CR

Hieracium oligolepium

Unknown

Overview

Fåfjällig fibbla (Hieracium oligolepium) is a rare perennial hawkweed characterized by its distinctive sparse-scaled involucre and pale yellow flower heads that bloom in late summer. This specialized alpine plant forms small rosettes with deeply lobed leaves and plays a crucial role in high-altitude pollinator networks, supporting endemic butterfly and bee species in Scandinavian mountain ecosystems.

Hieracium oligolepium faces severe threats from habitat loss due to agricultural intensification and urban development in its limited range. Climate change poses additional pressure through altered precipitation patterns and temperature shifts that affect its specialized alpine and subalpine habitat requirements.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species is restricted to exposed calcareous cliff faces and rocky crevices in subalpine and alpine zones between 1,200-1,800 meters elevation. It requires well-drained limestone substrates with minimal soil development, typically found on south-facing slopes with intermittent snow cover in the Scandinavian mountain ranges.

Other threatened species in Asteraceae

Taraxacum lissocarpumCR

Taraxacum lissocarpum

Unknown
CR

Hieracium psittacinum

Unknown
CR

Hieracium denigrans

Unknown
Lamb's SuccoryEN

Lamb's Succory

Arnoseris minima

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Hieracium oligolepium classified as Critically Endangered?
Hieracium oligolepium is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Hieracium oligolepium faces severe threats from habitat loss due to agricultural intensification and urban development in its limited range. Climate change poses additional pressure through altered precipitation patterns and temperature shifts that affect its specialized alpine and subalpine habitat requirements.
Where does Hieracium oligolepium live?
Hieracium oligolepium occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Hieracium oligolepium?
The main threats to Hieracium oligolepium are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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