Thyme-leaved Sandwort
Arenaria leptoclados
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arenaria_leptoclados
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Family
Caryophyllaceae
Genus
Arenaria
Thyme-leaved Sandwort belongs to the family Caryophyllaceae, order Caryophyllales, within the Magnoliopsida class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Thyme-leaved Sandwort faces severe threats from habitat destruction and fragmentation due to urban development, agricultural expansion, and infrastructure projects that destroy its specialized sandy and rocky habitats. Climate change poses additional risks through altered precipitation patterns and increased drought frequency, while invasive plant species compete for resources in its limited suitable habitats.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Sandy soils, rocky outcrops, disturbed ground, and open grasslands, typically in dry, well-drained sites including coastal areas, quarries, and waste ground. The species favors nutrient-poor, calcareous substrates and areas with minimal vegetation cover.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Thyme-leaved Sandwort faces severe threats from habitat destruction and fragmentation due to urban development, agricultural expansion, and infrastructure projects that destroy its specialized sandy and rocky habitats. Climate change poses additional risks through altered precipitation patterns and increased drought frequency, while invasive plant species compete for resources in its limited suitable habitats.
Agricultural expansion and land conversion
Climate change and altered precipitation patterns
Habitat loss and fragmentation from urban development
Competition from invasive plant species
Infrastructure development and road construction
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). Thyme-leaved Sandwort (Arenaria leptoclados). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/thyme-leaved-sandwort