Royal Helleborine
CR

Royal Helleborine

Epipactis atrorubens

UnknownLCEULCEU

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

Overview

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

Royal Helleborine faces severe population declines due to habitat destruction from agricultural expansion, urban development, and quarrying activities that destroy its specialized calcareous substrates. Climate change and altered precipitation patterns threaten the delicate moisture balance required for this orchid's survival, while overcollection by orchid enthusiasts has further reduced wild populations.

Threat summary

Habitat

Calcareous grasslands, limestone pavements, and alkaline soils in open woodlands, typically on steep slopes and rocky outcrops with good drainage. Also found in dune slacks, quarries, and disturbed calcareous sites from sea level to montane elevations.

Other threatened species in Orchidaceae

CR

Huntleya apiculata

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Masdevallia niesseniaeCR

Masdevallia niesseniae

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Encyclia nematocaulonCR

Encyclia nematocaulon

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Lepanthes diaziaeCR

Lepanthes diaziae

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Royal Helleborine classified as Critically Endangered?
Royal Helleborine 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. Royal Helleborine faces severe population declines due to habitat destruction from agricultural expansion, urban development, and quarrying activities that destroy its specialized calcareous substrates. Climate change and altered precipitation patterns threaten the delicate moisture balance required for this orchid's survival, while overcollection by orchid enthusiasts has further reduced wild populations.
Where does Royal Helleborine live?
Royal Helleborine 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 Royal Helleborine?
The main threats to Royal Helleborine 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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