Thistle Broomrape
Orobanche reticulata
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orobanche_reticulata
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Lamiales
Family
Orobanchaceae
Genus
Orobanche
Thistle Broomrape belongs to the family Orobanchaceae, order Lamiales, within the Magnoliopsida class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Thistle Broomrape faces severe threats from habitat loss due to agricultural intensification and urban development across its limited range. The species' parasitic dependence on specific thistle host plants makes it particularly vulnerable to changes in land management practices and the decline of its host species populations.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Thistle Broomrape occurs in grasslands, meadows, and disturbed areas where it parasitizes various thistle species (Cirsium and Carduus). The species is typically found in calcareous soils and open habitats including field margins, roadsides, and semi-natural grasslands.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Thistle Broomrape faces severe threats from habitat loss due to agricultural intensification and urban development across its limited range. The species' parasitic dependence on specific thistle host plants makes it particularly vulnerable to changes in land management practices and the decline of its host species populations.
Decline of host thistle species
Habitat loss from agricultural intensification
Urban development and land conversion
Changes in land management practices
Climate change impacts on host plant distribution
Community Sightings
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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
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Thistle Broomrape (Orobanche reticulata). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/thistle-broomrape