 

System (CWRIS) (PGR Forum 2005, Kell et al. 

2008b, Moore et al. 2008). 

The FAO Global Plan of Action for the Conservation 

and Sustainable Utilization of PGRFA (FAO 1996) and 

International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food 

and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) (FAO 2001) both highlight 

the need to conserve CWR diversity. The ITPGRFA has 

as its objective the “conservation and sustainable use of 

plant genetic resources for food and agriculture and the 

fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of 

their use”. Article 5 states that each contracting party 

shall: “Survey and inventory plant genetic resources for 

food and agriculture, taking into account the status and 

degree of variation in existing populations, including 

those that are of potential use and, as feasible, assess 

any threats to them. . . . Promote in situ conservation of 

wild crop relatives and wild plants for food production, 

including in protected areas”. Focusing explicitly on 

CWR conservation and use, in 2005 the Global Strategy 

for CWR Conservation and Use was proposed at the 

First International Conference on Crop Wild Relative 

Conservation and Use in Agrigento, Sicily (Heywood 

et al. 2008); it established 12 objectives and associated 

targets that would further enhance systematic CWR 

conservation and use. To address these targets, along with 

the requirements of other relevant international, regional 

and national strategies and legislation, we need to be able 

to assess biodiversity change and threats, which for CWR 

requires precise knowledge of what diversity exists and to 

what extent it is threatened – only then can we effectively 

plan its conservation and sustainable exploitation. 

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered 

Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) regulates the 

international trade in endangered species and is legally 

binding to its parties. It provides a framework for 

countries to establish national legislation to implement 

the convention. The trade for all the species listed in 

Appendix II should be controlled in the form of export 

permits and re-export certificates being required. For 

Europe there are only species listed under Appendix II. 

A total, of 157 species of which 146 belong to the orchid 

family have been assessed, but information on a further 

nine Cyclamen species is missing. More information on 

those species can be found in chapter 3.1. 

The Bern Convention is a binding international agreement 

that aims to conserve wild flora and fauna and their 

natural habitats and to promote European cooperation 

towards that objective. There are 612 plant species 

listed on the Bern Convention and an assessment of all 

of them has been attempted in this project. Taxonomic 

changes in recent years made some of the species listed 

under Appendix I redundant (e.g. Pharbitis preauxii or 

Gladiolus felicis) and a taxonomic review of the Appendix 

is recommended. This project revealed that 327 species on 

47

the list are threatened but it also showed a high number 

of Data Deficient species (122) which means that more 

field work, monitoring and data collection is needed for 

those plants. 

6.4 Protection of habitats and species in 

the EU 

EU nature conservation policy is based on two main 

pieces of legislation – the EU Birds Directive of 1979 15 

and the EU Habitats Directive of 1992 16 . The main aim of 

this nature conservation policy is to ensure the favourable 

conservation status of the habitats and species found in 

the EU (see Box 1). One of the main tools to enhance 

and maintain this status is the Natura 2000 network of 

protected areas, which is made of sites designated and 

protected under both directives. 

The Natura 2000 network has grown over the last 25 years 

and now includes more than 26,000 protected areas in 

all Member States combined, with a total area of around 

850,000 km 2 – covering more than 17.5% of total EU 

land territory 17 . 

EU nature conservation policy also foresees the integration 

of its protection requirements into other EU sectoral 

policies such as agriculture, regional development and 

transport. The Habitats Directive, which aims to protect 

wildlife species and habitats, applies to both terrestrial 

and marine regions. Each Member State is required to 

identify sites of European importance and is encouraged 

to put in place a special management plan to protect 

them, combining long-term conservation with economic 

and social activities as part of a sustainable development 

strategy. These sites, together with those of the Birds 

Directive, make up the Natura 2000 network – the 

cornerstone of EU nature conservation policy. 

The Habitats Directive contains a series of Annexes that 

identify habitats and species of European Community 

concern. Each member state is required to prepare and 

propose a national list of sites for evaluation in order 

to form a European network of sites of community 

importance (SCIs). Once adopted, these are designated 

by member states as special areas of conservation (SACs) 

and, along with special protection areas (SPAs) classified 

under the EC Birds Directive, form a network of protected 

areas known as Natura 2000. Species listed on Annex 

Box 1. Selected provisions of the EU 

Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) 

Article 1(i) defines the conservation status of a 

species as “the sum of the influences acting on 

the species concerned that may affect the longterm 

distribution and abundance of its populations 

in the European territory of the Member States”. It 

states that a species’ conservation status will be 

taken as Favourable when: 

■■ 

■■ 

■■ 

Population dynamics data on the species 

concerned suggests that it is maintaining itself 

on a long-term basis as a viable component of 

its natural habitats; and 

The natural range of the species is neither 

being reduced nor is likely to be reduced for 

the considerable future; and 

There is, and probably will continue to be, 

a sufficiently large habitat to maintain its 

populations on a long-term basis. 

II require the designation of a SAC; Annex IV species 

are those in need of strict protection (all plant species 

listed in Annex II are also listed in Annex IV). Annex V 

lists plants that require management measures for their 

collection from the wild and exploitation. Appendix 2 in 

this publication indicates whether a plant species on this 

Red List is included in any of the Annexes of the Habitats 

Directive or Appendix I of the Bern Convention. Target 

7.1a of the European Strategy for Plant Conservation 

deals with the updating of legislation and recommends 

to “Identify species which should be included on the EC 

Habitats and Species Directive Annexes (and identify 

which particular annex (II, IV, V) based on the latest 

results of the European Red List for vascular plants and 

Red Lists of other taxonomic groups by 2011)” (Planta 

Europa 2008). In total, 602 plant species listed in the 

Habitats Directive Annexes were assessed in this project. 

Compared to all species assessed, 149 that were identified 

as threatened or extinct at EU 27 level are not listed in the 

annexes of the Habitats Directive. Of those, 42 are CWR, 

14 are aquatic plants, and two species, Rorippa valdesbermejoi 

(CR) and Allium schmitzii (VU), are aquatic 

CWR. A total of 55 species are threatened or extinct but 

neither included in the Annexes of the Habitats Directive, 

15 Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds. 

16 Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild flora and fauna. 

17 Source: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/index_en.htm, downloaded November 2009. 

48

the Bern Convention, CITES or the EU Wildlife Trade 

regulation. It is notable that very few CWR of important 

food crops are listed in the Habitats Directive annexes 

– a strong indication that in situ CWR conservation of 

the most important groups is still not being adequately 

addressed (Kell et al. 2008a). 

In coming years, the EU’s Water Framework Directive, 

adopted in 2000, is expected to become a major driver 

for achieving sustainable water management throughout 

Europe. It requires that all inland and coastal waters within 

defined river basins shall reach a good ecological status by 

2015 (i.e. that they have the biological community that 

would be expected in conditions of minimal anthropogenic 

impact). The directive includes requirements for increased 

monitoring of aquatic ecology by the EU Member States, 

and improved protection and recovery of European 

waterways. In particular, Member States are expected to 

tackle any remaining water pollution problems. It deals 

with surface and groundwater quality and quantity, and 

aims to enforce sustainable levels of water abstraction. 

As such, the Water Framework Directive is an important 

complement to the EU Habitats Directive requirements 

for direct species and habitats protection. 

6.5 Conservation management of vascular 

plants in the EU 

The EU’s LIFE+ programme offers financial support for 

species and habitats conservation projects throughout the 

EU. In particular, LIFE+ supports the implementation of 

the Birds and Habitats Directives and the establishment 

of the Natura 2000 network. Projects involve a variety 

of actions including habitat restoration, site purchases, 

communication and awareness-raising, protected area 

infrastructure and conservation planning. LIFE is the 

EU’s financial instrument supporting environmental 

and nature conservation projects throughout the EU as 

well as in some candidate, acceding and neighbouring 

countries. 

Since 1992, LIFE has co-financed over 3,115 projects 

with a total budget of over €2 billion. According to the 

LIFE project database 18 , 90 LIFE Nature projects have 

implemented concrete conservation actions targeting 

vascular plant species in the EU. The majority of these 

projects are aimed at habitat or site level restoration and 

conservation, although 10 are species specific projects, 

targeting 23 species of which 12 are threatened (e.g. Abies 

nebrodensis or Viola hispida). 

Regarding the establishment of protected areas for vascular 

plant conservation, the identification of Important Plant 

Areas (IPAs) 19 plays an important role. Whilst the role of 

IPAs is obviously more important for countries outside of 

the EU, IPA data can also provide valuable information 

for priority setting for site conservation inside the EU 27, 

either by pointing out existing gaps in the current Natura 

2000 network of sites (for plant species listed in Annex 

II of the EU Habitats Directive), or by identifying sites 

for threatened plant species not listed in Annex II of the 

EU Habitats Directive. Currently, 1,771 IPAs have been 

identified in 16 countries of Europe, 10 of which EU 

Member states (Plantlife International 2010). One of the 

criteria for identifying an IPA is the presence of globally 

or regionally threatened species (Andersson 2002) and 

the IUCN Global Red List as well as the European Red 

List are excellent references for this criterion. 

Plant Micro-reserves (PMRs) are another valuable tool for 

conserving small populations with restricted ranges and 

several hundred such micro-reserves have already been 

set up in the EU to date (Planta Europa 2008), notably 

through several LIFE and LIFE+ projects. 

A significant proportion of Europe’s CWR are undoubtedly 

found in the extensive protected area network (Maxted 

et al. 2000); however, the conservation focus is usually 

on conserving rare and/or threatened species or the 

habitat itself, not on conserving the CWR or other target 

species found at the site (Hoyt 1988, Maxted et al. 2000, 

Cooper et al. 2001). Therefore, environmental trends 

affecting CWR populations are probably not being 

recorded and the necessary management measures are 

not being adopted (Maxted 2003). The need for active 

in situ management of CWR genetic diversity has been 

recognized and promoted for more than four decades (Jain 

1975, Williams 1991, Maxted et al. 1997b, Heywood 

et al. 2008, Iriondo et al. 2008); however, in practical 

terms, relatively little has been achieved until recently, 

both within Europe and globally (Maxted et al. 2008a, 

Iriondo et al. 2008, Maxted and Kell 2009, Maxted et 

al. 2010, Hunter and Heywood 2011). The concept 

of genetic reserves was first proposed by Maxted et al. 

(1997b) who defined genetic reserve conservation as “the 

location, management and monitoring of genetic diversity 

18 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/project/Projects/index.cfm, accessed on 2 August 2011 

19 IPAs are natural or semi-natural sites exhibiting exceptional botanical richness and/or supporting an outstanding assemblage of rare, threatened and/or 

endemic plant species and/or vegetation of high botanical value (Plantlife International 2004). 

49

in natural populations within defined areas designated 

for long-term conservation”. The concept involves in situ 

conservation with active management and a long-term 

approach. The rationale for this type of conservation is 

that it is a) applicable to all plant species, b) allows for 

continued evolution and c) allows for multiple-taxon 

conservation; moreover, it conserves the genetic diversity 

of the target taxon in a dynamic way, as well as its habitat 

and all existing biotic and abiotic interactions (including 

humans) (Maxted et al. 1997b). 

Genetic reserve conservation of CWR has recently been 

the focus of the EU-funded project, ‘An integrated 

European in situ management work plan: implementing 

genetic reserves and on farm concepts (AEGRO 20 ). 

This initiative has resulted in the development of a 

methodology for identifying priority CWR genetic 

reserves sites (Kell et al. 2011b), recommendations for 

the establishment of a seed network of CWR genetic 

reserves for high priority species in the oat, beet, brassica 

and sweet cherry gene pools (Parra-Quijano et al. 2011), 

as well as a set of quality standards for genetic reserve 

conservation of CWR (Iriondo et al. 2011). However, 

the same institutes undertaking this research cannot take 

direct responsibility for translating the recommended 

actions into policy. It will ultimately be the responsibility 

of the European Union member states to lobby for action 

to put these strategies into place, working closely with 

the national and European protected area and farming 

communities. 

While in situ conservation is the primary means of 

conserving the broad range of CWR genetic diversity 

inherent in wild populations, ex situ conservation is also 

vital as a back-up measure, as well as for providing easy 

access to germplasm for characterization and evaluation 

and for breeders’ use in crop improvement programmes 

(Maxted et al. 1997d). Of the two conservation strategies 

(in situ and ex situ), the highest proportion of CWR 

diversity is actively conserved ex situ; although the 

coverage is far from systematic and both CWR taxonomic 

and genetic diversity is seriously under-conserved 

(Maxted et al. 2008a, 2011). By analysing data extracted 

from EURISCO 21 (2010), Kell et al. (2011a) found that 

there are large gaps in the ex situ conservation of some 

of the highest priority CWR in Europe – furthermore, 

most species are represented by very few accessions, are 

reported by only one gene bank, and have been collected 

from only a small part of the species’ range. 

Information on the ex situ conservation of policy or 

aquatic plant species has not been consistently collected 

during this project and no comprehensive analysis 

can be provided here. Botanic Gardens Conservation 

International (BGCI) compiled a database of the most 

threatened plants of Europe from all available national 

plant red lists and other sources (Sharrock and Jones 

2009). The aim of this elaborate exercise was to gain 

information on whether the most threatened plant 

species in Europe are adequately preserved ex situ in 

botanic gardens and seed bank collections. Of a total of 

1,917 species and subspecies identified as threatened at 

European level, 42% are maintained in ex situ collections 

(Sharrock and Jones 2009). This list contains 217 of the 

policy species assessed in this project of which 44 do not 

have any ex situ conservation measures in place. At least 

all the species marked as threatened and Extinct in the 

Wild in this European Red List should be conserved in 

botanic gardens and genetic material of those species 

should be collected for storage in seed banks. 

6.6 Extinction risk versus conservation 

status 

The IUCN Red List Criteria classify species solely on 

the basis of their relative extinction risk (IUCN 2001). 

However, Unfavourable Conservation Status according to 

the EU Habitats Directive has a much broader definition. 

This is identified clearly in Article 1 of the Directive (see 

Box 1). No species meeting the IUCN Red List Criteria 

for one of the threatened categories at a regional level can 

be considered to have a Favourable conservation status 

in the EU. To be classified as Vulnerable (the lowest of 

the three IUCN threatened categories) a species must 

undergo a reduction in population size of at least 30% 

over ten years or three generations (or have a very small 

or small and declining population or geographic range; 

see the 2001 IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria 

version 3.1 22 ). It is difficult to claim that a species 

experiencing a decline of this magnitude is maintaining 

its population, that its range is stable, and that it remains 

a viable component of its habitat. Crucially, however, this 

does not mean that the opposite is true: species that are 

not threatened as defined by IUCN Red List Criteria do 

not necessarily have a Favourable Conservation Status 

(BirdLife International 2004a). Guidelines issued by 

the European Commission on the protection of species 

under the Habitats Directive reinforce this message that 

‘the fact that a habitat or species is not threatened (i.e. not 

20 http://aegro.bafz.de/ 

21 http://eurisco.ecpgr.org 

22 http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/categories-and-criteria 

50

faced by any direct extinction risk) does not necessarily 

mean that it has a favourable conservation status’ (Anon. 

2007). 

Of the vascular plants assessed 467 species were 

assigned a threatened category and 436 have a declining 

population trend. Although intensified livestock farming, 

recreational activities, tourism and urban development, 

wild plant collection, invasive alien species, natural 

system modification and pollution have been identified 

as the main causes of decline in vascular plants within the 

three groups assessed, the results of this assessment are 

not representative of the overall threat status of vascular 

plants in Europe. Special emphasis needs to be placed on 

Data Deficient species, especially as some are known to 

be in a critical state of decline, but the lack of information 

from the entire range of these species meant that a threat 

category could not be assigned. These species could not 

be regarded as having Favourable Conservation Status. 

The species assessed as Least Concern should also not be 

ignored. If they are not already adequately conserved, both 

in situ and ex situ, the Least Concern assessment should 

be carefully interpreted as it does not necessarily mean 

that the species is not in need of conservation action – at 

minimum, population monitoring is likely to be needed. 

As emphasized various times in this publication, the Red 

List assessment does not include genetic diversity within 

and between subpopulations – it is based on population 

size and range. As the goal of CWR conservation (and 

indeed vascular plant conservation in general) is to 

maximize the conservation of genetic diversity, it is vital 

that sufficient subpopulations are conserved, both in situ 

and ex situ, to provide the best possible sample of total 

genetic diversity (Maxted et al. 2008a,b). Knowledge of 

the intrinsic pattern of genetic diversity is lacking for the 

majority of species as sampling and molecular analysis 

is resource intensive; therefore, it is necessary to ensure 

that as wide a range of ecogeographic diversity is sampled 

and conserved as possible – ecogeographic diversity 

being used as a proxy for genetic diversity (see Kell et al. 

2011b). This means that conservation of even the most 

widespread species is of concern, both at regional and 

national levels. 

6.7 Red List versus priority for 

conservation action 

Assessment of extinction risk and setting conservation 

priorities are two related but different processes. 

Assessment of extinction risk, such as the assignment of 

IUCN Red List Categories, generally precedes the setting 

of conservation priorities. The purpose of the Red List 

categorization is to produce a relative estimate of the 

likelihood of extinction of a taxon. Setting conservation 

priorities, on the other hand, normally includes the 

assessment of extinction risk, but also takes into 

account other factors such as ecological, phylogenetic, 

historical, economical, or cultural preferences for some 

taxa over others, as well as the probability of success of 

conservation actions, availability of funds or personnel, 

cost-effectiveness, and legal frameworks for conservation 

of threatened taxa. In the context of regional risk 

assessments, a number of additional pieces of information 

are valuable for setting conservation priorities. For 

example, it is important to consider not only conditions 

within the region but also the status of the taxon from 

a global perspective and the proportion of the global 

population that occurs within the region. A decision on 

how these three variables, as well as other factors, are used 

for establishing conservation priorities is a matter for the 

regional authorities to determine. 

Trapa natans, Water Chestnut, is an aquatic plant that was consumed widely in Europe and still is in Asia. It is protected under the Bern Convention and is listed as Near Threatened in 

Europe. Photograph © Richard V. Lansdown. 

51

Greater Pasque Flower 

(Pulsatilla grandis) is a true 

European endemic and 

although classed as Least 

Concern for the moment it is 

declining in most of its range. 

Photograph © Dana Turoňová. 

52

7. Recommendations 

7.1 Overview and recommendations for 

conservation measures 

This is the first step towards a European Red List of 

Vascular Plants, providing information on the threat 

status of 1,826 selected plant species. Plants are of major 

importance to ecosystems and livelihoods supplying 

the planet and humankind with essential resources 

such as oxygen, food and medicines. Aquatic plants are 

fundamental for the functioning of freshwater ecosystems. 

Crop wild relatives have a critical role in food security 

and economic stability, given the growing problem of 

global food insecurity resulting from climate change and 

other threats (as well as the global inter-dependence of 

nations in terms of food security). In order to improve 

the conservation status of European vascular plants and 

to halt the loss of diversity, a number of conservation 

measures are urgently needed. In particular: 

Integrate European vascular plant conservation actions 

and requirements into policy and legislation 

■■ 

■■ 

■■ 

Use this European Red List of Vascular Plants when 

revising relevant European, regional and national 

legislation, to improve the conservation status of 

threatened species. 

Improve policy measures to reduce the impact of 

habitat degradation, fragmentation and isolation, 

in particular related to future urban and tourism 

development, and to conserve wildlife habitats 

in Europe, especially the Common Agricultural 

Policy. 

Improve the integration of biodiversity and 

agrobiodiversity conservation activities to ensure 

better knowledge and implementation. 

Expand the knowledge base on European vascular 

plants 

■■ 

■■ 

■■ 

Conduct further research on threatened European 

species and ensure the adequate management of 

their habitats to underpin conservation programmes 

and identify gaps in conservation actions. 

Reassess threatened plant species regularly and 

when new information becomes available. 

Prioritise fieldwork and data collection for Data 

Deficient species to determine whether they are in 

need of conservation attention. 

■■ 

■■ 

Establish a co-ordinated system of vascular plant 

recording and monitoring in every European 

country to improve future priority assessments and 

assess the impact of conservation measures and 

future environmental change. 

Undertake research on the potential impacts of 

climate change, which presents a new degree of 

threat, in particular to food security. 

Ensure that European vascular plants are appropriately 

conserved in situ and ex situ 

■■ 

■■ 

■■ 

■■ 

■■ 

Undertake systematic gap analysis of all 

threatened and priority species to ensure 

adequate in situ and ex situ conservation of plant 

diversity. 

Draw up Species Action (Recovery) Plans to cover 

all threatened European vascular plant species. 

Improve the protection of habitats throughout 

Europe to include key individual sites and whole 

landscapes. In particular, protect and manage 

the network of Important Plant Areas that have 

been identified in European countries that are 

not all members of the EU 27 and integrate 

those sites into the Natura 2000 network, as well 

as coordinate the establishment of a network of 

CWR genetic reserves (where possible based on 

existing Natura 2000 sites). 

Identify specific geographical and agricultural 

areas within which there is a need to maintain 

traditional land management practices such as 

low intensity grazing. 

Develop adequate ex situ conservation as a backup 

measure for threatened species by preserving 

them in botanic gardens or gene bank collections. 

Inter- and intra-specific genetic diversity should 

be systematically taken into account. The material 

collected should be accessible to plant breeders, 

conservationists, researchers and other noncommercial 

stakeholders. 

Improve capacity-building and awareness 

■■ 

Strengthen the network of European plant experts by 

providing training and improving communication, 

including the mobilisation of financial resources. 

Specialist Groups play a vital role in the plant expert 

network. 

53

■■ 

Raise the profile of CWR as they are often 

overlooked as an element of biodiversity, ensuring 

that they are systematically conserved and that the 

conserved germplasm is made available to the user 

stakeholder community. 

7.2 Application of project outputs 

This European Red List of Vascular Plants is part of 

a wider project aimed at comprehensively assessing 

several taxonomic groups (mammals, amphibians, 

reptiles, freshwater fish, freshwater molluscs, dragonflies, 

butterflies), and selected beetles and terrestrial molluscs. 

In conjunction with the data on European birds published 

by BirdLife International (BirdLife International 

2004a,b), the European Red List of Vascular Plants 

provides key resources for decision-makers, policymakers, 

resources managers, environmental planners 

and NGOs. It has gathered large amounts of data on the 

population, ecology, habitats, threats and recommended 

conservation measures for each species assessed. These data 

are freely available on the IUCN Red List website (www. 

iucnredlist.org), on the European Commission website 

(http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/conservation/ 

species/redlist) and through paper publications (see the 

list of European Red Lists published at the end of this 

report). 

This Red List is a dynamic tool that will evolve with time 

as species are reassessed according to new information 

or situations. It is aimed at stimulating and supporting 

research, monitoring and conservation action at local, 

regional and international levels, especially for threatened, 

Near Threatened and Data Deficient species. 

Each species assessment lists the major threats affecting 

the specific plant as well as conservation measures in place 

or needed. This will be useful to inform the application 

of conservation measures for each species. The outputs of 

this project can be applied to inform policy, to identify 

priority sites and species to include in research and 

monitoring programmes and to identify internationally 

important areas for biodiversity. It also contributes to 

broaden the coverage of plants on the global IUCN 

Red List as many species assessed during this project are 

endemic to the European region. 

7.3 Future work 

As this European Red List of Vascular Plants covers only 

about 8% of Europe’s flora, we are only at the starting 

point of understanding the threat status of European 

plants. With potentially at least 18,000 more species to 

be assessed, careful planning is needed to prioritise further 

groups of plants. There are several possibilities to increase 

the coverage of the European Red List. One would be 

to continue identifiying groups of special interest such 

as medicinal plants due to their importance for human 

survival and potential overexploitation. Or grassland 

species as overgrazing and the lack of grazing have already 

been identfied as major threats to other plant species and 

because a loss of traditional land use and agricultural 

intensification can be observed throughout Europe. Plant 

species restricted to mountains might also be of interest, 

as they are likely to be particularly affected by climate 

change in the near future. 

Another strategy would be to pre-identify potentially 

threatened species and carry out full Red List assessments 

of those. The list of threatened European plants compiled 

by BGCI (Sharrock and Jones 2009), identified 1,917 

priority taxa and should be compared with the list of 

species in this project. Assessing those species would be 

an excellent addition to the current Red List as it would 

ensure that the most threatened species are included 

and the additional documentation required for a red list 

assessment could improve the application of adequate 

conservation measures for those species. Another option 

is the RapidList Tool which could be applied to all known 

plant species that have not been assessed and help identify 

which ones are potentially threatened and would require 

a full Red List assessment. There is a need to extend the 

application of the Red List Categories and Criteria to 

a greater number of CWR species in Europe as well as 

ephemeral wetland species and to re-evaluate the species 

assessed as Data Deficient in this study. 

It will be difficult to identify the ideal way forward which 

will also be determined by available financial resources 

and donor interest. But funding is the key to get an 

overview of the state of Europe’s flora and to fulfil Target 

2 of the European Strategy for Plant Conservation (Planta 

Europa 2008). 

Through the process of gathering and compiling plant 

data across Europe, several knowledge gaps have been 

identified. There are in particular significant geographical 

and taxonomical biases in the quality and quantity of data 

available on the distribution and status of species. The 

importance of intra-specific genetic diversity has been 

stressed in this report but the IUCN Red List Categories 

and Criteria currently have a limited application 

regarding the assessment of threat to genetic diversity. 

One possibility would be the assessment of distinct 

54

subpopulations, something that has been practised for 

various animal species. Means of taking into account 

genetic diversity in the assessment process should be 

explored and developed, either to complement or extend 

the applicability of the existing system. 

Future work should focus on strengthening the plant 

expert network at European level. Ressources for 

workshops, training, and meetings will be needed which 

will be beneficial in the long-term goal of conserving 

plant diversity. If the plant assessments are periodically 

updated, they will enable the changing status of these 

species to be tracked through time via the production 

of a Red List Index (Butchart et al. 2004, 2005, 2006, 

2007). To date, this indicator has been produced for 

birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles at the European 

regional level and has been adopted as one of the headline 

biodiversity indicators to monitor progress towards 

halting biodiversity loss in Europe by 2020 (European 

Environment Agency 2007). By regularly updating the 

data presented here we will be able to track the changing 

fate of European plants to 2020 and beyond. 

Argyranthemum winteri, listed in Annex II of the Habitats Directive, is restricted to the Jandia Peninsula in the south of Fuerteventura. It is found at three locations only which occupy 

not more than 4 km 2 . It is listed as Critically Endangered. Photograph © Stephan Scholz. 

55

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60

Appendix 1. Threatened and extinct 

policy plants at the European and EU 

27 level 

Family 

Species 


Europe EU 27 

Endemic to 

Europe 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea pseudoleucolepis EX NE Yes 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Euphrasia mendoncae EX EX Yes 

VIOLACEAE Viola cryana EX EX Yes 

GRAMINEAE Bromus bromoideus EW EW Yes 

GRAMINEAE Bromus interruptus EW EW Yes 

PRIMULACEAE Lysimachia minoricensis EW EW Yes 

PINACEAE Abies nebrodensis CR CR Yes 

CRASSULACEAE Aichryson dumosum CR CR Yes 

COMPOSITAE Andryala crithmifolia CR CR Yes 

COMPOSITAE Anthemis glaberrima CR CR Yes 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Antirrhinum charidemi CR CR Yes 

UMBELLIFERAE Apium bermejoi CR CR Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Arabis kennedyae CR CR Yes 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Arenaria nevadensis CR CR Yes 

COMPOSITAE Argyranthemum winteri CR CR Yes 

PLUMBAGINACEAE Armeria berlengensis CR CR Yes 

PLUMBAGINACEAE Armeria helodes CR CR Yes 

COMPOSITAE Artemisia insipida CR CR Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Astragalus macrocarpus ssp. lefkarensis CR CR Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Astragalus maritimus CR CR Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Astragalus tremolsianus CR CR Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Astragalus verrucosus CR CR Yes 

UMBELLIFERAE Athamanta cortiana CR CR Yes 

ROSACEAE Bencomia brachystachya CR CR Yes 

ROSACEAE Bencomia sphaerocarpa CR CR Yes 

CHENOPODIACEAE Beta patula CR CR Yes 

DIOSCOREACEAE Borderea chouardii CR CR Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Brassica macrocarpa CR CR Yes 

UMBELLIFERAE Bupleurum dianthifolium CR CR Yes 

UMBELLIFERAE Bupleurum kakiskalae CR CR Yes 

CAMPANULACEAE Campanula bohemica ssp. gelida CR CR Yes 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea akamantis CR CR Yes 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea heldreichii CR CR Yes 

COMPOSITAE Cheirolophus crassifolius CR CR Yes 

COMPOSITAE Cheirolophus duranii CR CR Yes 

COMPOSITAE Cheirolophus metlesicsii CR CR Yes 

COMPOSITAE Cheirolophus santos-abreui CR CR Yes 

RANUNCULACEAE Consolida samia CR CR Yes 

CONVOLVULACEAE Convolvulus argyrothamnos CR CR Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Coronopus navasii CR CR Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Crambe sventenii CR CR Yes 

61

Family 

Species 


Europe EU 27 

Endemic to 

Europe 

CHENOPODIACEAE Cremnophyton lanfrancoi CR CR Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Cytisus aeolicus CR CR Yes 

RANUNCULACEAE Delphinium caseyi CR CR Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Diplotaxis siettiana CR CR Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Diplotaxis vicentina CR CR Yes 

BORAGINACEAE Echium handiense CR CR Yes 

ORCHIDACEAE Epipactis condensata CR CR 

GERANIACEAE Erodium astragaloides CR CR Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Erucastrum palustre CR CR Yes 

EUPHORBIACEAE Euphorbia margalidiana CR CR Yes 

EUPHORBIACEAE Euphorbia stygiana CR CR Yes 

GERANIACEAE Geranium maderense CR CR Yes 

GLOBULARIACEAE Globularia ascanii CR CR Yes 

ORCHIDACEAE Goodyera macrophylla CR CR Yes 

CISTACEAE Helianthemum bystropogophyllum CR CR Yes 

CISTACEAE Helianthemum teneriffae CR CR Yes 

COMPOSITAE Helichrysum melitense CR CR Yes 

COMPOSITAE Hypochaeris oligocephala CR CR Yes 

IRIDACEAE Iris boissieri CR CR Yes 

ISOETACEAE Isoetes malinverniana CR CR Yes 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Isoplexis chalcantha CR CR Yes 

OLEACEAE Jasminum azoricum CR CR Yes 

COMPOSITAE Jurinea fontqueri CR CR Yes 

SANTALACEAE Kunkeliella psilotoclada CR (PE) CR (PE) Yes 

SANTALACEAE Kunkeliella subsucculenta CR CR Yes 

COMPOSITAE Lamyropsis microcephala CR CR Yes 

UMBELLIFERAE Laserpitium longiradium CR CR Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Lepidium turczaninowii CR NE Yes 

PLUMBAGINACEAE Limonium dendroides CR CR Yes 

PLUMBAGINACEAE Limonium spectabile CR CR Yes 

PLUMBAGINACEAE Limonium sventenii CR CR Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Lotus eremiticus CR CR Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Lotus kunkelii CR CR Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Lotus maculatus CR CR Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Lotus pyranthus CR CR Yes 

LABIATAE Micromeria glomerata CR CR Yes 

CRASSULACEAE Monanthes wildpretii CR CR Yes 

UMBELLIFERAE Monizia edulis CR CR Yes 

MYRICACEAE Myrica rivas-martinezii CR CR Yes 

UMBELLIFERAE Naufraga balearica CR CR Yes 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Odontites granatensis CR CR Yes 

COMPOSITAE Onopordum carduelium CR CR Yes 

COMPOSITAE Onopordum nogalesii CR CR Yes 

COMPOSITAE Pericallis hadrosoma CR CR Yes 

COMPOSITAE Pericallis malvifolia CR CR Yes 

PITTOSPORACEAE Pittosporum coriaceum CR CR Yes 

PLANTAGINACEAE Plantago almogravensis CR CR Yes 

PLANTAGINACEAE Plantago famarae CR CR Yes 

62

Family 

Species 


Europe EU 27 

Endemic to 

Europe 

DRYOPTERIDACEAE Polystichum drepanum CR CR Yes 

PRIMULACEAE Primula egaliksensis CR (PE) NE 

ROSACEAE Pyrus magyarica CR CR Yes 

GROSSULARIACEAE Ribes sardoum CR CR Yes 

LABIATAE Salvia herbanica CR CR Yes 

LABIATAE Salvia veneris CR CR Yes 

HYACINTHACEAE Scilla morrisii CR CR Yes 

LABIATAE Sideritis cystosiphon CR CR Yes 

LABIATAE Sideritis discolor CR CR Yes 

LABIATAE Sideritis marmorea CR CR Yes 

LABIATAE Sideritis serrata CR CR Yes 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Silene nocteolens CR CR Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Sinapidendron rupestre CR CR Yes 

SOLANACEAE Solanum lidii CR CR Yes 

COMPOSITAE Sonchus gandogeri CR CR Yes 

ROSACEAE Sorbus maderensis CR CR Yes 

COMPOSITAE Tanacetum oshanahanii CR CR Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Teline nervosa CR CR Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Teline salsoloides CR CR Yes 

LABIATAE Teucrium abutiloides CR CR Yes 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Veronica oetaea CR CR Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Vicia bifoliolata CR CR Yes 

VIOLACEAE Viola hispida CR CR Yes 

AMARYLLIDACEAE Acis nicaeensis EN EN Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Adenocarpus ombriosus EN EN Yes 

CRASSULACEAE Aeonium gomerense EN EN Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Anagyris latifolia EN EN Yes 

BORAGINACEAE Anchusa crispa EN EN Yes 

COLCHICACEAE Androcymbium rechingeri EN EN Yes 

RANUNCULACEAE Anemone uralensis EN NE Yes 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Antirrhinum lopesianum EN EN Yes 

RANUNCULACEAE Aquilegia pyrenaica ssp. cazorlensis EN EN Yes 

COMPOSITAE Argyranthemum lidii EN EN Yes 

COMPOSITAE Argyranthemum thalassophilum EN EN Yes 

PLUMBAGINACEAE Armeria pseudarmeria EN EN Yes 

PLUMBAGINACEAE Armeria soleirolii EN EN Yes 

COMPOSITAE Artemisia granatensis EN EN Yes 

COMPOSITAE Aster pyrenaeus EN EN Yes 

COMPOSITAE Aster sorrentinii EN EN Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Astragalus physocalyx EN EN 

COMPOSITAE Atractylis arbuscula EN EN Yes 

COMPOSITAE Atractylis preauxiana EN EN Yes 

SOLANACEAE Atropa baetica EN EN 

CAMPANULACEAE Azorina vidalii EN EN Yes 

CHENOPODIACEAE Bassia saxicola EN EN Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Brassica hilarionis EN EN Yes 

UMBELLIFERAE Bupleurum handiense EN EN Yes 

ASCLEPIADACEAE Caralluma burchardii EN EN 

63

Family 

Species 


Europe EU 27 

COMPOSITAE Carduus myriacanthus EN EN 

Endemic to 

Europe 

COMPOSITAE Carlina diae EN EN Yes 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea borjae EN EN Yes 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea horrida EN EN Yes 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea princeps EN EN Yes 

VALERIANACEAE Centranthus trinervis EN EN Yes 

ORCHIDACEAE Cephalanthera cucullata EN EN Yes 

ASCLEPIADACEAE Ceropegia dichotoma ssp. krainzii EN EN Yes 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Chaenorhinum serpyllifolium ssp. lusitanicum EN EN Yes 

COMPOSITAE Cheirolophus falcisectus EN EN Yes 

COMPOSITAE Cheirolophus ghomerythus EN EN Yes 

COMPOSITAE Cheirolophus junonianus EN EN Yes 

COMPOSITAE Cheirolophus massonianus EN EN Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Cicer canariense EN EN Yes 

CISTACEAE Cistus chinamadensis EN EN Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Cochlearia polonica EN EN Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Coincya rupestris EN EN Yes 

CONVOLVULACEAE Convolvulus lopezsocasii EN EN Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Crambe laevigata EN EN Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Crambe scoparia EN EN Yes 

COMPOSITAE Crepis crocifolia EN EN Yes 

COMPOSITAE Crepis granatensis EN EN Yes 

COMPOSITAE Crepis tectorum ssp. nigrescens EN EN Yes 

ORCHIDACEAE Dactylorhiza kalopissii EN EN Yes 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Dianthus diutinus EN EN Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Dorycnium spectabile EN EN Yes 

DRACAENACEAE Dracaena draco EN EN 

BORAGINACEAE Echium pininana EN EN Yes 

ORCHIDACEAE Epipactis greuteri EN EN Yes 

ORCHIDACEAE Epipactis placentina EN EN Yes 

ORCHIDACEAE Epipactis tallosii EN EN Yes 

ORCHIDACEAE Epipactis troodi EN EN 

ORCHIDACEAE Epipactis veratrifolia EN EN 

COMPOSITAE Erigeron frigidus EN EN Yes 

GERANIACEAE Erodium paularense EN EN Yes 

UMBELLIFERAE Eryngium viviparum EN EN Yes 

UMBELLIFERAE Ferula sadleriana EN EN Yes 

LILIACEAE Fritillaria conica EN EN Yes 

LILIACEAE Fritillaria epirotica EN EN Yes 

LILIACEAE Fritillaria obliqua EN EN Yes 

LILIACEAE Fritillaria rhodocanakis EN EN Yes 

AMARYLLIDACEAE Galanthus peshmenii EN EN 

RUBIACEAE Galium viridiflorum EN EN Yes 

ORCHIDACEAE Gennaria diphylla EN EN 

ORCHIDACEAE Gymnadenia archiducis-joannis EN EN Yes 

ORCHIDACEAE Gymnadenia lithopolitanica EN EN Yes 

ORCHIDACEAE Gymnadenia stiriaca EN EN Yes 

ORCHIDACEAE Gymnadenia widderi EN EN Yes 

64

Family 

Species 


Europe EU 27 

Endemic to 

Europe 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Gypsophila papillosa EN EN Yes 

CISTACEAE Helianthemum caput-felis EN EN 

COMPOSITAE Helichrysum monogynum EN EN Yes 

ILLECEBRACEAE Herniaria latifolia ssp. litardierei EN EN Yes 

ILLECEBRACEAE Herniaria lusitanica ssp. berlengiana EN EN Yes 

ORCHIDACEAE Himantoglossum affine EN EN 

ORCHIDACEAE Himantoglossum comperianum EN EN 

ORCHIDACEAE Himantoglossum metlesicsianum EN EN Yes 

ISOETACEAE Isoetes boryana EN EN Yes 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Isoplexis isabelliana EN EN Yes 

CAMPANULACEAE Jasione lusitanica EN EN Yes 

COMPOSITAE Lactuca watsoniana EN EN Yes 

HYACINTHACEAE Leopoldia gussonei EN EN Yes 

COMPOSITAE Leuzea longifolia EN EN 

PLUMBAGINACEAE Limonium fruticans EN EN Yes 

PLUMBAGINACEAE Limonium preauxii EN EN Yes 

PLUMBAGINACEAE Limonium strictissimum EN EN Yes 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Linaria hellenica EN EN 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Linaria tonzigii EN EN Yes 

BORAGINACEAE Lithodora nitida EN EN Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Lotus callis-viridis EN EN Yes 

LYTHRACEAE Lythrum thesioides EN EN 

SOLANACEAE Mandragora officinarum EN RE 

ROSACEAE Marcetella maderensis EN EN Yes 

MARSILEACEAE Marsilea batardae EN EN Yes 

LABIATAE Micromeria leucantha EN EN Yes 

LABIATAE Micromeria taygetea EN EN Yes 

GRAMINEAE Micropyropsis tuberosa EN EN 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Moehringia fontqueri EN EN Yes 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Moehringia tommasinii EN EN Yes 

CAMPANULACEAE Musschia wollastonii EN EN Yes 

BORAGINACEAE Myosotis rehsteineri EN EN Yes 

AMARYLLIDACEAE Narcissus longispathus EN EN Yes 

AMARYLLIDACEAE Narcissus nevadensis EN EN Yes 

ORCHIDACEAE Neottianthe cucullata EN EN 

BORAGINACEAE Onosma tornensis EN EN Yes 

ORCHIDACEAE Ophrys atlantica EN EN 

ORCHIDACEAE Orchis patens EN EN 

ORCHIDACEAE Orchis sitiaca EN EN Yes 

PAEONIACEAE Paeonia parnassica EN EN Yes 

COMPOSITAE Picris willkommii EN EN Yes 

MARSILEACEAE Pilularia minuta EN EN 

LENTIBULARIACEAE Pinguicula nevadensis EN EN Yes 

PLANTAGINACEAE Plantago algarbiensis EN EN Yes 

ORCHIDACEAE Platanthera algeriensis EN EN 

ORCHIDACEAE Platanthera micrantha EN EN Yes 

GRAMINEAE Poa riphaea EN EN Yes 

POLYGONACEAE Polygonum praelongum EN EN 

65

Family 

Species 


Europe EU 27 

Endemic to 

Europe 

PRIMULACEAE Primula palinuri EN EN Yes 

ROSACEAE Prunus lusitanica ssp. azorica EN EN Yes 

GRAMINEAE Pseudarrhenatherum pallens EN EN Yes 

LABIATAE Rosmarinus tomentosus EN EN Yes 

UMBELLIFERAE Rouya polygama EN EN 

PAPAVERACEAE Rupicapnos africana EN EN 

RUTACEAE Ruta microcarpa EN EN Yes 

CAPRIFOLIACEAE Sambucus nigra ssp. palmensis EN EN Yes 

SAXIFRAGACEAE Saxifraga presolanensis EN EN Yes 

SAXIFRAGACEAE Saxifraga tombeanensis EN EN Yes 

COMPOSITAE Senecio elodes EN EN Yes 

COMPOSITAE Senecio lagascanus ssp. lusitanicus EN EN Yes 

UMBELLIFERAE Seseli intricatum EN EN Yes 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Silene hifacensis EN EN Yes 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Silene holzmannii EN EN Yes 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Silene orphanidis EN EN Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Sinapidendron sempervivifolium EN EN Yes 

BORAGINACEAE Solenanthus albanicus EN EN Yes 

COMPOSITAE Stemmacantha cynaroides EN EN Yes 

ORCHIDACEAE Steveniella satyrioides EN NE 

GRAMINEAE Stipa styriaca EN EN Yes 

GRAMINEAE Stipa veneta EN EN Yes 

COMPOSITAE Sventenia bupleuroides EN EN Yes 

COMPOSITAE Tanacetum ptarmiciflorum EN EN Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Teline rosmarinifolia EN EN Yes 

CUPRESSACEAE Tetraclinis articulata EN EN 

LABIATAE Teucrium lepicephalum EN EN Yes 

COMPOSITAE Tolpis glabrescens EN EN Yes 

CISTACEAE Tuberaria major EN EN Yes 

LILIACEAE Tulipa cypria EN EN Yes 

COMPOSITAE Wagenitzia lancifolia EN EN Yes 

ULMACEAE Zelkova abelicea EN EN Yes 

RANUNCULACEAE Aconitum corsicum VU VU Yes 

CRASSULACEAE Aeonium balsamiferum VU VU Yes 

CRASSULACEAE Aeonium saundersii VU VU Yes 

ALISMATACEAE Alisma wahlenbergii VU EN Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Alyssum pyrenaicum VU VU Yes 

ORCHIDACEAE Anacamptis boryi VU VU Yes 

COLCHICACEAE Androcymbium gramineum VU VU 

COLCHICACEAE Androcymbium psammophilum VU VU Yes 

COMPOSITAE Argyranthemum pinnatifidum ssp. succulentum VU VU Yes 

PLUMBAGINACEAE Armeria sampaioi VU VU Yes 

ARACEAE Arum purpureospathum VU VU Yes 

ASPHODELACEAE Asphodelus bento-rainhae VU VU Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Astragalus setosulus VU NE Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Astragalus tanaiticus VU NE Yes 

CAMPANULACEAE Asyneuma giganteum VU VU Yes 

GRAMINEAE Avenula hackelii VU VU Yes 

66

Family 

Species 


Europe EU 27 

Endemic to 

Europe 

ROSACEAE Bencomia exstipulata VU VU Yes 

CHENOPODIACEAE Beta adanensis VU VU 

CRUCIFERAE Biscutella neustriaca VU VU Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Biscutella vincentina VU VU Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Brassica glabrescens VU VU Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Braya linearis VU VU 

UMBELLIFERAE Bupleurum capillare VU VU Yes 

CAMPANULACEAE Campanula sabatia VU VU Yes 

COMPOSITAE Canariothamnus hermosae VU VU Yes 

COMPOSITAE Carlina onopordifolia VU VU Yes 

COMPOSITAE Carthamus balearicus VU VU Yes 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea attica ssp. megarensis VU VU Yes 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea corymbosa VU VU Yes 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea dubjanskyi VU NE Yes 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea gadorensis VU VU Yes 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea immanuelis-loewii VU VU Yes 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea jankae VU VU Yes 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea kalambakensis VU VU Yes 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea niederi VU VU Yes 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea peucedanifolia VU VU Yes 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea pulvinata VU VU Yes 

GENTIANACEAE Centaurium somedanum VU VU Yes 

ORCHIDACEAE Cephalanthera epipactoides VU VU 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Cerastium dinaricum VU VU Yes 

ROSACEAE Chamaemeles coriacea VU VU Yes 

COMPOSITAE Cheirolophus satarataensis VU VU Yes 

COMPOSITAE Cheirolophus tagananensis VU VU Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Cochlearia tatrae VU VU Yes 

COLCHICACEAE Colchicum corsicum VU VU Yes 

CONVOLVULACEAE Convolvulus fernandesii VU VU Yes 

CONVOLVULACEAE Convolvulus massonii VU VU Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Crambe arborea VU VU Yes 

COMPOSITAE Crepis purpurea VU NE Yes 

IRIDACEAE Crocus cyprius VU VU Yes 

IRIDACEAE Crocus hartmannianus VU VU Yes 

ORCHIDACEAE Dactylorhiza iberica VU VU 

THYMELAEACEAE Daphne rodriguezii VU VU Yes 

ROSACEAE Dendriopoterium pulidoi VU VU Yes 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Dianthus cintranus ssp. cintranus VU VU Yes 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Dianthus hypanicus VU VU Yes 

BORAGINACEAE Echium gentianoides VU VU Yes 

ORCHIDACEAE Epipactis nordeniorum VU VU Yes 

ORCHIDACEAE Epipactis pontica VU VU 

GERANIACEAE Erodium rupicola VU VU Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Erysimum pieninicum VU VU Yes 

EUPHORBIACEAE Euphorbia bourgeana VU VU Yes 

EUPHORBIACEAE Euphorbia handiensis VU VU Yes 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Euphrasia marchesettii VU VU Yes 

67

Family 

Species 


Europe EU 27 

Endemic to 

Europe 

UMBELLIFERAE Ferula latipinna VU VU Yes 

GRAMINEAE Festuca brigantina VU VU Yes 

LILIACEAE Fritillaria drenovskii VU VU Yes 

LILIACEAE Fritillaria euboeica VU VU Yes 

LILIACEAE Fritillaria obliqua ssp. tuntasia VU VU Yes 

AMARYLLIDACEAE Galanthus ikariae VU VU Yes 

AMARYLLIDACEAE Galanthus reginae-olgae VU VU Yes 

RUBIACEAE Galium cracoviense VU VU Yes 

RUBIACEAE Galium sudeticum VU VU Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Genista benehoavensis VU VU Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Genista tetragona VU NE Yes 

GENTIANACEAE Gentianella bohemica VU VU Yes 

GLOBULARIACEAE Globularia sarcophylla VU VU Yes 

GLOBULARIACEAE Globularia stygia VU VU Yes 

CISTACEAE Helianthemum alypoides VU VU Yes 

COMPOSITAE Helichrysum gossypinum VU VU Yes 

ILLECEBRACEAE Herniaria algarvica VU VU Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Iberis runemarkii VU VU Yes 

ISOETACEAE Isoetes azorica VU VU Yes 

JUNCACEAE Juncus valvatus VU VU 

CUPRESSACEAE Juniperus brevifolia VU VU Yes 

MALVACEAE Kosteletzkya pentacarpa VU VU 

COMPOSITAE Leontodon microcephalus VU VU Yes 

LILIACEAE Lilium rhodopeum VU VU Yes 

PLUMBAGINACEAE Limonium perezii VU VU Yes 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Linaria pseudolaxiflora VU VU Yes 

LINACEAE Linum muelleri VU VU Yes 

MARSILEACEAE Marsilea azorica VU VU Yes 

MARSILEACEAE Marsilea strigosa VU VU 

CHENOPODIACEAE Microcnemum coralloides VU VU 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Moehringia hypanica VU NE Yes 

BORAGINACEAE Myosotis azorica VU VU Yes 

HYDROCHARITACEAE Najas flexilis VU VU 

BORAGINACEAE Omphalodes kuzinskyanae VU VU Yes 

BORAGINACEAE Onosma polyphylla VU NE 

ORCHIDACEAE Ophrys argolica VU VU Yes 

ORCHIDACEAE Orchis punctulata VU CR 

LABIATAE Origanum cordifolium VU VU Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Oxytropis deflexa VU NE 

PAEONIACEAE Paeonia clusii ssp. rhodia VU VU Yes 

PAPAVERACEAE Papaver laestadianum VU NT Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Parolinia schizogynoides VU VU Yes 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Petrocoptis grandiflora VU VU Yes 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Petrocoptis pseudoviscosa VU VU Yes 

GRAMINEAE Phalaris maderensis VU VU Yes 

ORCHIDACEAE Platanthera obtusata VU EN 

ORCHIDACEAE Platanthera obtusata ssp. oligantha VU EN 

ROSACEAE Potentilla delphinensis VU VU Yes 

PRIMULACEAE Primula apennina VU VU Yes 

68

Family 

Species 


Europe EU 27 

Endemic to 

Europe 

GRAMINEAE Puccinellia pungens VU VU Yes 

RANUNCULACEAE Pulsatilla vulgaris ssp. gotlandica VU VU Yes 

RANUNCULACEAE Ranunculus kykkoensis VU VU Yes 

RANUNCULACEAE Ranunculus weyleri VU VU Yes 

POLYGONACEAE Rumex rupestris VU VU Yes 

CHENOPODIACEAE Salicornia veneta VU VU Yes 

COMPOSITAE Santolina elegans VU VU Yes 

SAXIFRAGACEAE Saxifraga berica VU VU Yes 

SAXIFRAGACEAE Saxifraga osloënsis VU VU Yes 

SAXIFRAGACEAE Saxifraga portosanctana VU VU Yes 

CRASSULACEAE Sedum brissemoretii VU VU Yes 

COMPOSITAE Senecio caespitosus VU VU Yes 

COMPOSITAE Senecio nevadensis VU VU 

LABIATAE Sideritis cypria VU VU Yes 

LABIATAE Sideritis infernalis VU VU Yes 

LABIATAE Sideritis javalambrensis VU VU Yes 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Silene hicesiae VU VU Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Sisymbrium cavanillesianum VU VU Yes 

PRIMULACEAE Soldanella villosa VU VU Yes 

GRAMINEAE Stipa bavarica VU VU Yes 

BORAGINACEAE Symphytum cycladense VU VU Yes 

COMPOSITAE Tephroseris longifolia ssp. moravica VU VU Yes 

LABIATAE Teucrium turredanum VU VU Yes 

UMBELLIFERAE Thorella verticillato-inundata VU VU Yes 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Verbascum litigiosum VU VU Yes 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Veronica micrantha VU VU Yes 

ASCLEPIADACEAE Vincetoxicum pannonicum VU VU Yes 

VIOLACEAE Viola athois VU VU Yes 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Veronica euxina DD RE Yes 

GRAMINEAE Puccinellia phryganodes LC CR 

COMPOSITAE Artemisia laciniata DD CR 

HYACINTHACEAE Scilla litardierei DD CR Yes 

GRAMINEAE Arctophila fulva LC EN 

CRUCIFERAE Aurinia uechtritziana DD EN 

HYDROCHARITACEAE Najas tenuissima DD EN 

ERICACEAE Vaccinium arctostaphylos DD EN 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Veronica turrilliana DD EN Yes 

PRIMULACEAE Primula scandinavica NT VU Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Draba cinerea LC VU 

AMARYLLIDACEAE Galanthus plicatus LC VU 

HIPPURIDACEAE Hippuris tetraphylla LC VU 

COMPOSITAE Artemisia pancicii DD VU Yes 

CAMPANULACEAE Campanula lanata DD VU Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Draba cacuminum DD VU Yes 

RUBIACEAE Galium rhodopeum DD VU Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Genista holopetala DD VU Yes 

GRAMINEAE Stipa zalesskii DD VU 

LABIATAE Teucrium lamiifolium DD VU 

69

Appendix 2. Red List status of selected European 

vascular plants 

Species are sorted alphabetically by genus and species. 

¹ Species marked this way are included under a different name in the Habitats Directive or Bern Convention annexes. An overview table of the name changes is included in 

Table 1. 

Species were considered to be Not Applicable (NA) if they were judged to be of 

marginal occurrence in the region. Species were regarded as of marginal occurrence 

if it was estimated that less than 1% of their global range lies within Europe and if 

the European populations are not disjunct of the main species range. Species that did 

not occur in any of the EU 27 member states are marked as Not Evaluated (NE). 

Higher plant taxonomy other than families was not included in this list for reasons 

explained in chapter 2.2. 

Family Species IUCN 

Red List 

Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

PINACEAE Abies nebrodensis CR D CR D Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Achillea glaberrima LC NE Yes I 

COMPOSITAE Achillea thracica DD DD Yes Yes I 

AMARYLLIDACEAE Acis nicaeensis¹ EN B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) EN B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes II/IV I 

RANUNCULACEAE Aconitum corsicum VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes II/IV I 

RANUNCULACEAE Aconitum firmum ssp. moravicum NT NT Yes Yes II/IV 

RANUNCULACEAE Aconitum napellus ssp. fissurae DD DD I 

RANUNCULACEAE Aconitum variegatum ssp. valesiacum DD DD I 

LEGUMINOSAE Adenocarpus ombriosus EN B2ab(iii,v) EN B2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes I 

CAMPANULACEAE Adenophora lilifolia LC LC II/IV 

RANUNCULACEAE Adonis cyllenea DD DD I 

RANUNCULACEAE Adonis distorta DD DD Yes Yes II/IV I 

RANUNCULACEAE Adonis vernalis LC LC II B 

GRAMINEAE Aegilops bicornis VU B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) VU B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) Yes 

GRAMINEAE Aegilops biuncialis LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Aegilops caudata LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Aegilops columnaris LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Aegilops comosa LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Aegilops contracta DD DD Yes 

70



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

GRAMINEAE Aegilops cylindrica LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Aegilops geniculata LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Aegilops kotschyi NA NA Yes 

GRAMINEAE Aegilops neglecta LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Aegilops peregrina LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Aegilops speltoides LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Aegilops tauschii EN B2ab(ii,iii) NE Yes 

GRAMINEAE Aegilops triuncialis LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Aegilops umbellulata LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Aegilops uniaristata LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Aegilops ventricosa LC LC Yes 

CRASSULACEAE Aeonium balsamiferum VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes I 

CRASSULACEAE Aeonium gomerense EN B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) EN B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes II/IV I 

CRASSULACEAE Aeonium saundersii VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes II/IV I 

ROSACEAE Agrimonia pilosa LC LC II/IV 

GRAMINEAE Agropyron cimmericum EN 

B1ab(iii,v)+ 

2ab(iii,v);C2a(i) 

NE Yes Yes 

GRAMINEAE Agropyron cristatum LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Agropyron dasyanthum EN B2ab(ii,iii) NE Yes Yes 

GRAMINEAE Agropyron desertorum LC NE Yes 

GRAMINEAE Agropyron fragile DD NE Yes 

GRAMINEAE Agropyron tanaiticum NT NE Yes Yes 

GRAMINEAE Agrostis canina LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Agrostis stolonifera LC LC Yes Yes 

CRASSULACEAE Aichryson dumosum CR B2ab(iii) CR B2ab(iii) Yes Yes II/IV I 

DROSERACEAE Aldrovanda vesiculosa DD DD II/IV I Yes 

ALISMATACEAE Alisma gramineum LC LC Yes 

ALISMATACEAE Alisma lanceolatum LC LC Yes 

ALISMATACEAE Alisma plantago-aquatica LC LC Yes 

ALISMATACEAE Alisma wahlenbergii VU B2b(iii,iv,v)c(iv) EN B2b(iii,iv,v)c(iv) Yes II/IV I Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium acutiflorum LC LC Yes Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium aethusanum DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium aflatunense NA NE Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium albidum DD DD Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium albiflorum NT NE Yes 

71



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

ALLIACEAE Allium albotunicatum NA NE Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium amethystinum LC LC Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium ampeloprasum LC LC Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium angulosum LC LC Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium atropurpureum LC LC Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium atroviolaceum DD DD Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium autumnale LC LC Yes Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium baeticum LC LC Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium bornmuelleri DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium bourgeaui DD DD Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium breviradium DD DD Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium callimischon DD DD Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium carinatum LC LC Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium cassium LC LC Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium chamaemoly DD DD Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium chamaespathum DD DD Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium chrysonemum DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium circinnatum DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium commutatum DD DD Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium convallarioides NT NE Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium corsicum CR 

B1ab(ii,iii,v)+ 

2ab(ii,iii,v) 

CR 


2ab(ii,iii,v) 

Yes Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium cupani DD DD Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium curtum LC LC Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium cyrilli DD DD Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium decipiens LC NE Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium ericetorum DD DD Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium erubescens DD NE Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium exaltatum VU D1+2 VU D1+2 Yes Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium favosum DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium flavum LC LC Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium frigidum DD DD Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium fuscum LC LC Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium gomphrenoides DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium grosii LC LC Yes Yes II/IV I Yes 

72



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

ALLIACEAE Allium guttatum LC LC Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium heldreichii DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium horvatii DD NE Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium hymettium DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium inaequale DD DD Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium incensiodorum DD NE Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium insubricum DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium integerrimum DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium jubatum RE RE Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium junceum LC LC Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium kermesinum DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium lehmannii DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium lineare DD DD Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium lojaconoi NT NT Yes Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium longanum DD DD Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium lopadusanum DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium luteolum DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium macedonicum DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium marschalianum DD DD Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium massaessylum LC LC Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium melanantherum LC LC Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium melananthum NT NT Yes Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium meteoricum DD DD Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium moly LC LC Yes Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium moschatum LC LC Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium myrianthum NA NE Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium narcissiflorum DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium neapolitanum LC LC Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium nigrum LC LC Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium obliquum DD DD Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium obtusiflorum DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium oleraceum LC LC Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium orientale LC LC Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium palentinum DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium pallens DD DD Yes 

73



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

ALLIACEAE Allium paniculatum LC LC Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium parciflorum DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium pardoi VU C1 VU C1 Yes Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium parnassicum DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium pendulinum DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium permixtum DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium pervestitum EN B1ab(iii,iv)+2ab(iii,iv) NE Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium phthioticum DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium pilosum DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium podolicum DD DD Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium polyanthum DD DD Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium proponticum DD NE Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium pruinatum DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium pyrenaicum VU B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) VU B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) Yes Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium regelianum DD NE I Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium reuterianum DD DD Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium roseum LC LC Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium rouyi LC LC Yes Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium rubrovittatum LC LC Yes Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium rupestre DD DD Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium saxatile LC LC Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium scaberrimum DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium schmitzii VU B2ab(iii) VU B2ab(iii) Yes Yes Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium schoenoprasum LC LC Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium scorodoprasum LC LC Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium scorzonerifolium LC LC Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium scythicum DD NE Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium senescens LC LC Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium sipyleum DD DD Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium sphaerocephalon LC LC Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium stamineum LC LC Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium staticiforme DD DD Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium stearnii LC LC Yes Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium suaveolens LC LC Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium subhirsutum DD DD Yes 

74



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

ALLIACEAE Allium subvillosum DD DD Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium talijevii DD NE Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium tardans LC LC Yes Yes Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium trifoliatum DD DD Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium triquetrum DD DD Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium ursinum LC LC Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium victorialis LC LC Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium vineale LC LC Yes 

ALLIACEAE Allium willeanum LC LC Yes Yes Yes 

GRAMINEAE Alopecurus aequalis LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Alopecurus geniculatus LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Alopecurus pratensis LC LC Yes 

ZANNICHELLIACEAE Althenia filiformis DD DD Yes 

ZANNICHELLIACEAE Althenia orientalis DD DD Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Alyssum akamasicum DD DD Yes Yes I 

CRUCIFERAE Alyssum borzaeanum DD DD I 

CRUCIFERAE Alyssum pintodasilvae DD DD Yes Yes V 

CRUCIFERAE Alyssum pyrenaicum VU D1+2 VU D1+2 Yes Yes II/IV I 

APOCYNACEAE Amsonia orientalis DD DD I 

ORCHIDACEAE Anacamptis boryi VU B1ab(iii) VU B1ab(iii) Yes Yes II 

ORCHIDACEAE Anacamptis collina LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Anacamptis coriophora LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Anacamptis laxiflora LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Anacamptis morio NT NT II 

ORCHIDACEAE Anacamptis papilionacea LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Anacamptis pyramidalis¹ LC LC II/IV II B 

ORCHIDACEAE Anacamptis sancta NT NT II 

PRIMULACEAE Anagallis crassifolia VU B2ab(iii,v) VU B2ab(iii,v) Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Anagyris latifolia EN B2ab(iii,iv,v);C2a(i) EN B2ab(iii,iv,v);C2a(i) Yes Yes II/IV I 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Anarrhinum longipedicellatum NT NT Yes Yes V 

BORAGINACEAE Anchusa crispa EN B2ab(iii,iv,v) EN B2ab(iii,iv,v) Yes Yes II/IV I 

COLCHICACEAE Androcymbium gramineum¹ VU 

B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv)+2ab(i 

,ii,iii,iv) 

VU 


,ii,iii,iv) 

IV I 

COLCHICACEAE Androcymbium psammophilum VU B2ac(iv) VU B2ac(iv) Yes Yes II/IV I 

COLCHICACEAE Androcymbium rechingeri EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) Yes Yes II/IV I 

75



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

PRIMULACEAE Androsace cylindrica LC LC Yes Yes IV I 

PRIMULACEAE Androsace mathildae DD DD Yes Yes II/IV I 

PRIMULACEAE Androsace pyrenaica LC LC Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Andryala crithmifolia CR B2ac(iv);C2b CR B2ac(iv);C2b Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Andryala laevitomentosa DD DD Yes Yes I 

RANUNCULACEAE Anemone uralensis EN A2c NE Yes I 

UMBELLIFERAE Angelica heterocarpa LC LC Yes Yes II/IV I 

UMBELLIFERAE Angelica palustris DD DD II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Anthemis glaberrima CR B1ac(iv)+2ac(iv) CR B1ac(iv)+2ac(iv) Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Anthemis trotzkiana DD NE I 

LEGUMINOSAE Anthyllis lemanniana DD DD Yes Yes II/IV I 

LEGUMINOSAE Anthyllis lusitanica DD DD Yes Yes V 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Antirrhinum charidemi CR B1ab(i,ii,v) CR B1ab(i,ii,v) Yes Yes II/IV I 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Antirrhinum lopesianum EN B2ab(iii,v) EN B2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes IV 

UMBELLIFERAE Apium bermejoi CR 

B1ab(v)c(iv)+2ab(v) 

c(iv);C2a(i);D 

CR 

B1ab(v)c(iv)+2ab(v) 

c(iv);C2a(i);D 

Yes Yes II/IV I Yes 

UMBELLIFERAE Apium crassipes NT NT Yes 

UMBELLIFERAE Apium graveolens LC LC Yes 

UMBELLIFERAE Apium inundatum LC LC Yes Yes Yes 

UMBELLIFERAE Apium nodiflorum LC LC Yes 

UMBELLIFERAE Apium repens NT NT II/IV I Yes 

RANUNCULACEAE Aquilegia alpina LC LC Yes IV 

RANUNCULACEAE Aquilegia bertolonii LC LC Yes Yes II/IV I 

RANUNCULACEAE Aquilegia kitaibelii DD DD Yes II/IV I 

RANUNCULACEAE Aquilegia ottonis ssp. taygetea DD DD Yes Yes I 

RANUNCULACEAE Aquilegia pyrenaica ssp. cazorlensis EN B2ab(iii) EN B2ab(iii) Yes Yes II/IV I 

CRUCIFERAE Arabis kennedyae CR 

B1ab(iii)c(iv)+2ab(iii) 

c(iv); C2a(i) 

CR 


c(iv); C2a(i) 

Yes Yes II/IV I 

CRUCIFERAE Arabis sadina DD DD Yes Yes II/IV 

CRUCIFERAE Arabis scopoliana DD DD Yes II/IV 

GRAMINEAE Arctagrostis latifolia LC NT II/IV 

GRAMINEAE Arctophila fulva LC EN B2ab(iii) II/IV 

ERICACEAE Arctostaphylos uva-ursi LC LC D 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Arenaria ciliata ssp. pseudofrigida LC LC II/IV 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Arenaria humifusa NT NT II/IV 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

76



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Arenaria nevadensis CR B1ac(iii,iv)+2ac(iii,iv) CR B1ac(iii,iv)+2ac(iii,iv) Yes Yes II/IV I 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Arenaria provincialis NT NT Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Argyranthemum lidii EN B2ab(iii)c(iv) EN B2ab(iii)c(iv) Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Argyranthemum pinnatifidum ssp. succulentum VU D1 VU D1 Yes Yes IV I 

COMPOSITAE Argyranthemum thalassophilum EN D EN D Yes Yes II/IV 

COMPOSITAE Argyranthemum winteri CR B2ab(iii,v) CR B2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes II/IV I 

PLUMBAGINACEAE Armeria berlengensis CR B2ab(iii,v) CR B2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes II/IV 

PLUMBAGINACEAE Armeria helodes CR B1ab(iii,v);C2a(i);D CR B1ab(iii,v);C2a(i);D Yes Yes II/IV 

PLUMBAGINACEAE Armeria neglecta DD DD Yes Yes II/IV 

PLUMBAGINACEAE Armeria pseudarmeria EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) Yes Yes II/IV I 

PLUMBAGINACEAE Armeria rouyana NT NT Yes Yes II/IV I 

PLUMBAGINACEAE Armeria sampaioi VU D1 VU D1 Yes Yes V 

PLUMBAGINACEAE Armeria soleirolii EN 

B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i 

,ii,iii,iv,v) 

EN 


,ii,iii,iv,v) 


CRUCIFERAE Armoracia macrocarpa DD DD Yes I Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Armoracia rusticana LC LC Yes Yes 

COMPOSITAE Arnica montana LC LC Yes V D 

GRAMINEAE Arrhenatherum elatius LC LC Yes 

COMPOSITAE Artemisia campestris ssp. bottnica NT NT Yes II/IV 

COMPOSITAE Artemisia eriantha LC LC Yes V 

COMPOSITAE Artemisia genipi LC LC Yes V 

COMPOSITAE Artemisia granatensis EN A2ad EN A2ad Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Artemisia insipida CR D CR D Yes Yes I 

COMPOSITAE Artemisia laciniata DD CR D II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Artemisia oelandica NT NT Yes II/IV 

COMPOSITAE Artemisia pancicii DD VU B2ab(iii,iv) Yes II/IV I 

ARACEAE Arum purpureospathum VU D1+2 VU D1+2 Yes Yes I 

GRAMINEAE Arundo donax LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Arundo plinii LC LC Yes 

ASPARAGACEAE Asparagus acutifolius LC LC Yes 

ASPARAGACEAE Asparagus albus LC LC Yes 

ASPARAGACEAE Asparagus aphyllus LC LC Yes 

ASPARAGACEAE Asparagus arborescens VU B2ab(ii,iii,iv) VU B2ab(ii,iii,iv) Yes Yes Yes 

ASPARAGACEAE Asparagus brachyphyllus DD DD Yes 

ASPARAGACEAE Asparagus fallax EN B2ab(iii,v) EN B2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes Yes 

77



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

ASPARAGACEAE Asparagus horridus LC LC Yes 

ASPARAGACEAE Asparagus kasakstanicus DD NE Yes 

ASPARAGACEAE Asparagus litoralis DD NE Yes Yes 

ASPARAGACEAE Asparagus maritimus DD DD Yes 

ASPARAGACEAE Asparagus nesiotes EN B2ab(ii,v) EN B2ab(ii,v) Yes Yes Yes 

ASPARAGACEAE Asparagus officinalis LC LC Yes 

ASPARAGACEAE Asparagus pastorianus VU 

B1ab(ii,iii,iv)+ 

2ab(ii,iii,iv) 

VU 

B1ab(ii,iii,iv)+ 

2ab(ii,iii,iv) 

Yes 

ASPARAGACEAE Asparagus plocamoides VU B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) VU B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes Yes 

ASPARAGACEAE Asparagus pseudoscaber DD DD Yes Yes 

ASPARAGACEAE Asparagus scoparius LC LC Yes 

ASPARAGACEAE Asparagus tenuifolius LC LC Yes 

ASPARAGACEAE Asparagus umbellatus LC LC Yes Yes Yes 

ASPARAGACEAE Asparagus verticillatus LC LC Yes 

ASPHODELACEAE Asphodelus bento-rainhae VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes II/IV I 

ASPLENIACEAE Asplenium adulterinum LC LC II/IV 

ASPLENIACEAE Asplenium hemionitis LC LC IV I 

ASPLENIACEAE Asplenium jahandiezii NT NT Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Aster pyrenaeus EN B2ab(i,ii) EN B2ab(i,ii) Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Aster sorrentinii EN D EN D Yes Yes II/IV 

LEGUMINOSAE Astracantha arnacantha ssp. aitosensis¹ DD DD Yes Yes I 

LEGUMINOSAE Astragalus algarbiensis DD DD II/IV I 

LEGUMINOSAE Astragalus alopecurus¹ DD LC II/IV I 

LEGUMINOSAE Astragalus aquilanus DD DD Yes Yes II/IV I 

LEGUMINOSAE Astragalus arenarius LC LC Yes Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Astragalus cicer LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Astragalus macrocarpus ssp. lefkarensis CR B2ab(v) CR B2ab(v) Yes Yes II/IV I 

LEGUMINOSAE Astragalus maritimus CR 

B1ab(iii,v) 

c(iv)+2ab(iii,v) 

c(iv);C2a(ii)b 

CR 

B1ab(iii,v) 

c(iv)+2ab(iii,v) 

c(iv);C2a(ii)b 


LEGUMINOSAE Astragalus peterfii DD DD Yes Yes II/IV I 

LEGUMINOSAE Astragalus physocalyx EN B2ab(iv,v) EN B2ab(iv,v) I 

LEGUMINOSAE Astragalus pseudopurpureus DD DD Yes Yes I 

LEGUMINOSAE Astragalus setosulus VU B1ab(iii) NE Yes I 

LEGUMINOSAE Astragalus tanaiticus VU B2ab(iii,iv) NE Yes I 

78



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

LEGUMINOSAE Astragalus tremolsianus CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) Yes Yes II/IV I 

LEGUMINOSAE Astragalus verrucosus CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) Yes Yes II/IV I 

LEGUMINOSAE Astragalus wolgensis DD NE I 

CAMPANULACEAE Asyneuma giganteum VU D1+2 VU D1+2 Yes Yes II/IV I 

UMBELLIFERAE Athamanta cortiana CR B1ab(i,iii,v)c(iv) CR B1ab(i,iii,v)c(iv) Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Atractylis arbuscula EN B2ab(ii,iii) EN B2ab(ii,iii) Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Atractylis preauxiana EN B2ab(iii,iv,v) EN B2ab(iii,iv,v) Yes Yes II/IV I 

CHENOPODIACEAE Atriplex halimus LC LC Yes 

SOLANACEAE Atropa baetica EN B2ab(iii,iv);D EN B2ab(iii,iv);D II/IV I 

CRUCIFERAE Aurinia uechtritziana DD EN 

B1ab(ii,iii,iv,v)+B2ab( 

ii,iii,iv,v) 

GRAMINEAE Avena barbata LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Avena brevis DD DD Yes 

GRAMINEAE Avena canariensis LC LC Yes Yes Yes 

GRAMINEAE Avena clauda LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Avena eriantha LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Avena fatua LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Avena hybrida DD DD Yes 

GRAMINEAE Avena insularis EN B2ab(iii) EN B2ab(iii) Yes 

GRAMINEAE Avena longiglumis DD DD Yes 

GRAMINEAE Avena murphyi EN B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) EN B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) Yes 

GRAMINEAE Avena sterilis LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Avena ventricosa LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Avena volgensis DD NE Yes Yes 

GRAMINEAE Avenula hackelii VU B2ab(iii) VU B2ab(iii) Yes Yes II/IV I 

CAMPANULACEAE Azorina vidalii EN B2ab(iii,v) EN B2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes II/IV I 

ALISMATACEAE Baldellia alpestris NT NT Yes Yes Yes 

ALISMATACEAE Baldellia ranunculoides NT NT Yes 

ALISMATACEAE Baldellia repens NT NT Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Barbarea balcana LC LC Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Barbarea bosniaca DD NE Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Barbarea bracteosa DD DD Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Barbarea conferta DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Barbarea intermedia DD DD Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Barbarea lepuznica EN D CR C2a(i) Yes Yes 

I 

79



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

CRUCIFERAE Barbarea longirostris DD DD Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Barbarea macrophylla DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Barbarea rupicola LC LC Yes Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Barbarea sicula DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Barbarea stricta LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Barbarea verna DD DD Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Barbarea vulgaris LC LC Yes 

CHENOPODIACEAE Bassia saxicola EN D EN D Yes Yes II/IV I 

GRAMINEAE Beckmannia eruciformis DD DD Yes 

GRAMINEAE Beckmannia syzigachne DD NE Yes 

HYACINTHACEAE Bellevalia dubia ssp. hackelii¹ LC LC Yes Yes IV 

HYACINTHACEAE Bellevalia webbiana EN A2c EN A2c Yes Yes 

ROSACEAE Bencomia brachystachya CR B2ab(iii,iv,v) CR B2ab(iii,iv,v) Yes Yes II/IV I 

ROSACEAE Bencomia exstipulata VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes I 

ROSACEAE Bencomia sphaerocarpa CR D CR D Yes Yes II/IV I 

BERBERIDACEAE Berberis maderensis DD DD Yes Yes IV I 

UMBELLIFERAE Berula erecta LC LC Yes 

CHENOPODIACEAE Beta adanensis VU C1+2a(i) VU C1+2a(i) I Yes 

CHENOPODIACEAE Beta hybrida DD NE Yes Yes 

CHENOPODIACEAE Beta macrocarpa EN B2ab(iv,v) EN B2ab(iv,v) Yes 

CHENOPODIACEAE Beta nana VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes Yes 

CHENOPODIACEAE Beta patula CR B1ab(iii,iv)+2ab(iii,iv) CR B1ab(iii,iv)+2ab(iii,iv) Yes Yes II/IV Yes 

CHENOPODIACEAE Beta trigyna DD DD Yes 

CHENOPODIACEAE Beta vulgaris LC LC Yes 

ARACEAE Biarum davisii NT NT Yes Yes D 

COMPOSITAE Bidens cernua LC LC Yes 

COMPOSITAE Bidens radiata LC LC Yes 

COMPOSITAE Bidens tripartita LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Biscutella neustriaca VU B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) VU B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) Yes Yes II/IV I 

CRUCIFERAE Biscutella vincentina VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes II/IV 

CYPERACEAE Bolboschoenus glaucus LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Bolboschoenus laticarpus LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Bolboschoenus maritimus LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Bolboschoenus planiculmis LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Bolboschoenus yagara LC LC Yes 

80



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

CRUCIFERAE Boleum asperum LC LC Yes Yes II/IV I 

DIOSCOREACEAE Borderea chouardii CR B2ab(iii,v) CR B2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes II/IV I 

OPHIOGLOSSACEAE Botrychium matricariifolium NT NT I 

OPHIOGLOSSACEAE Botrychium multifidum DD DD I 

OPHIOGLOSSACEAE Botrychium simplex NT NT II/IV I 

GRAMINEAE Brachiaria eruciformis LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Brassica balearica LC LC Yes Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Brassica barrelieri LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Brassica cadmea DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Brassica cossoniana DD DD Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Brassica cretica LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Brassica elongata DD DD Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Brassica fruticulosa LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Brassica glabrescens VU D1 VU D1 Yes Yes II/IV I Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Brassica gravinae DD DD Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Brassica hilarionis EN 

B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v); 

C2a(i) 

EN 


C2a(i) 


CRUCIFERAE Brassica incana DD DD Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Brassica insularis NT NT II/IV I Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Brassica macrocarpa CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) Yes Yes II/IV I Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Brassica montana LC LC Yes Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Brassica nigra LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Brassica nivalis LC LC Yes Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Brassica oleracea DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Brassica oxyrrhina LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Brassica rapa DD DD Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Brassica repanda LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Brassica rupestris NT NT Yes Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Brassica souliei DD DD Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Brassica tournefortii LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Brassica villosa NT NT Yes Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Braya linearis VU B2ab(iii)c(iv) VU B2ac(iv) II/IV 

CRUCIFERAE Braya purpurascens LC NE I 

GRAMINEAE Bromus bromoideus EW EW Yes Yes I 

GRAMINEAE Bromus grossus DD DD Yes II/IV I 

81



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

GRAMINEAE Bromus interruptus EW EW Yes Yes I 

GRAMINEAE Bromus moesiacus¹ DD DD Yes I 

UMBELLIFERAE Bunium brevifolium DD DD Yes Yes IV I 

UMBELLIFERAE Bupleurum capillare VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes II/IV I 

UMBELLIFERAE Bupleurum dianthifolium CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) Yes Yes I 

UMBELLIFERAE Bupleurum handiense EN 

B1ab(i,ii,iv,v)+ 

2ab(i,ii,iv,v) 

EN 

B1ab(i,ii,iv,v)+ 

2ab(i,ii,iv,v) 


UMBELLIFERAE Bupleurum kakiskalae CR B1ac(iv)+2ac(iv) CR B1ac(iv)+2ac(iv) Yes Yes II/IV I 

BUTOMACEAE Butomus umbellatus LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Calamagrostis chalybaea LC LC Yes II/IV 

ALISMATACEAE Caldesia parnassifolia NT NT II/IV I Yes 

COMPOSITAE Calendula maderensis LC LC Yes Yes II/IV I 

ARACEAE Calla palustris LC LC Yes 

RANUNCULACEAE Callianthemum kernerianum CR B1ab(iii,v) CR B1ab(iii,v) Yes Yes 

CALLITRICHACEAE Callitriche brutia LC LC Yes 

CALLITRICHACEAE Callitriche cophocarpa LC LC Yes Yes 

CALLITRICHACEAE Callitriche cribrosa NT NT Yes 

CALLITRICHACEAE Callitriche hermaphroditica LC LC Yes 

CALLITRICHACEAE Callitriche lenisulca LC LC Yes 

CALLITRICHACEAE Callitriche lusitanica NT NT Yes 

CALLITRICHACEAE Callitriche obtusangula LC LC Yes 

CALLITRICHACEAE Callitriche palustris LC LC Yes 

CALLITRICHACEAE Callitriche platycarpa LC LC Yes Yes 

CALLITRICHACEAE Callitriche pulchra CR B2ab(iii)c(iv) CR B2ab(iii)c(iv) Yes 

CALLITRICHACEAE Callitriche regis-jubae EN B2ab(iii,iv);C2a(ii) EN B2ab(iii,iv);C2a(ii) Yes 

CALLITRICHACEAE Callitriche stagnalis LC LC Yes 

CALLITRICHACEAE Callitriche transvolgensis EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) NE Yes Yes 

CALLITRICHACEAE Callitriche truncata LC LC Yes 

RANUNCULACEAE Caltha palustris LC LC Yes 

ORCHIDACEAE Calypso bulbosa NT NT II/IV II 

CRUCIFERAE Camelina alyssum DD DD Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Camelina microcarpa LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Camelina rumelica LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Camelina sativa DD DD Yes 

CAMPANULACEAE Campanula asperuloides¹ DD DD Yes Yes I 

82



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

CAMPANULACEAE Campanula bohemica NT NT Yes Yes II/IV 

CAMPANULACEAE Campanula bohemica ssp. gelida¹ CR D CR D Yes Yes II/IV I 

CAMPANULACEAE Campanula lanata DD VU B1ab(ii,iii) Yes I 

CAMPANULACEAE Campanula morettiana LC LC Yes Yes IV I 

CAMPANULACEAE Campanula patula ssp. abietana DD DD Yes I 

CAMPANULACEAE Campanula romanica DD DD Yes Yes II/IV I 

CAMPANULACEAE Campanula sabatia VU C1 VU C1 Yes Yes II/IV I 

CAMPANULACEAE Campanula serrata LC LC Yes II/IV 

COMPOSITAE Canariothamnus hermosae¹ VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes I 

ASCLEPIADACEAE Caralluma burchardii EN B2ab(iii,v) EN B2ab(iii,v) II/IV I 

CRUCIFERAE Cardamine amara LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Cardamine pratensis LC LC Yes 

COMPOSITAE Carduus myriacanthus EN B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) EN B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) II/IV I 

CYPERACEAE Carex acuta LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Carex acutiformis LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Carex appropinquata LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Carex aquatilis LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Carex atherodes DD DD Yes 

CYPERACEAE Carex canescens LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Carex chordorrhiza LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Carex cretica NT NT Yes Yes Yes 

CYPERACEAE Carex disticha LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Carex elata LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Carex holostoma LC LC II/IV 

CYPERACEAE Carex lasiocarpa LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Carex limosa LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Carex malato-belizii LC LC Yes Yes II/IV I 

CYPERACEAE Carex paniculata LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Carex panormitana LC LC Yes Yes II/IV 

CYPERACEAE Carex pseudocyperus LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Carex recta DD DD Yes 

CYPERACEAE Carex riparia LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Carex rostrata LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Carex secalina DD DD I 

CYPERACEAE Carex troodi NT NT Yes Yes Yes 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

83



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

CYPERACEAE Carex vesicaria LC LC Yes 

COMPOSITAE Carlina diae EN B1ab(v)+2ab(v);C2a(i) EN B1ab(v)+2ab(v);C2a(i) Yes Yes I 

COMPOSITAE Carlina onopordifolia VU B2ab(iii) VU D2 Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Carthamus balearicus¹ VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes II/IV I 

UMBELLIFERAE Carum verticillatum LC LC Yes Yes Yes 

GRAMINEAE Catabrosa aquatica LC LC Yes 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea akamantis CR B1ab(v)+2ab(v) CR B1ab(v)+2ab(v) Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea attica ssp. megarensis VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea borjae EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea citricolor NT NT Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea corensis CR B1ab(i,iii,v)+2ab(i,iii,v) CR B1ab(i,iii,v)+2ab(i,iii,v) Yes Yes 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea corymbosa VU D1+2 VU D1+2 Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea dubjanskyi VU D2 NE Yes I 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea fraylensis¹ DD DD Yes Yes II/IV 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea gadorensis VU B2ab(iii,v);D2 VU B2ab(iii,v);D2 Yes Yes II/IV 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea heldreichii¹ CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea hermannii DD NE I 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea horrida EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea immanuelis-loewii VU B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) VU B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) Yes Yes II/IV 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea jankae VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea kalambakensis VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea kartschiana DD DD Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea lactiflora NT NT Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea micrantha ssp. herminii LC LC Yes Yes II/IV 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea niederi VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea peucedanifolia VU D1+2 VU D1+2 Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea pineticola DD NE Yes I 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea pinnata NT NT Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea pontica DD DD Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea princeps¹ EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea pseudoleucolepis EX NE Yes I 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea pulvinata VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Centaurea rothmalerana DD DD Yes Yes II/IV 

GENTIANACEAE Centaurium somedanum VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes II/IV I 

VALERIANACEAE Centranthus longiflorus ssp. kellereri DD DD Yes Yes I 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

84



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

VALERIANACEAE Centranthus trinervis EN D EN D Yes Yes II/IV I 

ORCHIDACEAE Cephalanthera cucullata EN 


C2a(i) 

EN 


C2a(i) 

Yes Yes II/IV I II A 

ORCHIDACEAE Cephalanthera damasonium LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Cephalanthera epipactoides VU 


D2 

VU 


D2 

II 

ORCHIDACEAE Cephalanthera longifolia LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Cephalanthera rubra LC LC II 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Cerastium alsinifolium DD DD Yes Yes II/IV I 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Cerastium dinaricum VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes II/IV 

CERATOPHYLLACEAE Ceratophyllum demersum LC LC Yes 

CERATOPHYLLACEAE Ceratophyllum platyacanthum DD DD Yes 

CERATOPHYLLACEAE Ceratophyllum submersum LC LC Yes 

CERATOPHYLLACEAE Ceratophyllum tanaiticum DD NE Yes Yes 

ASCLEPIADACEAE Ceropegia dichotoma ssp. krainzii¹ EN D EN D Yes Yes II/IV I 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Chaenorhinum serpyllifolium ssp. lusitanicum EN B2ab(iii,v) EN B2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes II/IV 

ROSACEAE Chamaemeles coriacea VU D1 VU D1 Yes Yes II/IV I 

ORCHIDACEAE Chamorchis alpina LC LC Yes II 

COMPOSITAE Cheirolophus crassifolius¹ CR B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) CR B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Cheirolophus duranii CR B2ab(iii,v) CR B2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Cheirolophus falcisectus EN B2b(iii)c(iv) EN B2b(iii)c(iv) Yes Yes I 

COMPOSITAE Cheirolophus ghomerythus EN 

B1ab(iii,iv,v)+ 

2b(iii,iv,v) 

EN 


2b(iii,iv,v) 


COMPOSITAE Cheirolophus junonianus EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Cheirolophus massonianus EN D EN D Yes Yes II/IV 

COMPOSITAE Cheirolophus metlesicsii CR B2ab(iii,v) CR B2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes I 

COMPOSITAE Cheirolophus santos-abreui CR B2ab(iii,v) CR B2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes I 

COMPOSITAE Cheirolophus satarataensis VU B2ab(iii);D2 VU B2ab(iii);D2 Yes Yes I 

COMPOSITAE Cheirolophus tagananensis VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes I 

LEGUMINOSAE Cicer canariense EN B2ac(iv) EN B2ac(iv) Yes Yes I Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Cicer graecum EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) Yes Yes Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Cicer incisum LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Cicer montbretii LC LC Yes 

COMPOSITAE Cichorium intybus LC LC Yes 

COMPOSITAE Cichorium pumilum LC LC Yes 

85



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

COMPOSITAE Cichorium spinosum DD DD Yes 

UMBELLIFERAE Cicuta virosa LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Cinna latifolia LC LC II/IV 

COMPOSITAE Cirsium brachycephalum LC LC Yes II/IV 

COMPOSITAE Cirsium latifolium LC LC Yes Yes II/IV 

CISTACEAE Cistus chinamadensis EN B2ab(ii,iii) EN B2ab(ii,iii) Yes Yes II/IV I 

CISTACEAE Cistus palhinhae DD DD Yes Yes II/IV 

CYPERACEAE Cladium mariscus LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Cochlearia polonica EN B2ab(v) EN B2ab(v) Yes II/IV I 

CRUCIFERAE Cochlearia tatrae VU B2ab(iii) VU B2ab(iii) Yes Yes II/IV 

CRUCIFERAE Coincya rupestris EN B2b(iii)c(iv) EN B2b(iii)c(iv) Yes Yes II/IV I 

COLCHICACEAE Colchicum arenarium LC LC Yes Yes II/IV I 

COLCHICACEAE Colchicum corsicum VU D1+2 VU D1+2 Yes Yes IV I 

COLCHICACEAE Colchicum cupanii ssp. cupanii¹ DD DD IV I 

COLCHICACEAE Colchicum micranthum DD DD I 

COLCHICACEAE Colchicum szovitsii ssp. szovitsii¹ DD DD I 

GRAMINEAE Coleanthus subtilis LC LC II/IV I Yes 

RANUNCULACEAE Consolida samia CR D CR D Yes Yes II/IV I 

CONVOLVULACEAE Convolvulus argyrothamnos CR D CR D Yes Yes II/IV I 

CONVOLVULACEAE Convolvulus caput-medusae NT NT Yes Yes II/IV I 

CONVOLVULACEAE Convolvulus fernandesii VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes II/IV 

CONVOLVULACEAE Convolvulus lopezsocasii EN B2ab(v) EN B2ab(v) Yes Yes II/IV I 

CONVOLVULACEAE Convolvulus massonii VU D1 VU D1 Yes Yes II/IV I 

ORCHIDACEAE Corallorhiza trifida LC LC II 

CRUCIFERAE Coronopus navasii CR 

B1b(iv,v)c(iv)+2b(iv,v) 

c(iv) 

CR 

B1b(iv,v)c(iv)+2b(iv,v) 

c(iv) 


PAPAVERACEAE Corydalis gotlandica NT NT Yes Yes II/IV 

CRUCIFERAE Crambe arborea VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes II/IV I Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Crambe aspera VU B2ab(ii,iii,iv) NE Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Crambe feuillei CR B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) CR B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Crambe filiformis LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Crambe fruticosa NT NT Yes Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Crambe gomerae VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Crambe grandiflora DD NE Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Crambe hispanica LC LC Yes 

86



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

CRUCIFERAE Crambe koktebelica DD NE Yes I Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Crambe laevigata EN B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) EN B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes II/IV I Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Crambe maritima LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Crambe microcarpa EN B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) EN B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Crambe pritzelii EN B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) EN B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Crambe santosii LC LC Yes Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Crambe scaberrima VU B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) VU B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) Yes Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Crambe scoparia EN B2ab(ii,iii) EN B2ab(ii,iii) Yes Yes I Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Crambe steveniana DD NE Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Crambe strigosa LC LC Yes Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Crambe sventenii CR B2ab(iii,v) CR B2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes II/IV Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Crambe tamadabensis CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) Yes Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Crambe tataria LC LC II/IV I Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Crambe wildpretii CR C2a(i);D CR C2a(i);D Yes Yes Yes 

CRASSULACEAE Crassula aquatica DD DD Yes 

CHENOPODIACEAE Cremnophyton lanfrancoi CR B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) CR B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Crepis crocifolia EN B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) EN B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Crepis granatensis EN B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) EN B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Crepis purpurea VU B1ab(iii) NE Yes I 

COMPOSITAE Crepis pusilla DD DD II/IV 

COMPOSITAE Crepis tectorum ssp. nigrescens EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii);D EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii);D Yes Yes II/IV 

IRIDACEAE Crocus cyprius VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes II/IV I 

IRIDACEAE Crocus etruscus NT NT Yes Yes IV I 

IRIDACEAE Crocus hartmannianus VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes II/IV I 

DICKSONIACEAE Culcita macrocarpa NT NT Yes Yes II/IV I 

PRIMULACEAE Cyclamen coum LC LC I II B 

CYPERACEAE Cyperus cyprius VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes Yes 

CYPERACEAE Cyperus difformis LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Cyperus fuscus LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Cyperus glaber LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Cyperus glomeratus LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Cyperus longus LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Cyperus michelianus NT NT Yes 

CYPERACEAE Cyperus pannonicus LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Cyperus rotundus LC LC Yes 

87



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

CYPERACEAE Cyperus serotinus LC LC Yes 

ORCHIDACEAE Cypripedium calceolus NT NT II/IV I II A 

LEGUMINOSAE Cytisus aeolicus CR B1ab(ii,iv)+2ab(ii,iv) CR B1ab(ii,iv)+2ab(ii,iv) Yes Yes II/IV I 

ORCHIDACEAE Dactylorhiza baumanniana NT NT Yes Yes II 

ORCHIDACEAE Dactylorhiza cordigera LC LC Yes II 

ORCHIDACEAE Dactylorhiza elata LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Dactylorhiza foliosa LC LC Yes Yes II 

ORCHIDACEAE Dactylorhiza fuchsii LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Dactylorhiza iberica VU B2ab(iii) VU B2ab(iii) II 

ORCHIDACEAE Dactylorhiza incarnata LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Dactylorhiza kalopissii EN B2ab(iii,v) EN B2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes II/IV II 

ORCHIDACEAE Dactylorhiza lapponica LC LC Yes Yes II 

ORCHIDACEAE Dactylorhiza maculata LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Dactylorhiza majalis LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Dactylorhiza romana LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Dactylorhiza russowii LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Dactylorhiza saccifera LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Dactylorhiza sambucina LC LC Yes II 

ORCHIDACEAE Dactylorhiza traunsteineri LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Dactylorhiza viridis LC LC II 

ALISMATACEAE Damasonium alisma NT NT Yes 

ALISMATACEAE Damasonium bourgaei NT NT Yes 

ALISMATACEAE Damasonium polyspermum VU B2ab(iii,iv) VU B2ab(iii,iv) Yes 

THYMELAEACEAE Daphne arbuscula DD DD Yes Yes II/IV I 

THYMELAEACEAE Daphne petraea LC LC Yes Yes II/IV I 

THYMELAEACEAE Daphne rodriguezii VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes II/IV I 

THYMELAEACEAE Daphne sophia EN B2ab(iii,iv) NE Yes 

UMBELLIFERAE Daucus aureus DD DD Yes 

UMBELLIFERAE Daucus broteri DD DD Yes 

UMBELLIFERAE Daucus carota LC LC Yes 

UMBELLIFERAE Daucus crinitus LC LC Yes 

UMBELLIFERAE Daucus durieua LC LC Yes 

UMBELLIFERAE Daucus glaber LC LC Yes 

UMBELLIFERAE Daucus guttatus DD DD Yes 

UMBELLIFERAE Daucus halophilus DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

88



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

UMBELLIFERAE Daucus involucratus LC LC Yes 

UMBELLIFERAE Daucus littoralis LC LC Yes 

UMBELLIFERAE Daucus muricatus LC LC Yes 

UMBELLIFERAE Daucus setifolius LC LC Yes 

RANUNCULACEAE Delphinium caseyi CR B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) CR B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Dendranthema zawadskii¹ DD LC I 

ROSACEAE Dendriopoterium pulidoi VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes II/IV I 

GRAMINEAE Deschampsia maderensis DD DD Yes Yes II/IV I 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Dianthus arenarius ssp. arenarius LC LC Yes Yes II/IV 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Dianthus arenarius ssp. bohemicus DD DD Yes Yes II/IV 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Dianthus cintranus ssp. cintranus VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes II/IV 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Dianthus diutinus EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) Yes II/IV 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Dianthus hypanicus VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes I 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Dianthus lumnitzeri DD DD Yes Yes II/IV 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Dianthus marizii LC LC Yes Yes II/IV 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Dianthus moravicus DD DD Yes Yes II/IV 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Dianthus morisianus CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) Yes Yes 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Dianthus nitidus NT NT Yes II/IV I 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Dianthus plumarius ssp. regis-stephani LC LC Yes Yes II/IV 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Dianthus rupicola NT NT II/IV I 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Dianthus serotinus DD DD Yes Yes I 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Dianthus urumoffii DD DD Yes Yes I 

WOODSIACEAE Diplazium sibiricum LC LC II/IV 

CRUCIFERAE Diplotaxis catholica LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Diplotaxis cretacea DD NE Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Diplotaxis erucoides LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Diplotaxis gomez-campoi LC LC Yes Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Diplotaxis harra LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Diplotaxis ibicensis LC LC Yes Yes II/IV I Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Diplotaxis ilorcitana LC LC Yes Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Diplotaxis muralis LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Diplotaxis parvula DD DD Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Diplotaxis siettiana CR 


c(iv) 

CR 


c(iv) 


CRUCIFERAE Diplotaxis siifolia NT NT Yes 

89



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

CRUCIFERAE Diplotaxis tenuifolia LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Diplotaxis vicentina CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) Yes Yes II/IV Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Diplotaxis viminea LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Diplotaxis virgata LC LC Yes 

COMPOSITAE Doronicum plantagineum ssp. tournefortii DD DD Yes Yes V 

LEGUMINOSAE Dorycnium pentaphyllum ssp. transmontana DD DD V 

LEGUMINOSAE Dorycnium spectabile EN B2ab(iii,v);C2a(i) EN B2ab(iii,v);C2a(i) Yes Yes II/IV I 

CRUCIFERAE Draba cacuminum DD VU D1 Yes II/IV 

CRUCIFERAE Draba cinerea LC VU D1 II/IV 

CRUCIFERAE Draba dorneri DD DD Yes Yes II/IV I 

DRACAENACEAE Dracaena draco EN B2ab(iii,iv,v);C2a(ii) EN B2ab(iii,iv,v);C2a(ii) IV I 

LABIATAE Dracocephalum austriacum DD DD II/IV I 

LABIATAE Dracocephalum ruyschiana LC LC I 

DRYOPTERIDACEAE Dryopteris corleyi* LC LC Yes Yes II/IV I 

DRYOPTERIDACEAE Dryopteris fragrans NT NT II/IV 

BORAGINACEAE Echium candicans DD DD Yes Yes II/IV 

BORAGINACEAE Echium gentianoides VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes II/IV I 

BORAGINACEAE Echium handiense CR B2ab(iii,v);C2a(ii) CR B2ab(iii,v);C2a(ii) Yes Yes I 

BORAGINACEAE Echium pininana EN B2ac(iv) EN B2ac(iv) Yes Yes I 

BORAGINACEAE Echium russicum LC LC II/IV 

ELATINACEAE Elatine alsinastrum NT NT Yes 

ELATINACEAE Elatine ambigua DD DD Yes 

ELATINACEAE Elatine brochonii VU B2ab(iv) VU B2ab(iv) Yes 

ELATINACEAE Elatine gussonei LC LC Yes Yes II/IV Yes 

ELATINACEAE Elatine hexandra LC LC Yes 

ELATINACEAE Elatine hungarica DD NT Yes 

ELATINACEAE Elatine hydropiper LC LC Yes 

ELATINACEAE Elatine macropoda DD DD Yes 

ELATINACEAE Elatine orthosperma LC LC Yes 

ELATINACEAE Elatine triandra LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Eleocharis acicularis LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Eleocharis austriaca LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Eleocharis carniolica LC LC Yes II/IV I Yes 

CYPERACEAE Eleocharis mamillata LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Eleocharis multicaulis LC LC Yes 

90



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

CYPERACEAE Eleocharis ovata LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Eleocharis oxylepis DD NE Yes 

CYPERACEAE Eleocharis palustris LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Eleocharis parvula DD DD Yes 

CYPERACEAE Eleocharis quinqueflora LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Eleocharis uniglumis LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Elymus alaskanus LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Elymus alopex LC NE Yes Yes 

GRAMINEAE Elymus caninus LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Elymus fibrosus DD VU A2ac Yes 

GRAMINEAE Elymus hispanicus LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Elymus macrourus DD NE Yes 

GRAMINEAE Elymus mutabilis LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Elymus panormitanus LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Elymus sibiricus NA NE Yes 

GRAMINEAE Elymus trachycaulus NA NE Yes 

GRAMINEAE Elymus uralensis DD DD Yes 

ORCHIDACEAE Epipactis albensis LC LC Yes Yes II 

ORCHIDACEAE Epipactis atrorubens LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Epipactis condensata CR D CR D II 

ORCHIDACEAE Epipactis dunensis DD DD Yes Yes II 

ORCHIDACEAE Epipactis greuteri EN B2ab(iii,v) EN B2ab(iii,v) Yes II 

ORCHIDACEAE Epipactis helleborine LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Epipactis leptochila LC LC Yes II 

ORCHIDACEAE Epipactis microphylla NT NT II 

ORCHIDACEAE Epipactis muelleri LC LC Yes II 

ORCHIDACEAE Epipactis nordeniorum VU B2ab(iii,v) VU B2ab(iii,v) Yes II 

ORCHIDACEAE Epipactis palustris LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Epipactis phyllanthes LC LC Yes Yes II 

ORCHIDACEAE Epipactis placentina EN B2ab(ii,iii,v) EN B2ab(ii,iii,v) Yes II 

ORCHIDACEAE Epipactis pontica VU B2ab(ii,iii,v) VU B2ab(ii,iii,v) II 

ORCHIDACEAE Epipactis purpurata LC LC Yes II 

ORCHIDACEAE Epipactis tallosii EN B2ab(ii,iii,v) EN B2ab(ii,iii,v) Yes Yes II 

ORCHIDACEAE Epipactis troodi EN B2ab(iii,v) EN B2ab(iii,v) II 

ORCHIDACEAE Epipactis veratrifolia EN B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) EN B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) II 

91



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

ORCHIDACEAE Epipogium aphyllum LC LC II 

EQUISETACEAE Equisetum arvense LC LC Yes 

EQUISETACEAE Equisetum fluviatile LC LC Yes 

EQUISETACEAE Equisetum palustre LC LC Yes 

COMPOSITAE Erigeron frigidus EN 

B1ab(i,ii,iii,v)+2ab(i,ii,i 

ii,v);C2a(i);D 

EN 

B1ab(i,ii,iii,v)+2ab(i,ii,i 

ii,v);C2a(i);D 


ERIOCAULACEAE Eriocaulon aquaticum LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Eriophorum angustifolium LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Eriophorum brachyantherum LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Eriophorum gracile NT NT Yes 

CYPERACEAE Eriophorum russeolum LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Eriophorum scheuchzeri LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Eriophorum triste LC LC Yes 

GERANIACEAE Erodium astragaloides CR B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) CR B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes II/IV I 

GERANIACEAE Erodium paularense EN B2ab(v) EN B2ab(v) Yes Yes II/IV I 

GERANIACEAE Erodium rupicola VU C2a(i) VU C2a(i) Yes Yes II/IV I 

CRUCIFERAE Eruca pinnatifida DD DD Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Eruca vesicaria LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Erucastrum palustre CR B1ab(i,ii,iii)+2ab(i,ii,iii) CR B1ab(i,ii,iii)+2ab(i,ii,iii) Yes Yes II/IV I 

UMBELLIFERAE Eryngium alpinum NT NT Yes Yes II/IV I 

UMBELLIFERAE Eryngium corniculatum LC LC Yes 

UMBELLIFERAE Eryngium galioides LC LC Yes Yes Yes 

UMBELLIFERAE Eryngium viviparum EN B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) EN B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) Yes Yes II/IV I Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Erysimum pieninicum VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes II/IV I 

EUPHORBIACEAE Euphorbia bourgeana¹ VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes II/IV I A 

EUPHORBIACEAE Euphorbia handiensis VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes II/IV I A 

EUPHORBIACEAE Euphorbia margalidiana CR B1ab(v)+2ab(v) CR B1ab(v)+2ab(v) Yes Yes II/IV I 

EUPHORBIACEAE Euphorbia nevadensis LC LC Yes Yes IV I 

EUPHORBIACEAE Euphorbia stygiana CR C2a(i);D CR C2a(i);D Yes Yes II/IV I A 

EUPHORBIACEAE Euphorbia transtagana LC LC Yes Yes II/IV 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Euphrasia genargentea LC LC Yes Yes II/IV 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Euphrasia marchesettii VU B2ab(ii,iii,v)c(iv) VU B2ab(ii,iii,v)c(iv) Yes Yes II/IV I 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Euphrasia mendoncae EX EX Yes Yes V 

COMPOSITAE Eurybia sibirica LC NE I 

CAMPANULACEAE Favratia zoysii¹ LC LC Yes Yes II/IV 

92



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

UMBELLIFERAE Ferula latipinna VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes II/IV I 

UMBELLIFERAE Ferula orientalis LC DD I 

UMBELLIFERAE Ferula sadleriana EN B2ab(iii,v) EN B2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes II/IV I 

GRAMINEAE Festuca brigantina VU B2ab(iii) VU B2ab(iii) Yes Yes II/IV 

GRAMINEAE Festuca duriotagana DD DD Yes Yes II/IV 

GRAMINEAE Festuca elegans LC LC II/IV 

GRAMINEAE Festuca henriquesii LC LC Yes Yes II/IV 

GRAMINEAE Festuca heterophylla LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Festuca ovina LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Festuca rubra LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Festuca summilusitana LC LC Yes Yes II/IV 

CYPERACEAE Fimbristylis bisumbellata LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Fimbristylis turkestanica DD DD Yes 

ROSACEAE Fragaria moschata LC LC Yes 

ROSACEAE Fragaria vesca LC LC Yes 

ROSACEAE Fragaria viridis LC LC Yes 

LILIACEAE Fritillaria conica EN B1ab(v)+2ab(v) EN B1ab(v)+2ab(v) Yes Yes IV I 

LILIACEAE Fritillaria drenovskii VU B2ab(iii) VU B2ab(iii) Yes Yes IV I 

LILIACEAE Fritillaria epirotica EN C2a(i) EN C2a(i) Yes Yes I 

LILIACEAE Fritillaria euboeica VU 

B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii); 

D1+2 

VU 


D1+2 

Yes Yes I 

LILIACEAE Fritillaria graeca DD LC Yes Yes I 

LILIACEAE Fritillaria gussichiae DD NT Yes IV I 

LILIACEAE Fritillaria montana DD DD Yes I 

LILIACEAE Fritillaria obliqua EN B2ab(iii,v) EN B2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes IV I 

LILIACEAE Fritillaria obliqua ssp. tuntasia¹ VU D1 VU D1 Yes Yes I 

LILIACEAE Fritillaria rhodocanakis EN 


,ii,iii,iv,v) 

EN 


,ii,iii,iv,v) 

Yes Yes IV I 

CYPERACEAE Fuirena pubescens LC LC Yes 

AMARYLLIDACEAE Galanthus elwesii DD DD II B 

AMARYLLIDACEAE Galanthus gracilis DD DD II B 

AMARYLLIDACEAE Galanthus ikariae VU B1ab(iii,v) VU B1ab(iii,v) Yes Yes II B 

AMARYLLIDACEAE Galanthus nivalis NT NT Yes V II B 

AMARYLLIDACEAE Galanthus peshmenii EN B1ab(iii) EN B1ab(iii) II B 

AMARYLLIDACEAE Galanthus plicatus LC VU D2 II B 

93



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

AMARYLLIDACEAE Galanthus reginae-olgae VU B2ab(iii,v) VU B2ab(iii,v) Yes II B 

RUBIACEAE Galium cracoviense VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes II/IV I 

RUBIACEAE Galium litorale NT NT Yes Yes II/IV I 

RUBIACEAE Galium moldavicum DD DD Yes II/IV I 

RUBIACEAE Galium rhodopeum DD VU B2ab(iii) Yes I 

RUBIACEAE Galium sudeticum VU B2ab(iii) VU B2ab(iii) Yes Yes II/IV 

RUBIACEAE Galium viridiflorum EN B2b(iii)c(iv);C2b EN B2b(iii)c(iv);C2b Yes Yes II/IV I 

LEGUMINOSAE Genista benehoavensis VU B2ab(iii) VU B2ab(iii) Yes Yes I 

LEGUMINOSAE Genista dorycnifolia DD DD Yes Yes II/IV I 

LEGUMINOSAE Genista holopetala DD VU D2 Yes II/IV I 

LEGUMINOSAE Genista tetragona VU B1ab(iii) NE Yes I 

ORCHIDACEAE Gennaria diphylla EN B2ab(iii,v) EN B2ab(iii,v) II 

GENTIANACEAE Gentiana ligustica LC LC Yes Yes II/IV I 

GENTIANACEAE Gentiana lutea LC LC V D 

GENTIANACEAE Gentianella anglica DD DD YEs Yes II/IV I 

GENTIANACEAE Gentianella bohemica VU B2b(iii,iv,v)c(iii,iv) VU B2b(iii,iv,v)c(iii,iv) Yes Yes II/IV 

GERANIACEAE Geranium maderense CR D CR D Yes Yes II/IV I 

ROSACEAE Geum bulgaricum LC NT Yes I 

IRIDACEAE Gladiolus palustris DD DD Yes II/IV 

GLOBULARIACEAE Globularia ascanii CR 


C2a(i);D 

CR 


C2a(i);D 


GLOBULARIACEAE Globularia sarcophylla VU D1 VU D1 Yes Yes II/IV I 

GLOBULARIACEAE Globularia stygia VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes II/IV I 

GRAMINEAE Glyceria declinata LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Glyceria fluitans LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Glyceria maxima LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Glyceria nemoralis LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Glyceria notata LC LC Yes 

ORCHIDACEAE Goodyera macrophylla CR D CR D Yes Yes II/IV I II 

ORCHIDACEAE Goodyera repens LC LC II 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Gratiola linifolia LC LC Yes 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Gratiola officinalis LC LC Yes 

POTAMOGETONACEAE Groenlandia densa LC LC Yes 

ORCHIDACEAE Gymnadenia archiducis-joannis EN B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) EN B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes II 

ORCHIDACEAE Gymnadenia borealis DD DD Yes Yes II 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

94



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

ORCHIDACEAE Gymnadenia conopsea LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Gymnadenia frivaldii LC LC Yes II 

ORCHIDACEAE Gymnadenia lithopolitanica EN B2ab(iii,v) EN B2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes II 

ORCHIDACEAE Gymnadenia nigra LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Gymnadenia odoratissima LC LC Yes II 

ORCHIDACEAE Gymnadenia rhellicani LC LC Yes II 

ORCHIDACEAE Gymnadenia runei¹ NT NT Yes Yes II/IV II B 

ORCHIDACEAE Gymnadenia stiriaca EN B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) EN B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes II 

ORCHIDACEAE Gymnadenia widderi EN B2ab(iii,v) EN B2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes II 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Gypsophila papillosa EN D EN D Yes Yes II/IV I 

ORCHIDACEAE Habenaria tridactylites LC LC Yes Yes II 

GESNERIACEAE Haberlea rhodopensis LC LC Yes Yes I 

CISTACEAE Halimium verticillatum DD DD II/IV 

ORCHIDACEAE Hammarbya paludosa LC LC II 

LEGUMINOSAE Hedysarum coronarium LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Hedysarum razoumowianum DD NE I 

CISTACEAE Helianthemum alypoides VU B2ab(i,ii,iii,v) VU B2ab(i,ii,iii,v) Yes Yes II/IV I 

CISTACEAE Helianthemum bystropogophyllum CR B2ab(iii)c(iv) CR B2ab(iii)c(iv) Yes Yes II/IV I 

CISTACEAE Helianthemum caput-felis EN B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) EN B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) II/IV I 

CISTACEAE Helianthemum teneriffae CR B2ab(iii,v)c(iv);C2a(ii)b CR B2ab(iii,v)c(iv);C2a(ii)b Yes Yes I 

COMPOSITAE Helichrysum gossypinum VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Helichrysum melitense CR B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) CR B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Helichrysum monogynum EN B2ab(iii) EN B2ab(iii) Yes Yes II/IV I 

BORAGINACEAE Heliotropium supinum LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Hemarthria altissima LC LC Yes 

ORCHIDACEAE Herminium monorchis DD DD II 

ILLECEBRACEAE Herniaria algarvica VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes II/IV I 

ILLECEBRACEAE Herniaria latifolia ssp. litardierei EN D EN D Yes Yes II/IV 

ILLECEBRACEAE Herniaria lusitanica ssp. berlengiana EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) Yes Yes II/IV 

ILLECEBRACEAE Herniaria maritima LC LC Yes Yes II/IV I 

ORCHIDACEAE Himantoglossum adriaticum LC LC Yes II/IV II B 

ORCHIDACEAE Himantoglossum affine EN B2ab(iii,v) EN B2ab(iii,v) II 

ORCHIDACEAE Himantoglossum caprinum DD NT II/IV I II 

ORCHIDACEAE Himantoglossum comperianum¹ EN B2ab(iii,v) EN B2ab(iii,v) I II 

ORCHIDACEAE Himantoglossum hircinum LC LC II 

95



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

ORCHIDACEAE Himantoglossum metlesicsianum¹ EN B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) EN B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes I II 

ORCHIDACEAE Himantoglossum robertianum LC LC II 

HIPPURIDACEAE Hippuris tetraphylla LC VU B2ab(iii,v) II/IV Yes 

HIPPURIDACEAE Hippuris vulgaris LC LC Yes 

UMBELLIFERAE Hladnikia pastinacifolia DD DD II/IV 

GRAMINEAE Holcus setiglumis ssp. duriensis DD DD II/IV 

GRAMINEAE Hordeum bogdanii DD NE Yes 

GRAMINEAE Hordeum brevisubulatum NA NE Yes 

GRAMINEAE Hordeum bulbosum LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Hordeum geniculatum LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Hordeum marinum LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Hordeum murinum LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Hordeum secalinum LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Hordeum vulgare LC LC Yes 

PRIMULACEAE Hottonia palustris LC LC Yes 

HYACINTHACEAE Hyacinthoides mauritanica¹ LC LC II/IV 

HYDROCHARITACEAE Hydrilla verticillata DD DD Yes 

HYDROCHARITACEAE Hydrocharis morsus-ranae LC LC Yes 

UMBELLIFERAE Hydrocotyle vulgaris LC LC Yes 

HYMENOPHYLLACEAE Hymenophyllum maderense DD DD Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Hymenostemma pseudanthemis DD DD Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Hyoseris frutescens DD DD Yes Yes II/IV 

GUTTIFERAE Hypericum corsicum LC LC Yes Yes Yes 

GUTTIFERAE Hypericum elodes LC LC Yes Yes Yes 

COMPOSITAE Hypochaeris oligocephala CR B2ab(iii)c(iv) CR B2ab(iii)c(iv) Yes Yes II/IV I 

CRUCIFERAE Iberis procumbens ssp. microcarpa DD DD Yes Yes II/IV 

CRUCIFERAE Iberis runemarkii¹ VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes II/IV I 

CRUCIFERAE Ionopsidium acaule LC LC Yes Yes II/IV I 

CRUCIFERAE Ionopsidium savianum NT NT Yes Yes II/IV I 

CONVOLVULACEAE Ipomoea sagittata VU B2ab(iii) VU B2ab(iii) Yes 

IRIDACEAE Iris aphylla ssp. hungarica DD DD Yes II/IV 

IRIDACEAE Iris boissieri CR B2b(iii,v)c(iv) CR B2b(iii,v)c(iv) Yes Yes IV 

IRIDACEAE Iris humilis¹ DD DD II/IV 

IRIDACEAE Iris lusitanica DD DD Yes Yes V 

IRIDACEAE Iris marsica DD DD Yes Yes IV I 

96



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

IRIDACEAE Iris pseudacorus LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Isatis allionii DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Isatis arenaria DD NE Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Isatis arnoldiana NA NE Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Isatis campestris DD DD Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Isatis costata LC NE Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Isatis littoralis DD NE Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Isatis lusitanica DD DD Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Isatis maeotica NA NE Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Isatis platyloba VU 


2ab(ii,iii,v) 

VU 


2ab(ii,iii,v) 

Yes Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Isatis praecox DD DD Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Isatis sevangensis NA NE Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Isatis steveniana DD DD Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Isatis tinctoria LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Isatis tomentella DD DD Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Isatis vermia DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Isatis villarsii DD NE Yes Yes 

ISOETACEAE Isoetes azorica VU C2a(i);D2 VU C2a(i);D2 Yes Yes II/IV I Yes 

ISOETACEAE Isoetes boryana EN B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) EN B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) Yes Yes II/IV I Yes 

ISOETACEAE Isoetes brochonii DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

ISOETACEAE Isoetes echinospora LC LC Yes 

ISOETACEAE Isoetes fluitans EN B2ab(iii,iv) EN B2ab(iii,iv) Yes Yes Yes 

ISOETACEAE Isoetes heldreichii CR (PE) D CR (PE) D Yes Yes Yes 

ISOETACEAE Isoetes lacustris LC LC Yes 

ISOETACEAE Isoetes malinverniana CR A2c CR A2c Yes Yes II/IV I Yes 

ISOETACEAE Isoetes setacea NT NT Yes 

ISOETACEAE Isoetes subinermis DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

ISOETACEAE Isoetes velata LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Isolepis fluitans LC LC Yes 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Isoplexis chalcantha CR 


,ii,iii,iv) 

CR 


,ii,iii,iv) 


SCROPHULARIACEAE Isoplexis isabelliana EN B2ab(iii);C2a(i) EN B2ab(iii);C2a(i) Yes Yes II/IV I 

GESNERIACEAE Jankaea heldreichii NT NT Yes Yes IV I 

CAMPANULACEAE Jasione crispa ssp. serpentinica DD DD Yes Yes II/IV 

97



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

CAMPANULACEAE Jasione lusitanica EN B1ab(iii) EN B1ab(iii) Yes Yes II/IV I 

OLEACEAE Jasminum azoricum CR D CR D Yes Yes II/IV I 

JUNCACEAE Juncus acutiflorus LC LC Yes 

JUNCACEAE Juncus acutus LC LC Yes 

JUNCACEAE Juncus articulatus LC LC Yes 

JUNCACEAE Juncus bufonius LC LC Yes 

JUNCACEAE Juncus bulbosus LC LC Yes 

JUNCACEAE Juncus effusus LC LC Yes 

JUNCACEAE Juncus fontanesii LC LC Yes 

JUNCACEAE Juncus heterophyllus LC LC Yes 

JUNCACEAE Juncus subnodulosus LC LC Yes 

JUNCACEAE Juncus tenageia LC LC Yes 

JUNCACEAE Juncus valvatus VU B1b(iii)c(iv)+2b(iii)c(iv) VU B1b(iii)c(iv)+2b(iii)c(iv) II/IV 

CUPRESSACEAE Juniperus brevifolia VU B2ab(ii,iii) VU B2ab(ii,iii) Yes Yes I 

COMPOSITAE Jurinea cyanoides LC LC II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Jurinea fontqueri CR 

A3bc;B1ab(iii,v)+ 

2ab(iii,v) 

CR 

A3bc;B1ab(iii,v)+ 

2ab(iii,v) 


CHENOPODIACEAE Kalidiopsis wagenitzii DD DD I 

COMPOSITAE Klasea lycopifolia¹ DD DD Yes II/IV 

COMPOSITAE Klasea radiata ssp. tanaitica DD NE Yes I 

MALVACEAE Kosteletzkya pentacarpa VU B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) VU B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) II/IV I 

SANTALACEAE Kunkeliella psilotoclada CR (PE) D CR (PE) D Yes Yes I 

SANTALACEAE Kunkeliella subsucculenta CR B2ab(ii,iii,v) CR B2ab(ii,iii,v) Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Lactuca acanthifolia DD DD Yes 

COMPOSITAE Lactuca alpestris NT NT Yes Yes Yes 

COMPOSITAE Lactuca alpina LC LC Yes 

COMPOSITAE Lactuca aurea LC LC Yes Yes 

COMPOSITAE Lactuca cyprica NT NT Yes Yes Yes 

COMPOSITAE Lactuca hispida DD DD Yes 

COMPOSITAE Lactuca intricata LC LC Yes 

COMPOSITAE Lactuca longidentata DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

COMPOSITAE Lactuca macrophylla DD NE Yes 

COMPOSITAE Lactuca muralis LC LC Yes 

COMPOSITAE Lactuca palmensis LC LC Yes Yes Yes 

COMPOSITAE Lactuca pancicii LC DD Yes Yes 

98



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

COMPOSITAE Lactuca perennis DD DD Yes Yes 

COMPOSITAE Lactuca plumieri DD DD Yes Yes 

COMPOSITAE Lactuca quercina LC LC Yes 

COMPOSITAE Lactuca saligna LC LC Yes 

COMPOSITAE Lactuca serriola LC LC Yes 

COMPOSITAE Lactuca sibirica LC LC Yes 

COMPOSITAE Lactuca singularis VU B2ab(iii,v) VU B2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes Yes 

COMPOSITAE Lactuca tatarica LC LC Yes 

COMPOSITAE Lactuca tenerrima LC LC Yes 

COMPOSITAE Lactuca tetrantha VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes Yes 

COMPOSITAE Lactuca triquetra NT NT Yes 

COMPOSITAE Lactuca tuberosa LC LC Yes 

COMPOSITAE Lactuca viminea LC LC Yes 

COMPOSITAE Lactuca virosa DD DD Yes 

COMPOSITAE Lactuca watsoniana EN B2ab(i,ii,iii);C2a(i) EN B2ab(i,ii,iii);C2a(i) Yes Yes II/IV I Yes 

COMPOSITAE Lamyropsis microcephala CR A3c;B1ab(iii) CR A3c;B1ab(iii) Yes Yes II/IV I 

UMBELLIFERAE Laserpitium longiradium CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) Yes Yes II/IV I 

LEGUMINOSAE Lathyrus amphicarpos NT NT Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Lathyrus annuus LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Lathyrus cassius EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii);D EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii);D Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Lathyrus cicera LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Lathyrus cirrhosus LC LC Yes Yes Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Lathyrus gorgoni LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Lathyrus grandiflorus LC LC Yes Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Lathyrus heterophyllus LC LC Yes Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Lathyrus hierosolymitanus LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Lathyrus hirsutus LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Lathyrus latifolius LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Lathyrus ochrus LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Lathyrus odoratus NT NT Yes Yes Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Lathyrus rotundifolius NT NE Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Lathyrus stenophyllus LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Lathyrus sylvestris LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Lathyrus tingitanus LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Lathyrus tuberosus LC LC Yes 

99



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

LEGUMINOSAE Lathyrus undulatus DD NE Yes 

GRAMINEAE Leersia oryzoides LC LC Yes 

LEMNACEAE Lemna gibba LC LC Yes 

LEMNACEAE Lemna minor LC LC Yes 

LEMNACEAE Lemna trisulca LC LC Yes 

LEMNACEAE Lemna turionifera DD DD Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Lens ervoides LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Lens lamottei LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Lens nigricans LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Lens odemensis LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Lens orientalis LC LC Yes 

COMPOSITAE Leontodon boryi NT NT Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Leontodon microcephalus VU B2ab(iii,v);D2 VU B2ab(iii,v);D2 Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Leontodon siculus NT NT Yes Yes II/IV I 

HYACINTHACEAE Leopoldia gussonei¹ EN B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) EN B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) Yes Yes II/IV I 

CRUCIFERAE Lepidium campestre LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Lepidium cardamines LC LC Yes Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Lepidium carrerasii DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Lepidium cartilagineum DD DD Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Lepidium cordatum NA NE Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Lepidium graminifolium LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Lepidium heterophyllum LC LC Yes Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Lepidium hirtum LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Lepidium latifolium LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Lepidium lyratum NA NE Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Lepidium perfoliatum LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Lepidium ramburei DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Lepidium ruderale LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Lepidium spinosum DD DD Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Lepidium squamatum DD DD Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Lepidium subulatum LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Lepidium syvaschicum DD NE Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Lepidium turczaninowii CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) NE Yes I Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Lepidium villarsii LC LC Yes Yes Yes 

COMPOSITAE Leuzea longifolia EN B2ab(iii,v);C2a(i) EN B2ab(iii,v);C2a(i) II/IV 

100



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

COMPOSITAE Leuzea rhaponticoides NT NT V 

COMPOSITAE Ligularia sibirica DD DD II/IV I 

LILIACEAE Lilium jankae DD DD Yes I 

LILIACEAE Lilium pomponium¹ LC LC Yes Yes V 

LILIACEAE Lilium rhodopeum VU B1ab(ii,iii)+2ab(ii,iii) VU B1ab(ii,iii)+2ab(ii,iii) Yes Yes I 

ORCHIDACEAE Limodorum abortivum LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Limodorum trabutianum NT NT II 

PLUMBAGINACEAE Limonium arborescens NT NT Yes Yes II/IV I 

PLUMBAGINACEAE Limonium calabrum CR B1ab(iii) CR B1ab(iii) Yes Yes 

PLUMBAGINACEAE Limonium dendroides CR B2ab(iii,iv,v);C2a(i);D CR B2ab(iii,iv,v);C2a(i);D Yes Yes II/IV I 

PLUMBAGINACEAE Limonium dodartii ssp. lusitanicum DD DD Yes Yes II/IV 

PLUMBAGINACEAE Limonium fruticans EN B2ab(iii) EN B2ab(iii) Yes Yes I 

PLUMBAGINACEAE Limonium insulare NT NT Yes Yes II/IV 

PLUMBAGINACEAE Limonium lanceolatum DD DD II/IV 

PLUMBAGINACEAE Limonium multiflorum LC LC Yes Yes II/IV 

PLUMBAGINACEAE Limonium perezii VU D1+2 VU D1+2 Yes Yes I 

PLUMBAGINACEAE Limonium preauxii EN B2ab(iii)c(iv) EN B2ab(iii)c(iv) Yes Yes I 

PLUMBAGINACEAE Limonium pseudolaetum NT NT Yes Yes II/IV 

PLUMBAGINACEAE Limonium sibthorpianum CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii);D CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii);D Yes Yes 

PLUMBAGINACEAE Limonium spectabile CR B2ab(ii,iii,v) CR B2ab(ii,iii,v) Yes Yes II/IV I 

PLUMBAGINACEAE Limonium strictissimum EN B2ab(iii,v) EN B2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes II/IV 

PLUMBAGINACEAE Limonium sventenii CR B2ab(ii,iii,iv) CR B2ab(ii,iii,iv) Yes Yes II/IV I 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Limosella aquatica LC LC Yes 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Limosella tenella DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Linaria algarviana LC LC Yes Yes II/IV I 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Linaria coutinhoi DD DD Yes Yes II/IV 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Linaria ficalhoana DD DD Yes Yes II/IV I 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Linaria flava NT NT II/IV I 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Linaria hellenica EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) II/IV I 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Linaria loeselii NT NT Yes II/IV I 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Linaria pseudolaxiflora VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes II/IV I 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Linaria ricardoi NT NT Yes Yes II/IV I 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Linaria tonzigii EN D EN D Yes Yes II/IV 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Lindernia procumbens LC LC IV I Yes 

LINACEAE Linum dolomiticum DD DD Yes Yes II/IV I 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

101



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

LINACEAE Linum muelleri VU D1 VU D1 Yes Yes II/IV 

ORCHIDACEAE Liparis loeselii NT NT II/IV I II A 

BORAGINACEAE Lithodora nitida EN 


,ii,iii,iv,v) 

EN 


,ii,iii,iv,v) 


PLANTAGINACEAE Littorella uniflora LC LC Yes 

CAMPANULACEAE Lobelia dortmanna LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Lolium multiflorum LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Lolium perenne LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Lolium rigidum LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Lolium temulentum LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Lotus callis-viridis EN B2ac(ii,iv) EN B2ac(ii,iv) Yes Yes II/IV I 

LEGUMINOSAE Lotus corniculatus LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Lotus eremiticus CR 

B2ab(iii,v)c(iv);C2a(i) 

b;D 

CR 

B2ab(iii,v)c(iv);C2a(i) 

b;D 

Yes Yes I 

LEGUMINOSAE Lotus kunkelii CR B2ab(iii);D CR B2ab(iii);D Yes Yes II/IV I 

LEGUMINOSAE Lotus maculatus CR B2ab(iii,v);C2a(i);D CR B2ab(iii,v);C2a(i);D Yes Yes I 

LEGUMINOSAE Lotus pedunculatus LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Lotus pyranthus CR B2ab(ii,iii,v);C2a(i) CR B2ab(ii,iii,v);C2a(i) Yes Yes I 

ONAGRACEAE Ludwigia palustris LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Lupinus albus LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Lupinus angustifolius LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Lupinus hispanicus LC LC Yes Yes Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Lupinus luteus LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Lupinus micranthus LC LC Yes 

ALISMATACEAE Luronium natans LC LC Yes Yes II/IV I Yes 

JUNCACEAE Luzula nivalis¹ LC NT II/IV 

LYCOPODIACEAE Lycopodium clavatum LC LC D 

LABIATAE Lycopus europaeus LC LC Yes 

LABIATAE Lycopus exaltatus LC LC Yes 

PRIMULACEAE Lysimachia dubia DD DD Yes 

PRIMULACEAE Lysimachia ephemerum LC LC Yes 

PRIMULACEAE Lysimachia minoricensis EW EW Yes Yes I 

PRIMULACEAE Lysimachia nummularia LC LC Yes 

PRIMULACEAE Lysimachia thyrsiflora LC LC Yes 

PRIMULACEAE Lysimachia vulgaris LC LC Yes 

102



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

LYTHRACEAE Lythrum acutangulum LC LC Yes 

LYTHRACEAE Lythrum borysthenicum LC LC Yes 

LYTHRACEAE Lythrum flexuosum NT NT Yes Yes II/IV I 

LYTHRACEAE Lythrum hyssopifolia LC LC Yes 

LYTHRACEAE Lythrum junceum LC LC Yes 

LYTHRACEAE Lythrum portula LC LC Yes 

LYTHRACEAE Lythrum salicaria LC LC Yes 

LYTHRACEAE Lythrum thesioides EN B2ab(iii,iv,v) EN B2ab(iii,iv,v) I Yes 

LYTHRACEAE Lythrum thymifolia LC LC Yes 

LYTHRACEAE Lythrum tribracteatum LC LC Yes 

LYTHRACEAE Lythrum virgatum LC LC Yes 

LYTHRACEAE Lythrum volgense DD DD Yes 

ORCHIDACEAE Malaxis monophyllos NT NT II 

CRUCIFERAE Malcolmia lacera ssp. gracillima DD DD Yes Yes V 

ROSACEAE Malus crescimannoi DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

ROSACEAE Malus dasyphylla DD DD Yes Yes 

ROSACEAE Malus florentina DD DD Yes 

ROSACEAE Malus sylvestris DD DD Yes Yes 

ROSACEAE Malus trilobata LC LC Yes 

SOLANACEAE Mandragora officinarum EN B1ab(iii,v) RE IV I 

ROSACEAE Marcetella maderensis EN D EN D Yes Yes II/IV I 

MARSILEACEAE Marsilea azorica VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes II/IV I Yes 

MARSILEACEAE Marsilea batardae EN B2ab(ii,iii,iv,v) EN B2ab(ii,iii,iv,v) Yes Yes II/IV I Yes 

MARSILEACEAE Marsilea quadrifolia NT NT II/IV I Yes 

MARSILEACEAE Marsilea strigosa VU A2c VU A2c II/IV I Yes 

CELASTRACEAE Maytenus umbellata LC LC Yes Yes II/IV 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago aculeata LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago arabica LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago arborea LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago blancheana LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago bondevii LC LC Yes Yes Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago cancellata NT NE Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago carica DD DD Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago carstiensis LC LC Yes Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago ciliaris LC LC Yes 

103



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago citrina CR B2ab(iii,v) CR B2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago constricta LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago coronata LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago cretacea EN 

B1ab(ii,iii,iv)+2ab(ii,iii, 

iv);C2a(i) 

NE Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago disciformis LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago doliata LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago fischeriana CR B1ab(iii) NE Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago glandulosa VU B1ab(ii,iii)+2ab(ii,iii) NE Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago globosa LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago granadensis NA NA Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago heterocarpa DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago heyniana NT NT Yes Yes Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago hybrida LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago hypogaea NT NT Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago intertexta LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago italica LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago komarovii NA NE Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago kotovii VU B2ab(ii,iii);C2a(i) NE Yes Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago laciniata LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago lesinsii LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago littoralis LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago lupulina LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago marina LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago medicaginoides LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago meyeri DD DD Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago minima LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago monspeliaca LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago murex LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago orbicularis LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago phrygia NA NA Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago pironae NT NT Yes Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago polyceratia LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago polymorpha LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago praecox LC LC Yes 

104



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago procumbens DD DD Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago prostrata LC LC Yes Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago rigidula LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago rotata LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago rugosa LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago rupestris EN 

B1ab(ii,iii)+2ab(ii,iii); 

C2a(i) 

NE Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago sativa LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago saxatilis EN B1ab(ii,iii)+2ab(ii,iii) NE Yes Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago scutellata LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago secundiflora DD DD Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago soleirolii DD DD Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago strasseri NT NT Yes Yes Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago suffruticosa LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago tenderiensis DD NE Yes Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago tenoreana LC LC Yes Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago tornata LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago truncatula LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Medicago turbinata LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Melilotus albus LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Melilotus officinalis LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Melilotus segetalis ssp. fallax DD DD Yes Yes II/IV 

LABIATAE Mentha aquatica LC LC Yes 

LABIATAE Mentha pulegium LC LC Yes 

LABIATAE Mentha spicata LC LC Yes 

MENYANTHACEAE Menyanthes trifoliata LC LC D Yes 

CHENOPODIACEAE Microcnemum coralloides VU B2b(iii)c(iii) VU B2b(iii)c(iii) I 

LABIATAE Micromeria glomerata CR B2ab(iii,iv) CR B2ab(iii,iv) Yes Yes I 

LABIATAE Micromeria leucantha EN B2ab(iii) EN B2ab(iii) Yes Yes I 

LABIATAE Micromeria taygetea EN C2a(i) EN C2a(i) Yes Yes II/IV I 

GRAMINEAE Micropyropsis tuberosa EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) II/IV I 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Minuartia smejkalii DD DD Yes Yes II/IV I 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Moehringia fontqueri EN B1ac(iv)+2ac(iv) EN B1ac(iv)+2ac(iv) Yes Yes IV I 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Moehringia hypanica VU D1 NE Yes I 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Moehringia jankae DD DD Yes Yes II/IV I 

105



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Moehringia lateriflora LC LC II/IV 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Moehringia tommasinii EN 


2ab(ii,iii,v) 

EN 


2ab(ii,iii,v) 

Yes II/IV I 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Moehringia villosa DD DD Yes Yes II/IV 

CRASSULACEAE Monanthes wildpretii CR B2ab(iii) CR B2ab(iii) Yes Yes II/IV I 

UMBELLIFERAE Monizia edulis CR D CR D Yes Yes II/IV I 

PONTEDERIACEAE Monochoria korsakowii DD NE Yes 

PORTULACACEAE Montia fontana LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Murbeckiella boryi¹ LC LC V 

CRUCIFERAE Murbeckiella sousae NT NT Yes Yes IV I 

CAMPANULACEAE Musschia aurea LC LC Yes Yes II/IV I 

CAMPANULACEAE Musschia wollastonii EN D EN D Yes Yes II/IV I 

BORAGINACEAE Myosotis azorica VU D1 VU D1 Yes Yes II/IV I 

BORAGINACEAE Myosotis laxa LC LC Yes 

BORAGINACEAE Myosotis lusitanica DD DD Yes Yes II/IV 

BORAGINACEAE Myosotis rehsteineri EN B2ab(iii) EN B2ab(iii) Yes Yes II/IV I 

BORAGINACEAE Myosotis retusifolia DD DD Yes Yes II/IV 

BORAGINACEAE Myosotis scorpioides LC LC Yes 

BORAGINACEAE Myosotis secunda LC LC Yes Yes Yes 

MYRICACEAE Myrica rivas-martinezii CR B2ab(iii,v) CR B2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes II/IV I 

HALORAGACEAE Myriophyllum alterniflorum LC LC Yes 

HALORAGACEAE Myriophyllum sibiricum LC LC Yes 

HALORAGACEAE Myriophyllum spicatum LC LC Yes 

HALORAGACEAE Myriophyllum verticillatum LC LC Yes 

HYDROCHARITACEAE Najas flexilis VU B2ab(iv) VU B2ab(iv) II/IV I Yes 

HYDROCHARITACEAE Najas marina LC LC Yes 

HYDROCHARITACEAE Najas minor LC LC Yes 

HYDROCHARITACEAE Najas tenuissima DD EN B2ab(iii) II/IV I Yes 

AMARYLLIDACEAE Narcissus assoanus¹ LC LC Yes Yes V 

AMARYLLIDACEAE Narcissus asturiensis LC LC Yes Yes II/IV 

AMARYLLIDACEAE Narcissus bulbocodium LC LC V 

AMARYLLIDACEAE Narcissus calcicola LC LC Yes Yes II/IV 

AMARYLLIDACEAE Narcissus cavanillesii¹ DD DD II/IV 

AMARYLLIDACEAE Narcissus cyclamineus LC LC Yes Yes II/IV 

AMARYLLIDACEAE Narcissus jonquilla DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

106



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

AMARYLLIDACEAE Narcissus jonquilla ssp. fernandesii LC LC Yes Yes II/IV 

AMARYLLIDACEAE Narcissus longispathus EN 

B1b(iii,v)c(iv)+2b(iii,v) 

c(iv) 

EN 

B1b(iii,v)c(iv)+2b(iii,v) 

c(iv) 

Yes Yes IV I 

AMARYLLIDACEAE Narcissus nevadensis EN B2ab(iii) EN B2ab(iii) Yes Yes II/IV I 

AMARYLLIDACEAE Narcissus poeticus ssp. radiiflorus¹ DD DD I 

AMARYLLIDACEAE Narcissus pseudonarcissus ssp. nobilis LC LC Yes Yes II/IV 

AMARYLLIDACEAE Narcissus scaberulus LC LC Yes Yes II/IV I 

AMARYLLIDACEAE Narcissus triandrus LC LC Yes Yes IV I 

AMARYLLIDACEAE Narcissus viridiflorus DD DD II/IV I 

UMBELLIFERAE Naufraga balearica CR B1ab(v)+2ab(v) CR B1ab(v)+2ab(v) Yes Yes II/IV I 

NELUMBONACEAE Nelumbo nucifera DD NE Yes 

ORCHIDACEAE Neotinea lactea LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Neotinea maculata LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Neotinea tridentata LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Neotinea ustulata LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Neottia cordata LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Neottia nidus-avis LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Neottia ovata LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Neottianthe cucullata EN B2b(iii,v)c(iii,iv) EN B2b(iii,v)c(iii,iv) II 

LABIATAE Nepeta argolica ssp. dirphya¹ NT NT Yes Yes II/IV I 

NYMPHAEACEAE Nuphar lutea LC LC Yes 

NYMPHAEACEAE Nuphar pumila LC LC Yes 

NYMPHAEACEAE Nymphaea alba LC LC Yes 

NYMPHAEACEAE Nymphaea candida LC LC Yes 

NYMPHAEACEAE Nymphaea tetragona LC LC Yes 

MENYANTHACEAE Nymphoides peltata LC LC Yes 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Odontites granatensis CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) Yes Yes II/IV I 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Odontites hollianus¹ DD DD Yes Yes II/IV 

UMBELLIFERAE Oenanthe aquatica LC LC Yes 

UMBELLIFERAE Oenanthe conioides DD DD Yes Yes II/IV I 

UMBELLIFERAE Oenanthe crocata LC LC Yes 

UMBELLIFERAE Oenanthe divaricata LC LC Yes Yes II/IV 

UMBELLIFERAE Oenanthe fistulosa LC LC Yes 

UMBELLIFERAE Oenanthe fluviatilis NT NT Yes Yes Yes 

OLEACEAE Olea europaea DD DD Yes 

107



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

OLEACEAE Olea maderensis DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

BORAGINACEAE Omphalodes kuzinskyanae VU 

B1ab(i,ii,iii,v)+2ab(i 

,ii,iii,v) 

VU 

B1ab(i,ii,iii,v)+2ab(i 

,ii,iii,v) 


BORAGINACEAE Omphalodes littoralis LC LC Yes Yes II/IV I 

LEGUMINOSAE Onobrychis viciifolia LC LC Yes Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Ononis maweana¹ NT NT Yes Yes I 

COMPOSITAE Onopordum carduelium CR B2ab(iii,iv) CR B2ab(iii,iv) Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Onopordum nogalesii CR B2ac(iv);C2a(ii) CR B2ac(iv);C2a(ii) Yes Yes II/IV I 

BORAGINACEAE Onosma polyphylla VU B1ab(iii) NE I 

BORAGINACEAE Onosma propontica DD DD Yes Yes I 

BORAGINACEAE Onosma tornensis EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) Yes Yes II/IV I 

BORAGINACEAE Onosma troodi DD DD Yes Yes I 

ORCHIDACEAE Ophrys apifera LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Ophrys argolica VU B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) VU B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) Yes Yes IV I II A 

ORCHIDACEAE Ophrys atlantica EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) II 

ORCHIDACEAE Ophrys bertolonii LC LC Yes Yes II 

ORCHIDACEAE Ophrys bombyliflora LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Ophrys ferrum-equinum LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Ophrys fuciflora LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Ophrys fusca LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Ophrys insectifera LC LC Yes II 

ORCHIDACEAE Ophrys kotschyi NT NT Yes Yes II/IV I II B 

ORCHIDACEAE Ophrys lunulata NT NT Yes Yes II/IV I II 

ORCHIDACEAE Ophrys lutea LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Ophrys reinholdii LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Ophrys scolopax LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Ophrys speculum LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Ophrys sphegodes LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Ophrys sphegodes ssp. mammosa LC LC I II 

ORCHIDACEAE Ophrys tenthredinifera LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Ophrys umbilicata LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Orchis anatolica LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Orchis anthropophora LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Orchis brancifortii LC LC Yes Yes II 

ORCHIDACEAE Orchis italica LC LC II 

108



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

ORCHIDACEAE Orchis mascula LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Orchis mascula ssp. scopulorum¹ DD DD Yes Yes IV I II 

ORCHIDACEAE Orchis militaris LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Orchis pallens LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Orchis patens EN B1ab(iii,v) EN B1ab(iii,v) II 

ORCHIDACEAE Orchis pauciflora LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Orchis provincialis LC LC I II B 

ORCHIDACEAE Orchis punctulata VU B2ab(iii,v) CR C2a(i) I II B 

ORCHIDACEAE Orchis purpurea LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Orchis quadripunctata LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Orchis simia LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Orchis sitiaca EN B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) EN B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes II 

ORCHIDACEAE Orchis spitzelii NT NT II 

LABIATAE Origanum cordifolium VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes I 

LABIATAE Origanum dictamnus NT NT Yes Yes II/IV I 

HYACINTHACEAE Ornithogalum reverchonii LC LC IV I 

LEGUMINOSAE Ornithopus sativus LC LC Yes 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Orobanche densiflora DD DD II/IV 

LEGUMINOSAE Oxytropis deflexa VU D2 NE I 

PAEONIACEAE Paeonia clusii ssp. rhodia VU B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) VU B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes II/IV I 

PAEONIACEAE Paeonia officinalis ssp. banatica DD DD Yes Yes II/IV I 

PAEONIACEAE Paeonia parnassica EN C2a(i) EN C2a(i) Yes Yes II/IV I 

PAEONIACEAE Paeonia tenuifolia DD DD I 

GRAMINEAE Panicum repens LC LC Yes 

PAPAVERACEAE Papaver laestadianum VU B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) NT Yes II/IV 

PAPAVERACEAE Papaver lapponicum DD NE I 

PAPAVERACEAE Papaver radicatum ssp. hyperboreum LC NT II/IV 

CRUCIFERAE Parolinia schizogynoides VU D1+2 VU D1+2 Yes Yes II/IV I 

CHENOPODIACEAE Patellifolia patellaris LC LC Yes 

CHENOPODIACEAE Patellifolia procumbens LC LC Yes 

CHENOPODIACEAE Patellifolia webbiana CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) Yes Yes Yes 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Pedicularis sudetica DD DD II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Pericallis hadrosoma CR B2ab(iii);C2a(i);D CR B2ab(iii);C2a(i);D Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Pericallis malvifolia CR B1ab(iii) CR B1ab(iii) Yes Yes I 

POLYGONACEAE Persicaria amphibia LC LC Yes 

109



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

POLYGONACEAE Persicaria foliosa NT NT II/IV Yes 

POLYGONACEAE Persicaria hydropiper LC LC Yes 

POLYGONACEAE Persicaria lanigera NA NA Yes 

POLYGONACEAE Persicaria lapathifolia LC LC Yes 

POLYGONACEAE Persicaria maculosa LC LC Yes 

POLYGONACEAE Persicaria salicifolia LC LC Yes 

UMBELLIFERAE Petagnia saniculifolia LC LC Yes Yes II/IV I 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Petrocoptis grandiflora VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes II/IV I 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Petrocoptis montsicciana NT NT Yes Yes II/IV I 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Petrocoptis pseudoviscosa VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes II/IV I 

GRAMINEAE Phacelurus digitatus DD DD Yes 

COMPOSITAE Phagnalon bennettii LC LC Yes Yes II/IV I 

GRAMINEAE Phalaris aquatica LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Phalaris arundinacea LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Phalaris maderensis VU D1 VU D1 Yes Yes II/IV I 

GRAMINEAE Phleum pratense LC LC Yes 

LABIATAE Phlomis brevibracteata DD DD Yes Yes II/IV I 

LABIATAE Phlomis cypria DD DD Yes Yes II/IV I 

GRAMINEAE Phragmites australis LC LC Yes 

CAMPANULACEAE Physoplexis comosa LC LC Yes Yes IV I 

COMPOSITAE Picris willkommii EN B2ab(i,ii,iii,v) EN B2ab(i,ii,iii,v) Yes Yes IV I 

MARSILEACEAE Pilularia globulifera NT NT Yes Yes 

MARSILEACEAE Pilularia minuta EN B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)c(iv) EN B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)c(iv) I Yes 

LENTIBULARIACEAE Pinguicula crystallina NT NT II/IV I 

LENTIBULARIACEAE Pinguicula mundi VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes Yes 

LENTIBULARIACEAE Pinguicula nevadensis EN B2ab(iii,v) EN B2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes II/IV I 

LENTIBULARIACEAE Pinguicula vulgaris LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Pisum fulvum NT NT Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Pisum sativum LC LC Yes 

PITTOSPORACEAE Pittosporum coriaceum CR D CR D Yes Yes II/IV I 

PLANTAGINACEAE Plantago algarbiensis EN B2ab(iii,v) EN B2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes II/IV 

PLANTAGINACEAE Plantago almogravensis CR 


,ii,iii,iv,v) 

CR 


,ii,iii,iv,v) 

Yes Yes II/IV 

PLANTAGINACEAE Plantago famarae CR B2ab(v) CR B2ab(v) Yes Yes I 

PLANTAGINACEAE Plantago malato-belizii DD DD Yes Yes II/IV I 

110



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

ORCHIDACEAE Platanthera algeriensis EN B2ab(iii) EN B2ab(iii) II 

ORCHIDACEAE Platanthera bifolia LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Platanthera chlorantha LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Platanthera hyperborea LC NE II 

ORCHIDACEAE Platanthera micrantha EN B1ab(i,iii,v) EN B1ab(i,iii,v) Yes Yes II 

ORCHIDACEAE Platanthera obtusata VU D1 EN D II 

ORCHIDACEAE Platanthera obtusata ssp. oligantha VU D1 EN D II/IV I II 

GRAMINEAE Pleuropogon sabinei LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Poa alpina LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Poa granitica ssp. disparilis DD DD Yes II/IV I 

GRAMINEAE Poa pratensis LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Poa riphaea EN D EN D Yes Yes II/IV I 

POLEMONIACEAE Polemonium boreale LC NE I 

POLYGONACEAE Polygonum praelongum EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) II/IV I 

DRYOPTERIDACEAE Polystichum drepanum CR D CR D Yes Yes II/IV I 

POTAMOGETONACEAE Potamogeton acutifolius NT NT Yes 

POTAMOGETONACEAE Potamogeton alpinus LC LC Yes 

POTAMOGETONACEAE Potamogeton berchtoldii LC LC Yes 

POTAMOGETONACEAE Potamogeton coloratus LC LC Yes 

POTAMOGETONACEAE Potamogeton compressus DD NT Yes 

POTAMOGETONACEAE Potamogeton crispus LC LC Yes 

POTAMOGETONACEAE Potamogeton epihydrus NT NT Yes 

POTAMOGETONACEAE Potamogeton filiformis LC LC Yes 

POTAMOGETONACEAE Potamogeton friesii LC LC Yes 

POTAMOGETONACEAE Potamogeton gramineus LC LC Yes 

POTAMOGETONACEAE Potamogeton lucens LC LC Yes 

POTAMOGETONACEAE Potamogeton natans LC LC Yes 

POTAMOGETONACEAE Potamogeton nodosus LC LC Yes 

POTAMOGETONACEAE Potamogeton obtusifolius LC LC Yes 

POTAMOGETONACEAE Potamogeton perfoliatus LC LC Yes 

POTAMOGETONACEAE Potamogeton polygonifolius LC LC Yes 

POTAMOGETONACEAE Potamogeton praelongus LC LC Yes 

POTAMOGETONACEAE Potamogeton pusillus LC LC Yes 

POTAMOGETONACEAE Potamogeton rutilus NT NT Yes Yes 

POTAMOGETONACEAE Potamogeton sarmaticus DD NE Yes 

111



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

POTAMOGETONACEAE Potamogeton schweinfurthii DD DD Yes 

POTAMOGETONACEAE Potamogeton subsibiricus DD NE Yes 

POTAMOGETONACEAE Potamogeton trichoides LC LC Yes 

ROSACEAE Potentilla delphinensis VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes II/IV I 

ROSACEAE Potentilla emilii-popi DD DD Yes Yes II/IV I 

ROSACEAE Potentilla silesiaca DD DD Yes Yes I 

PRIMULACEAE Primula apennina VU D1 VU D1 Yes Yes II/IV I 

PRIMULACEAE Primula carniolica LC LC Yes Yes II/IV 

PRIMULACEAE Primula deorum DD DD Yes Yes I 

PRIMULACEAE Primula egaliksensis CR (PE) D NE I 

PRIMULACEAE Primula frondosa DD DD Yes Yes I 

PRIMULACEAE Primula glaucescens LC LC Yes Yes IV I 

PRIMULACEAE Primula nutans LC LC II/IV 

PRIMULACEAE Primula palinuri EN B2ab(i,ii,iii,v) EN B2ab(i,ii,iii,v) Yes Yes II/IV I 

PRIMULACEAE Primula scandinavica NT VU B2ab(ii,iii,iv,v) Yes II/IV 

PRIMULACEAE Primula spectabilis LC LC Yes Yes IV I 

PRIMULACEAE Primula wulfeniana ssp. baumgarteniana DD DD Yes Yes I 

ROSACEAE Prunus avium LC LC Yes 

ROSACEAE Prunus brigantina DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

ROSACEAE Prunus cerasifera DD DD Yes 

ROSACEAE Prunus cocomilia DD DD Yes 

ROSACEAE Prunus discolor DD DD Yes 

ROSACEAE Prunus fruticosa DD DD Yes 

ROSACEAE Prunus klokovii DD NE Yes Yes 

ROSACEAE Prunus laurocerasus LC LC Yes 

ROSACEAE Prunus lusitanica VU B2ab(ii,v) VU B2ab(ii,v) Yes 

ROSACEAE Prunus lusitanica ssp. azorica EN D EN D Yes Yes II/IV I 

ROSACEAE Prunus mahaleb LC LC Yes 

ROSACEAE Prunus padus LC LC Yes 

ROSACEAE Prunus prostrata DD DD Yes 

ROSACEAE Prunus ramburii VU C2a(i);D2 VU C2a(i);D2 Yes Yes Yes 

ROSACEAE Prunus spinosa LC LC Yes 

ROSACEAE Prunus tenella DD DD Yes 

ROSACEAE Prunus webbii DD DD Yes 

GRAMINEAE Pseudarrhenatherum pallens EN B2ab(iii,iv) EN B2ab(iii,iv) Yes Yes II/IV 

112



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

ORCHIDACEAE Pseudorchis albida LC LC II 

GRAMINEAE Puccinellia phryganodes LC CR A2ac II/IV 

GRAMINEAE Puccinellia pungens VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes II/IV I 

RANUNCULACEAE Pulsatilla grandis LC LC Yes Yes II/IV I 

RANUNCULACEAE Pulsatilla patens DD DD II/IV I 

RANUNCULACEAE Pulsatilla pratensis ssp. hungarica DD DD Yes Yes II/IV 

RANUNCULACEAE Pulsatilla slavica DD DD Yes Yes II/IV I 

RANUNCULACEAE Pulsatilla subslavica DD DD Yes Yes II/IV 

RANUNCULACEAE Pulsatilla vulgaris ssp. gotlandica VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes II/IV 

CYPERACEAE Pycreus flavescens LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Pycreus mundtii LC LC Yes 

ROSACEAE Pyrus bourgaeana LC LC Yes 

ROSACEAE Pyrus castribonensis DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

ROSACEAE Pyrus communis LC LC Yes 

ROSACEAE Pyrus cordata DD DD Yes 

ROSACEAE Pyrus elaeagrifolia DD DD Yes 

ROSACEAE Pyrus magyarica CR D CR D Yes Yes II/IV Yes 

ROSACEAE Pyrus nivalis DD DD Yes 

ROSACEAE Pyrus sicanorum DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

ROSACEAE Pyrus spinosa DD DD Yes 

ROSACEAE Pyrus syriaca LC LC Yes 

ROSACEAE Pyrus vallis-demonis DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

GESNERIACEAE Ramonda serbica LC LC Yes IV I 

RANUNCULACEAE Ranunculus aquatilis LC LC Yes 

RANUNCULACEAE Ranunculus batrachioides NT NT Yes 

RANUNCULACEAE Ranunculus baudotii LC LC Yes Yes 

RANUNCULACEAE Ranunculus circinatus LC LC Yes 

RANUNCULACEAE Ranunculus confervoides LC LC Yes 

RANUNCULACEAE Ranunculus flammula LC LC Yes 

RANUNCULACEAE Ranunculus fluitans LC LC Yes Yes 

RANUNCULACEAE Ranunculus fontanus DD DD Yes I 

RANUNCULACEAE Ranunculus hederaceus LC LC Yes 

RANUNCULACEAE Ranunculus kykkoensis VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes II/IV I 

RANUNCULACEAE Ranunculus lapponicus LC LC II/IV 

RANUNCULACEAE Ranunculus lateriflorus LC LC Yes 

113



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

RANUNCULACEAE Ranunculus lingua LC LC Yes 

RANUNCULACEAE Ranunculus ololeucos DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

RANUNCULACEAE Ranunculus omiophyllus LC LC Yes 

RANUNCULACEAE Ranunculus peltatus LC LC Yes 

RANUNCULACEAE Ranunculus penicillatus LC LC Yes Yes 

RANUNCULACEAE Ranunculus polyphyllus DD DD Yes Yes 

RANUNCULACEAE Ranunculus repens LC LC Yes 

RANUNCULACEAE Ranunculus reptans LC LC Yes 

RANUNCULACEAE Ranunculus revelieri LC LC Yes Yes Yes 

RANUNCULACEAE Ranunculus rionii LC LC Yes 

RANUNCULACEAE Ranunculus saniculifolius LC LC Yes 

RANUNCULACEAE Ranunculus sceleratus LC LC Yes 

RANUNCULACEAE Ranunculus sphaerospermus LC LC Yes 

RANUNCULACEAE Ranunculus trichophyllus LC LC Yes 

RANUNCULACEAE Ranunculus tripartitus LC LC Yes 

RANUNCULACEAE Ranunculus weyleri VU D1+2 VU D1+2 Yes Yes II/IV I 

CRUCIFERAE Raphanus raphanistrum LC LC Yes 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Rhinanthus oesilensis DD DD Yes II/IV 

ERICACEAE Rhododendron luteum LC NT II/IV 

CRUCIFERAE Rhynchosinapis erucastrum ssp. cintrana DD DD Yes Yes II/IV 

GROSSULARIACEAE Ribes sardoum CR 

B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v);C 

2a(i,ii);D 

CR 


2a(i,ii);D 


CRUCIFERAE Rorippa amphibia LC LC Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Rorippa austriaca LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Rorippa brachycarpa DD NE Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Rorippa dogadovae LC NE Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Rorippa hispanica DD DD Yes Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Rorippa hungarica DD DD Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Rorippa islandica LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Rorippa kerneri LC LC Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Rorippa lippizensis LC LC Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Rorippa microphylla LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Rorippa palustris LC LC Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Rorippa prolifera NT NT Yes 

114



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

CRUCIFERAE Rorippa pyrenaica LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Rorippa sylvestris LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Rorippa thracica LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Rorippa valdes-bermejoi CR 


2a(i,ii);D 

CR 


2a(i,ii);D 

Yes Yes Yes Yes 

LABIATAE Rosmarinus tomentosus EN 


2ab(iii,iv,v) 

EN 


2ab(iii,iv,v) 

Yes Yes IV I 

UMBELLIFERAE Rouya polygama EN B2ab(ii,iii,v) EN B2ab(ii,iii,v) II/IV I 

ROSACEAE Rubus genevieri ssp. herminii DD DD Yes Yes V 

POLYGONACEAE Rumex balcanicus DD NT Yes Yes 

POLYGONACEAE Rumex hydrolapathum LC LC Yes 

POLYGONACEAE Rumex rupestris VU C2a(i) VU C2a(i) Yes Yes II/IV I 

PAPAVERACEAE Rupicapnos africana EN B2b(ii,iii,iv,v)c(ii) EN B2b(ii,iii,iv,v)c(ii) I 

POTAMOGETONACEAE Ruppia cirrhosa LC LC Yes 

POTAMOGETONACEAE Ruppia maritima LC LC Yes 

RUSCACEAE Ruscus aculeatus LC LC V 

RUTACEAE Ruta microcarpa EN B2ab(ii,iii) EN B2ab(ii,iii) Yes Yes I 

GRAMINEAE Saccharum ravennae LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Saccharum spontaneum LC LC Yes 

ALISMATACEAE Sagittaria natans LC LC Yes 

ALISMATACEAE Sagittaria sagittifolia LC LC Yes 

CHENOPODIACEAE Salicornia veneta VU B2ab(iii) VU B2ab(iii) Yes II/IV I 

SALICACEAE Salix salviifolia ssp. australis LC LC Yes Yes II/IV 

CHENOPODIACEAE Salsola vermiculata LC LC Yes 

LABIATAE Salvia herbanica CR B2ab(iii,v);C2a(i) CR B2ab(iii,v);C2a(i) Yes Yes I 

LABIATAE Salvia veneris CR B1ab(i,iii) CR B1ab(i,iii) Yes Yes II/IV I 

SALVINIACEAE Salvinia natans LC LC I Yes 

CAPRIFOLIACEAE Sambucus nigra ssp. palmensis¹ EN C2a(i) EN C2a(i) Yes Yes II/IV I 

PRIMULACEAE Samolus valerandi LC LC Yes 

ROSACEAE Sanguisorba dodecandra NT NT Yes Yes 

COMPOSITAE Santolina elegans VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes IV I 

COMPOSITAE Santolina impressa LC LC Yes Yes II/IV 

COMPOSITAE Santolina semidentata LC LC Yes Yes II/IV 

COMPOSITAE Saussurea alpina ssp. esthonica DD DD Yes Yes II/IV 

SAXIFRAGACEAE Saxifraga berica VU D1 VU D1 Yes Yes II/IV I 

115



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

SAXIFRAGACEAE Saxifraga cintrana DD DD Yes Yes IV I 

SAXIFRAGACEAE Saxifraga florulenta LC LC Yes Yes II/IV I 

SAXIFRAGACEAE Saxifraga hirculus DD DD II/IV I 

SAXIFRAGACEAE Saxifraga osloënsis VU B2ab(iii,iv,v)c(iv) VU B2ab(iii,iv,v)c(iv) Yes Yes II/IV 

SAXIFRAGACEAE Saxifraga portosanctana VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes IV I 

SAXIFRAGACEAE Saxifraga presolanensis EN D EN D Yes Yes IV I 

SAXIFRAGACEAE Saxifraga tombeanensis EN B1ab(iii,iv)+2ab(iii,iv) EN B1ab(iii,iv)+2ab(iii,iv) Yes Yes II/IV I 

SAXIFRAGACEAE Saxifraga valdensis NT NT Yes Yes IV I 

SAXIFRAGACEAE Saxifraga vayredana LC LC Yes Yes IV I 

CRUCIFERAE Schivereckia podolica LC DD Yes I 

CYPERACEAE Schoenoplectiella supina DD DD Yes 

CYPERACEAE Schoenoplectus corymbosus NA NA Yes 

CYPERACEAE Schoenoplectus lacustris LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Schoenoplectus litoralis LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Schoenoplectus mucronatus LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Schoenoplectus pungens LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Schoenoplectus tabernaemontanii LC LC Yes 

CYPERACEAE Schoenoplectus triqueter LC LC Yes 

HYACINTHACEAE Scilla litardierei DD CR B1ab(iii,v)+B2ab(iii,v) Yes II/IV 

HYACINTHACEAE Scilla lochiae¹ DD DD Yes Yes II/IV I 

HYACINTHACEAE Scilla madeirensis LC LC Yes Yes II/IV 

HYACINTHACEAE Scilla morrisii CR B1ab(i,ii,iii)+2ab(i,ii,iii) CR B1ab(i,ii,iii)+2ab(i,ii,iii) Yes Yes II/IV I 

HYACINTHACEAE Scilla odorata DD DD Yes Yes IV I 

HYACINTHACEAE Scilla ramburei¹ DD DD IV 

CYPERACEAE Scirpus radicans DD DD Yes 

CYPERACEAE Scirpus sylvaticus LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Scolochloa festucacea LC LC Yes 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Scrophularia grandiflora ssp. grandiflora LC LC Yes Yes V 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Scrophularia herminii DD DD Yes Yes V 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Scrophularia sublyrata DD DD Yes Yes V 

GRAMINEAE Secale cereale NA NE Yes 

GRAMINEAE Secale strictum LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Secale sylvestre LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Securigera varia LC LC Yes 

CRASSULACEAE Sedum brissemoretii VU D1+2 VU D1+2 Yes Yes II/IV 

116



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

COMPOSITAE Senecio caespitosus VU D1 VU D1 Yes Yes IV 

COMPOSITAE Senecio elodes EN B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) EN B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Senecio jacobaea ssp. gotlandicus DD DD II/IV 

COMPOSITAE Senecio lagascanus ssp. lusitanicus EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) Yes Yes IV 

COMPOSITAE Senecio nevadensis VU B2ab(ii,iii,v);D2 VU B2ab(ii,iii,v);D2 II/IV I 

ORCHIDACEAE Serapias bergonii DD DD II 

ORCHIDACEAE Serapias cordigera LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Serapias lingua LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Serapias neglecta NT NT Yes II 

ORCHIDACEAE Serapias nurrica NT NT Yes Yes II 

ORCHIDACEAE Serapias olbia NT NT Yes Yes II 

ORCHIDACEAE Serapias parviflora LC LC II 

ORCHIDACEAE Serapias vomeracea LC LC II 

UMBELLIFERAE Seseli intricatum EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) Yes Yes II/IV I 

UMBELLIFERAE Seseli leucospermum NT NT Yes Yes II/IV 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Sibthorpia peregrina LC LC Yes Yes II/IV 

LABIATAE Sideritis cypria VU D1 VU D1 Yes Yes II/IV I 

LABIATAE Sideritis cystosiphon CR B2ab(iii,iv) CR B2ab(iii,iv) Yes Yes II/IV I 

LABIATAE Sideritis discolor CR 


c(iv);C2a(i)b 

CR 


c(iv);C2a(i)b 


LABIATAE Sideritis infernalis VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes II/IV I 

LABIATAE Sideritis javalambrensis VU B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii);D2 VU B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii);D2 Yes Yes II/IV I 

LABIATAE Sideritis marmorea CR B2ab(iii,iv) CR B2ab(iii,iv) Yes Yes II/IV I 

LABIATAE Sideritis serrata CR B2ab(ii) CR B2ab(ii) Yes Yes II/IV I 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Silene cretacea DD NE I 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Silene haussknechtii DD DD Yes Yes I 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Silene hicesiae VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes II/IV 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Silene hifacensis EN B1ab(iv,v)+2ab(iv,v) EN B1ab(iv,v)+2ab(iv,v) Yes Yes II/IV I 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Silene holzmannii EN B2ab(iii,v) EN B2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes II/IV I 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Silene involucrata ssp. tenella¹ NT NT II/IV I 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Silene longicilia LC LC Yes Yes II/IV 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Silene mariana NT NT Yes Yes II/IV I 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Silene nocteolens CR B2ab(iii) CR B2ab(iii) Yes Yes I 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Silene orphanidis EN D EN D Yes Yes II/IV I 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Silene rothmaleri NT NT Yes Yes II/IV I 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

117



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Silene sangaria DD NE I 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE Silene velutina NT NT Yes Yes II/IV I 

CRUCIFERAE Sinapidendron angustifolium CR B1ab(iii)+2b(iii) CR B1ab(iii)+2b(iii) Yes Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Sinapidendron frutescens EN 

B1ab(iii)c(iii)+2ab(iii,v) 

c(iii) 

EN 

B1ab(iii)c(iii)+2ab(iii,v) 

c(iii) 

Yes Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Sinapidendron gymnocalyx NT NT Yes Yes Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Sinapidendron rupestre CR D CR D Yes Yes II/IV Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Sinapidendron sempervivifolium EN D EN D Yes Yes I Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Sinapis alba LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Sinapis arvensis LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Sinapis flexuosa LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Sinapis pubescens LC LC Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Sisymbrium cavanillesianum VU B2ac(ii,iii,iv) VU B2ac(ii,iii,iv) Yes Yes II/IV I 

CRUCIFERAE Sisymbrium confertum DD NE Yes I 

CRUCIFERAE Sisymbrium supinum LC LC Yes II/IV I 

UMBELLIFERAE Sium latifolium LC LC Yes 

UMBELLIFERAE Sium sisarum DD DD Yes 

SOLANACEAE Solanum lidii CR B2ab(ii,iii);C2a(i) CR B2ab(ii,iii);C2a(i) Yes Yes II/IV I 

PRIMULACEAE Soldanella villosa VU C2a(i) VU C2a(i) Yes Yes II/IV I 

BORAGINACEAE Solenanthus albanicus EN B1ab(v)+2ab(v) EN B1ab(v)+2ab(v) Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Sonchus gandogeri CR B2ab(iii) CR B2ab(iii) Yes Yes I 

ROSACEAE Sorbus maderensis CR D CR D Yes Yes II/IV 

ROSACEAE Sorbus teodori DD DD Yes II/IV 

TYPHACEAE Sparganium angustifolium LC LC Yes 

TYPHACEAE Sparganium emersum LC LC Yes 

TYPHACEAE Sparganium erectum LC LC Yes 

TYPHACEAE Sparganium glomeratum DD DD Yes 

TYPHACEAE Sparganium gramineum LC LC Yes 

TYPHACEAE Sparganium hyperboreum LC LC Yes 

TYPHACEAE Sparganium natans NT NT Yes 

ORCHIDACEAE Spiranthes aestivalis DD DD IV I II 

ORCHIDACEAE Spiranthes romanzoffiana NT NT II 

ORCHIDACEAE Spiranthes sinensis LC NE II 

ORCHIDACEAE Spiranthes spiralis LC LC II 

LEMNACEAE Spirodela polyrhiza LC LC Yes 

118



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

COMPOSITAE Stemmacantha cynaroides EN B2ab(v);C2a(i);D EN B2ab(v);C2a(i);D Yes Yes II/IV I 

AMARYLLIDACEAE Sternbergia colchiciflora LC LC II B 

AMARYLLIDACEAE Sternbergia lutea LC LC II B 

ORCHIDACEAE Steveniella satyrioides EN B2ab(iii,v) NE I II 

GRAMINEAE Stipa austroitalica LC LC Yes Yes II/IV I 

GRAMINEAE Stipa bavarica VU D2 VU D2 Yes II/IV I 

GRAMINEAE Stipa danubialis DD DD Yes Yes II/IV I 

GRAMINEAE Stipa styriaca EN B1ab(iii);D EN B1ab(iii);D Yes Yes II/IV I 

GRAMINEAE Stipa syreistschikowii DD NE I 

GRAMINEAE Stipa veneta EN D EN D Yes Yes II/IV 

GRAMINEAE Stipa zalesskii DD VU D1+2 II/IV 

HYDROCHARITACEAE Stratiotes aloides LC LC Yes 

POTAMOGETONACEAE Stuckenia pectinata LC LC Yes 

POTAMOGETONACEAE Stuckenia vaginata NT NT Yes 

CRUCIFERAE Subularia aquatica LC LC Yes 

COMPOSITAE Sventenia bupleuroides EN B2ab(iii) EN B2ab(iii) Yes Yes II/IV I 

BORAGINACEAE Symphytum cycladense VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes II/IV I 

OLEACEAE Syringa josikaea DD DD Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Tanacetum oshanahanii CR B2ab(iii,v);C2a(i);D CR B2ab(iii,v);C2a(i);D Yes Yes I 

COMPOSITAE Tanacetum ptarmiciflorum EN B2ab(ii,iii,iv,v) EN B2ab(ii,iii,iv,v) Yes Yes II/IV I 

LEGUMINOSAE Teline nervosa CR B2ab(iii,v) CR B2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes I 

LEGUMINOSAE Teline rosmarinifolia EN B2ab(iii,v) EN B2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes II/IV I 

LEGUMINOSAE Teline salsoloides CR B2ab(iii,v);C2a(ii) CR B2ab(iii,v);C2a(ii) Yes Yes II/IV I 

COMPOSITAE Tephroseris longifolia ssp. moravica VU B1ab(iii,iv)+2ab(iii,iv) VU B1ab(iii,iv)+2ab(iii,iv) Yes Yes II/IV 

CUPRESSACEAE Tetraclinis articulata EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) I 

LABIATAE Teucrium abutiloides CR D CR D Yes Yes II/IV I 

LABIATAE Teucrium betonicum LC LC Yes Yes II/IV 

LABIATAE Teucrium charidemi NT NT Yes Yes IV I 

LABIATAE Teucrium lamiifolium DD VU B1ab(iii)+B2ab(iii) I 

LABIATAE Teucrium lepicephalum EN 

A2c+4c;B1ab(i,iii,iv,v) 

+2ab(i,iii,iv,v) 

EN 

A2c+4c;B1ab(i,iii,iv,v) 

+2ab(i,iii,iv,v) 


LABIATAE Teucrium salviastrum ssp. salviastrum LC LC Yes Yes V 

LABIATAE Teucrium scordium LC LC Yes 

LABIATAE Teucrium turredanum VU B2ab(iii,v) VU B2ab(iii,v) Yes Yes II/IV I 

SANTALACEAE Thesium ebracteatum LC LC II/IV I 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

119



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

CRUCIFERAE Thlaspi jankae NT NT Yes Yes II/IV I 

UMBELLIFERAE Thorella verticillato-inundata VU B2ab(iii) VU B2ab(iii) Yes Yes II/IV I Yes 

THYMELAEACEAE Thymelaea broteriana NT NT Yes Yes IV I 

LABIATAE Thymus aznavourii DD NE Yes I 

LABIATAE Thymus camphoratus NT NT Yes Yes II/IV I 

LABIATAE Thymus capitellatus NT NT Yes Yes IV 

LABIATAE Thymus carnosus NT NT Yes Yes II/IV I 

LABIATAE Thymus lotocephalus NT NT Yes Yes II/IV I 

LABIATAE Thymus villosus ssp. villosus LC LC Yes Yes IV 

COMPOSITAE Tolpis glabrescens EN B2ab(iii) EN B2ab(iii) Yes Yes I 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Tozzia carpathica DD DD Yes Yes II/IV 

TRAPACEAE Trapa alatyrica DD NE Yes Yes 

TRAPACEAE Trapa annosa EX NE Yes Yes 

TRAPACEAE Trapa borysthenica DD NE Yes Yes 

TRAPACEAE Trapa brevicarpa DD NE Yes Yes 

TRAPACEAE Trapa danubialis DD NE Yes Yes 

TRAPACEAE Trapa flerovii DD NE Yes Yes 

TRAPACEAE Trapa longicarpa DD DD Yes Yes 

TRAPACEAE Trapa macrorhiza DD NE Yes Yes 

TRAPACEAE Trapa natans NT NT I Yes 

TRAPACEAE Trapa okensis DD NE Yes Yes 

TRAPACEAE Trapa pseudocolchica DD NE Yes Yes 

TRAPACEAE Trapa sibirica DD NE Yes 

TRAPACEAE Trapa ucrainica DD NE Yes Yes 

TRAPACEAE Trapa wolgensis DD NE Yes Yes 

ORCHIDACEAE Traunsteinera globosa LC LC 

HYMENOPHYLLACEAE Trichomanes speciosum LC LC Yes Yes II/IV I 

LEGUMINOSAE Trifolium alexandrinum NA NA Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Trifolium alpestre LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Trifolium ambiguum LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Trifolium angustifolium LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Trifolium argutum NT NT Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Trifolium arvense LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Trifolium diffusum LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Trifolium hybridum LC LC Yes 

120



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

LEGUMINOSAE Trifolium incarnatum LC LC Yes Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Trifolium nigrescens LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Trifolium pachycalyx DD NE I 

LEGUMINOSAE Trifolium pallidum LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Trifolium pratense LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Trifolium repens LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Trifolium resupinatum LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Trifolium saxatile NT NT Yes II/IV I 

LEGUMINOSAE Trifolium subterraneum LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Trifolium uniflorum LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Trifolium vesiculosum LC LC Yes 

JUNCAGINACEAE Triglochin bulbosa LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Trisetum subalpestre NT NT II/IV I 

GRAMINEAE Triticum monococcum LC LC Yes 

GRAMINEAE Triticum parvicoccum DD DD Yes 

CISTACEAE Tuberaria major EN B1ab(iii) EN B1ab(iii) Yes Yes II/IV I 

LILIACEAE Tulipa cypria EN B2ab(iii) EN B2ab(iii) Yes Yes II/IV I 

LILIACEAE Tulipa hungarica NT NT Yes II/IV I 

TYPHACEAE Typha angustifolia LC LC Yes 

TYPHACEAE Typha domingensis LC LC Yes 

TYPHACEAE Typha latifolia LC LC Yes 

TYPHACEAE Typha laxmannii LC LC Yes 

TYPHACEAE Typha lugdunensis DD DD Yes 

TYPHACEAE Typha minima DD DD I Yes 

TYPHACEAE Typha shuttleworthii DD DD I Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Ulex densus LC LC Yes Yes V 

URTICACEAE Urtica dioica LC LC Yes 

URTICACEAE Urtica kioviensis DD DD Yes Yes 

LENTIBULARIACEAE Utricularia australis LC LC Yes 

LENTIBULARIACEAE Utricularia bremii DD DD Yes Yes 

LENTIBULARIACEAE Utricularia gibba NT NT Yes 

LENTIBULARIACEAE Utricularia intermedia DD DD Yes Yes 

LENTIBULARIACEAE Utricularia minor LC LC Yes 

LENTIBULARIACEAE Utricularia ochroleuca DD DD Yes 

LENTIBULARIACEAE Utricularia stygia DD DD Yes 

121



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

LENTIBULARIACEAE Utricularia vulgaris LC LC Yes 

ERICACEAE Vaccinium arctostaphylos DD EN B1ab(ii)+B2ab(ii) I 

HYDROCHARITACEAE Vallisneria spiralis LC LC Yes 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Verbascum haussknechtii DD DD I 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Verbascum litigiosum VU B2ab(iii) VU B2ab(iii) Yes Yes II/IV 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Verbascum purpureum DD DD Yes I 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Veronica anagallis-aquatica LC LC Yes 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Veronica anagalloides LC LC Yes 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Veronica beccabunga LC LC Yes 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Veronica catenata LC LC Yes 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Veronica euxina DD RE Yes I 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Veronica micrantha VU B2ab(ii,iii,v) VU B2ab(ii,iii,v) Yes Yes II/IV 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Veronica oetaea CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) Yes Yes II/IV I 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Veronica repens LC LC Yes Yes Yes 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Veronica scardica DD DD Yes 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Veronica scutellata LC LC Yes 

SCROPHULARIACEAE Veronica turrilliana DD EN B2ab(ii,iv) Yes I 

LEGUMINOSAE Vicia abbreviata LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Vicia articulata LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Vicia assyriaca NA NA Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Vicia barbazitae NT NT Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Vicia bifoliolata CR B1ac(iv)+2ac(iv) CR B1ac(iv)+2ac(iv) Yes Yes II/IV I 

LEGUMINOSAE Vicia bithynica LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Vicia capreolata EN A2e;B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) EN A2e;B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) Yes Yes Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Vicia ciliatula LC NE Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Vicia costae CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) Yes Yes Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Vicia cuspidata LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Vicia ervilia LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Vicia ferreirensis CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii);D CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii);D Yes Yes Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Vicia grandiflora LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Vicia hybrida LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Vicia johannis LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Vicia lathyroides LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Vicia lutea LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Vicia melanops LC LC Yes 

122



Category 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(Europe) 

IUCN 


Category 

(EU 27) 

IUCN 


Criteria 

(EU 27) 

Endemic 

to 

Europe 

Endemic 

to 

EU 27 

Habitats 

Directive 

Annexes 

Bern 

Convention 

Annexes 

CITES 

Annexes 

EU Wildlife 

Trade 

Regulation 

Aquatic 

species 

Crop 

wild 

relative 

LEGUMINOSAE Vicia narbonensis LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Vicia oroboides LC LC Yes Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Vicia pannonica LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Vicia sativa LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Vicia sepium LC LC Yes 

LEGUMINOSAE Vicia sericocarpa NA NA Yes 

ASCLEPIADACEAE Vincetoxicum pannonicum VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes II/IV 

VIOLACEAE Viola athois VU D2 VU D2 Yes Yes IV I 

VIOLACEAE Viola cryana EX EX Yes Yes I 

VIOLACEAE Viola delphinantha NT NT Yes Yes II/IV I 

VIOLACEAE Viola hispida CR B2b(iii,v)c(iv) CR B2b(iii,v)c(iv) Yes Yes II/IV I 

VIOLACEAE Viola paradoxa DD DD Yes Yes II/IV I 

VIOLACEAE Viola rupestris ssp. relicta LC NT Yes II/IV 

VITACEAE Vitis vinifera LC LC Yes 

COMPOSITAE Wagenitzia lancifolia EN D EN D Yes Yes IV I 

LEMNACEAE Wolffia arrhiza LC LC Yes 

BLECHNACEAE Woodwardia radicans NT NT II/IV I 

ZANNICHELLIACEAE Zannichellia clausii DD NE Yes Yes 

ZANNICHELLIACEAE Zannichellia contorta DD DD Yes 

ZANNICHELLIACEAE Zannichellia major DD DD Yes 

ZANNICHELLIACEAE Zannichellia melitensis LC LC Yes Yes Yes 

ZANNICHELLIACEAE Zannichellia obtusifolia NT NT Yes 

ZANNICHELLIACEAE Zannichellia palustris LC LC Yes 

ZANNICHELLIACEAE Zannichellia peltata LC LC Yes 

ULMACEAE Zelkova abelicea EN D EN D Yes Yes II/IV I 

123

Appendix 3. Methodology for spatial 

analyses 

Data were analysed using a geodesic discrete 

global grid system, defined on an icosahedron and 

projected to the sphere using the inverse Icosahedral 

Snyder Equal Area (ISEA) Projection (S39). This 

corresponds to a hexagonal grid composed of 

individual units (cells) that retain their shape and 

area (864 km 2 ) throughout the globe. These are more 

suitable for a range of ecological applications than 

the most commonly used rectangular grids (S40). 

The range of each species was converted to the hexagonal 

grid for analysis purposes. Coastal cells were clipped to 

the coastline. Patterns of species richness (Figures 5, 14, 

21) were mapped by counting the number of species 

in each cell (or cell section, for species with a coastal 

distribution). Patterns of endemic species richness were 

mapped by counting the number of species in each cell 

(or cell section for coastal species) that were flagged 

as being endemic to geographic Europe as defined in 

this project (Figures 6, 15, 22). Patterns of threatened 

species richness (Figures 7, 16, 23) were mapped by 

counting the number of threatened species (categories 

CR, EN, VU at the European regional level) in each 

cell or cell section. 

124

Appendix 4. Example of species 

summary and distribution map 

The species summary gives all the information 

collated (for each species) during this assessment, 

including a distribution map. You can search for and 

download all the summaries and distribution maps 

from the European Red List website and data portal 

available online at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ 

nature/conservation/species/redlist and http://www. 

iucnredlist.org/europe. 

125

126

127

128

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species – Regional Assessments 

Europe 

The Status and Distribution of European Mammals. Compiled by Helen J. Temple and Andrew Terry, 2007 

European Red List of Reptiles. Compiled by Neil Cox and Helen J. Temple, 2009 

European Red List of Amphibians. Compiled by Helen J. Temple and Neil Cox, 2009 

European Red List of Dragonflies. Compiled by Vincent J. Kalkman, Jean-Pierre Boudot, R. Bernard, Klaus-Jürgen 

Conze, Geert De Knijf, Elena Dyatlova, Sonia Ferreira, Miloš Jović, Jürgen Ott, Elisa Riservato and Göran Sahlén, 

2010 

European Red List of Saproxylic Beetles. Compiled by Ana Nieto and Keith Alexander, 2010 

European Red List of Butterflies. Compiled by Chris van Swaay, Sue Collins, Annabelle Cuttelod, Dirk Maes, Miguel 

López Munguira, Martina Šašić, Josef Settele, Theo Verstrael, Rudi Verovnik, Martin Warren, Martin Wiemers and 

Irma Wynhoff, 2010 

European Red List of Non-marine Molluscs. Annabelle Cuttelod, Eike Neubert and Mary Seddon, 2011 

European Red List of Freshwater Fishes. Jörg Freyhof and Emma Brooks, 2011 

Other regions 

The Status and Distribution of Freshwater Biodiversity in Eastern Africa. Compiled by William R.T. Darwall, Kevin G. 

Smith, Thomas Lowe, Jean-Christophe VieÅL, 2005 

The Status and Distribution of Freshwater Fish Endemic to the Mediterranean Basin. Compiled by Kevin G. Smith and 

William R.T. Darwall, 2006 

The Status and Distribution of Reptiles and Amphibians of the Mediterranean Basin. Compiled by Neil Cox, Janice 

Chanson and Simon Stuart, 2006 

Overview of the Cartilaginous Fishes (Chondrichthyans) in the Mediterranean Sea. Compiled by Rachel D. Cavanagh and 

Claudine Gibson, 2007 

The Status and Distribution of Dragonflies of the Mediterranean Basin. Compiled by Elisa Riservato, Jean-Pierre Boudot, 

Sonia Ferreira, Miloš Jović, Vincent J. Kalkman, Wolfgang Schneider, Boudjéma Samraoui and Annabelle Cuttelod, 

2009 

The Status and Distribution of Mediterranean Mammals. Compiled by Helen J. Temple and Annabelle Cuttelod, 2009 

The Status and Distribution of Freshwater Biodiversity in Southern Africa. Compiled by William R.T. Darwall, Kevin G. 

Smith, Denis Tweddle and Paul Skelton, 2009 

The Status and Distribution of Freshwater Biodiversity in Western Africa. Compiled by Kevin Smith, Mame D. Diop and 

Mamadou Niane, 2009 

The Status and Distribution of Freshwater Biodiversity in Northern Africa. Compiled by Nieves García, Annabelle Cuttelod 

and Dania Abdul Malak, 2010 

The Status and Distribution of Freshwater Biodiversity in the Eastern Himalaya. Compiled by David Allen, Snajay Molur 

and B.A. Daniel, 2010 

The Status and Distribution of Freshwater Biodiversity in Central Africa. Compiled by Emma G.E. Brooks, David J. Allen 

and William R.T. Darwall, 2011 

The diversity of life in African freshwaters; Underwater, under threat. An analysis of the status and distribution of freshwater 

species throughout mainland Africa. Edited by William Darwall, Kevin Smith, David Allen, Robert Holland, Ian Harrison 

and Emma Brooks, 2011 

129

European Commission 

European Red List of Vascular Plants 

Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union 

2011 – x + 130pp + 4pp cover. 210 x 297 mm 

ISBN 978-92-79-20199-8 

doi:10.2779/8515 

How to obtain EU publications 

Free publications: 

• via EU Bookshop ( http://bookshop.europa.eu); 

• at the European Commission’s representations or delegations. 

You can obtain their contact details by linking http://ec.europa.eu 

or by sending a fax to +352 2929-42758. 

Publications for sale: 

• via EU Bookshop ( http://bookshop.europa.eu); 

• Priced subscriptions (Official Journal of the EU, Legal cases of the Court of Justice as well as 

certain periodicals edited by the European Commission) can be ordered from one of our sales 

agents. 

You can obtain their contact details by linking http://bookshop.europa.eu, or by sending a fax 

to +352 2929-42758. 

IUCN – The Species Survival Commission 

The Species Survival Commission (SSC) is the largest of IUCN’s six volunteer commissions with a global membership 

of 8,000 experts. SSC advises IUCN and its members on the wide range of technical and scientific aspects of species 

conservation and is dedicated to securing a future for biodiversity. SSC has significant input into the international 

agreements dealing with biodiversity conservation. www.iucn.org/ssc 

IUCN – Global Species Programme 

The IUCN Global Species Programme supports the activities of the IUCN Species Survival Commission and individual 

Specialist Groups, as well as implementing global species conservation initiatives. It is an integral part of the IUCN 

Secretariat and is managed from IUCN’s international headquarters in Gland, Switzerland. The Global Species 

Programme includes a number of technical units covering Species Trade and Use, The IUCN Red List, Freshwater 

Biodiversity Assessment Initiative (all located in Cambridge, UK), and the Global Biodiversity Assessment Initiative 

(located in Washington DC, USA). www.iucn.org/species 

IUCN – Regional Office for Europe 

The IUCN Regional Office for Europe (ROfE) is based in Gland (Switzerland) and has three sub-regional offices: 

the European Union Representative Office in Brussels (Belgium), the Programme Office for South-Eastern Europe 

in Belgrade (Serbia) and the Caucasus Cooperation Centre in Tbilisi (Georgia). In cooperation with more than 350 

European members and other parts of the IUCN constituency, ROfE implements the IUCN European Programme. 

The Programme area covers 55 countries and stretches from Greenland in the west to Kamchatka in the east. 

www.iucn.org/europe 

130

The European Red List is a review of the conservation status of c.6,000 European species 

(mammals, reptiles, amphibians, freshwater fishes, butterflies, dragonflies, and selected 

groups of beetles, molluscs, and vascular plants) according to IUCN regional Red Listing 

guidelines. It identifies those species that are threatened with extinction at the regional 

level – in order that appropriate conservation action can be taken to improve their status. 

This publication summarises results for a selection of Europe’s native species of vascular 

plants. In total 1,826 vascular plant species have been assessed from the following groups: 

species listed on European or international policy instruments, selected priority crop 

wild relatives, and aquatic plant species. Of those at least 467 species are threatened 

with extinction. The main threats for the three groups are intensified livestock farming, 

recreational activities, tourism and urban development, wild plant collection, invasive alien 

species, natural system modifications and pollution. 

KH-32-11-734-EN-C 

The European Red List was compiled by IUCN’s Global Species Programme and Regional 

Office for Europe and is the product of a service contract with the European Commission. It 

is available online at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/conservation/species/redlist 

and http://www.iucnredlist.org/europe.

European Red List of Vascular Plants - European Commission

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