flottmaskros
Taraxacum subalpinum
Taraxacum subalpinum is a specialized dandelion species endemic to subalpine regions, distinguished by its compact rosette of deeply lobed leaves and smaller yellow flower heads compared to common dandelions. This perennial herb plays a crucial role in high-altitude ecosystems, providing early-season nectar for alpine pollinators and serving as a food source for specialized herbivores adapted to harsh mountain conditions.
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Asterales
Family
Asteraceae
Genus
Taraxacum
flottmaskros belongs to the family Asteraceae, order Asterales, within the Magnoliopsida class.
Species Profile
Taraxacum subalpinum is a specialized dandelion species endemic to subalpine regions, distinguished by its compact rosette of deeply lobed leaves and smaller yellow flower heads compared to common dandelions. This perennial herb plays a crucial role in high-altitude ecosystems, providing early-season nectar for alpine pollinators and serving as a food source for specialized herbivores adapted to harsh mountain conditions.
Taraxacum subalpinum faces severe threats primarily from habitat loss and degradation in its restricted alpine and subalpine environments. Climate change poses an additional significant risk by altering the specialized mountain ecosystems this species depends on, while human activities such as infrastructure development and recreational use further fragment its limited habitat.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
This species inhabits rocky meadows, scree slopes, and alpine grasslands typically found between 1,500-2,800 meters elevation. It thrives in well-drained, nutrient-poor soils with high UV exposure and significant temperature fluctuations characteristic of subalpine zones.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Taraxacum subalpinum faces severe threats primarily from habitat loss and degradation in its restricted alpine and subalpine environments. Climate change poses an additional significant risk by altering the specialized mountain ecosystems this species depends on, while human activities such as infrastructure development and recreational use further fragment its limited habitat.
Climate change impacts on alpine ecosystems
Habitat loss and fragmentation
Limited population size and genetic bottlenecks
Infrastructure development in mountain areas
Recreational activities and trampling
Community Sightings
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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). flottmaskros (Taraxacum subalpinum). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/flottmaskros