Shepherd's Needle
EN

Shepherd's Needle

Scandix pecten-veneris

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scandix_pecten-veneris

Overview

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

Shepherd's Needle faces severe decline across its European range due to agricultural intensification and the widespread adoption of herbicides that eliminate this annual weed from cereal crops. Modern farming practices, including improved seed cleaning and the shift from traditional mixed farming to intensive monocultures, have drastically reduced suitable habitat. The species has experienced dramatic population crashes in countries like the United Kingdom, where it has declined by over 90% since the 1960s.

Threat summary

Habitat

Shepherd's Needle is an annual plant that grows in disturbed agricultural soils, particularly in cereal crops, field margins, and waste ground. It thrives in calcareous soils and is typically found in winter wheat and barley fields, where it completes its lifecycle alongside crop plants.

TERRESTRIAL· majorTERRESTRIAL· majorTERRESTRIAL· major

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Shepherd's Needle classified as Endangered?
Shepherd's Needle is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. Shepherd's Needle faces severe decline across its European range due to agricultural intensification and the widespread adoption of herbicides that eliminate this annual weed from cereal crops. Modern farming practices, including improved seed cleaning and the shift from traditional mixed farming to intensive monocultures, have drastically reduced suitable habitat. The species has experienced dramatic population crashes in countries like the United Kingdom, where it has declined by over 90% since the 1960s.
Where does Shepherd's Needle live?
Shepherd's Needle 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 Shepherd's Needle?
The main threats to Shepherd's Needle 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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