fourleaf mare's tail
Hippuris tetraphylla
Hippuris, the mare's tail, was previously the sole genus in the family Hippuridaceae. Following genetic research by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group, it has now been transferred to the family Plantaginaceae, with Hippuridaceae being reduced to a synonym of Plantaginaceae.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippuris
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Lamiales
Family
Plantaginaceae
Genus
Hippuris
fourleaf mare's tail belongs to the family Plantaginaceae, order Lamiales, within the Magnoliopsida class.
Species Profile
Hippuris, the mare's tail, was previously the sole genus in the family Hippuridaceae. Following genetic research by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group, it has now been transferred to the family Plantaginaceae, with Hippuridaceae being reduced to a synonym of Plantaginaceae.
Fourleaf mare's tail is critically endangered due to its extremely limited distribution and vulnerability to habitat degradation. The species faces severe threats from human activities that alter or destroy its specialized aquatic and wetland habitats. Climate change and water management practices pose additional risks to this rare aquatic plant's survival.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Fourleaf mare's tail is critically endangered due to its extremely limited distribution and vulnerability to habitat degradation. The species faces severe threats from human activities that alter or destroy its specialized aquatic and wetland habitats. Climate change and water management practices pose additional risks to this rare aquatic plant's survival.
Habitat loss and degradation
Human disturbance and development
Small population size and genetic bottlenecks
Water level fluctuations and hydrological changes
Climate change impacts
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (CR).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
Report a sightingNo community sightings yet. Be the first to report!
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
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). fourleaf mare's tail (Hippuris tetraphylla). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/fourleaf-mares-tail