Throw-wax
Bupleurum rotundifolium
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
57
Countries
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Apiales
Family
Apiaceae
Genus
Bupleurum
Throw-wax belongs to the family Apiaceae, order Apiales, within the Magnoliopsida class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Throw-wax faces severe population declines primarily due to intensive agricultural practices that have eliminated its traditional arable habitat. The species has experienced dramatic range contractions across Europe as modern farming methods, including herbicide use and changes in crop rotation practices, have made agricultural landscapes inhospitable to this annual plant.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Throw-wax occurs in disturbed agricultural soils, particularly cereal fields, field margins, and other cultivated areas with calcareous or clay-rich soils. The species thrives in traditional extensive farming systems with crop rotation and requires open, sunny conditions with minimal competition from other vegetation.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Throw-wax faces severe population declines primarily due to intensive agricultural practices that have eliminated its traditional arable habitat. The species has experienced dramatic range contractions across Europe as modern farming methods, including herbicide use and changes in crop rotation practices, have made agricultural landscapes inhospitable to this annual plant.
Agricultural intensification and herbicide use
Habitat fragmentation in agricultural landscapes
Loss of traditional farming practices
Climate change affecting germination patterns
Competition from invasive plant species
Found in 57 Countries
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). Throw-wax (Bupleurum rotundifolium). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/throw-wax