Perennial Knawel
CR

Perennial Knawel

Scleranthus perennis

Unknown

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

Overview

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

Perennial Knawel faces severe population declines due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification and urban development across its European range. The species' specialized requirements for nutrient-poor, sandy soils make it particularly vulnerable to land use changes and habitat fragmentation, with many historical populations having disappeared entirely.

Threat summary

Habitat

Perennial Knawel occurs in nutrient-poor, sandy or gravelly soils in open habitats including heathlands, sand dunes, dry grasslands, and disturbed ground such as quarries and railway embankments. The species requires well-drained, acidic to neutral substrates with minimal vegetation competition.

TERRESTRIAL· major

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Perennial Knawel classified as Critically Endangered?
Perennial Knawel 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. Perennial Knawel faces severe population declines due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification and urban development across its European range. The species' specialized requirements for nutrient-poor, sandy soils make it particularly vulnerable to land use changes and habitat fragmentation, with many historical populations having disappeared entirely.
Where does Perennial Knawel live?
Perennial Knawel 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 Perennial Knawel?
The main threats to Perennial Knawel 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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