Enchanter's-nightshade
VUVulnerable

Enchanter's-nightshade

Circaea lutetiana

Circaea lutetiana, known as broad-leaved enchanter's nightshade, is a plant in the evening primrose family, Onagraceae.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circaea_lutetiana

01Classification

Taxonomy & Classification

Kingdom

Plantae

Phylum

Tracheophyta

Class

Magnoliopsida

Order

Myrtales

Family

Onagraceae

Genus

Circaea

Enchanter's-nightshade belongs to the family Onagraceae, order Myrtales, within the Magnoliopsida class.

02Description

Species Profile

Circaea lutetiana, known as broad-leaved enchanter's nightshade, is a plant in the evening primrose family, Onagraceae.

Enchanter's-nightshade faces increasing pressure from habitat fragmentation and loss of its preferred woodland environments due to urbanization, agricultural expansion, and intensive forest management practices. Climate change poses additional risks by altering the cool, moist conditions this species requires, while invasive plant species compete for resources in its native forest understory habitats.

Key Facts

IUCN StatusVulnerable (VU)
GroupPlants
03Habitat

Habitat & Distribution

Enchanter's-nightshade inhabits moist, shaded deciduous and mixed woodlands, particularly in rich, humus-laden soils of forest understories. The species thrives in cool, damp environments including woodland edges, stream banks, and areas with consistent moisture and partial to full shade.

04Threats

Threats

Habitat fragmentation and forest loss

HighOngoing

Urban and agricultural development

HighOngoing

Climate change and warming temperatures

MediumOngoing

Intensive forest management practices

MediumOngoing

Invasive species competition

MediumOngoing
Community

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07Sources

Sources & Attribution

How to Cite

IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS

GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org

This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Enchanter's-nightshade (Circaea lutetiana). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/enchanters-nightshade

Full citation guide & data usage terms