Greater Water-parsnip
VU

Greater Water-parsnip

Sium latifolium

UnknownLCEULCEU

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

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Greater Water-parsnip faces severe decline primarily due to wetland drainage and agricultural intensification across its European range. The species has lost approximately 80% of its historical sites in countries like the UK, where only a handful of populations remain. Water pollution from agricultural runoff and urban development further degrades the quality of remaining freshwater habitats. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that affect the seasonal flooding cycles essential for this species' reproduction.

Threat summary

Habitat

Greater Water-parsnip inhabits shallow freshwater margins, including river edges, pond borders, ditches, and seasonally flooded meadows across temperate Europe. The species requires nutrient-rich, calcareous waters with fluctuating water levels that provide both aquatic and terrestrial growing conditions throughout its lifecycle.

TERRESTRIAL· major

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Greater Water-parsnip classified as Vulnerable?
Greater Water-parsnip is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. Greater Water-parsnip faces severe decline primarily due to wetland drainage and agricultural intensification across its European range. The species has lost approximately 80% of its historical sites in countries like the UK, where only a handful of populations remain. Water pollution from agricultural runoff and urban development further degrades the quality of remaining freshwater habitats. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that affect the seasonal flooding cycles essential for this species' reproduction.
Where does Greater Water-parsnip live?
Greater Water-parsnip 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 Greater Water-parsnip?
The main threats to Greater Water-parsnip 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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