Upright Chickweed
Moenchia erecta
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moenchia_erecta
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Family
Caryophyllaceae
Genus
Moenchia
Upright Chickweed 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.
Upright Chickweed faces severe population declines due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification and urban development across its native range. The species' specialized requirements for nutrient-poor, sandy soils in open grasslands and heathlands make it particularly vulnerable to land-use changes and habitat fragmentation.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Open, nutrient-poor sandy soils in short grasslands, heathlands, and coastal dunes. Typically found in areas with sparse vegetation cover and well-drained, acidic substrates.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Upright Chickweed faces severe population declines due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification and urban development across its native range. The species' specialized requirements for nutrient-poor, sandy soils in open grasslands and heathlands make it particularly vulnerable to land-use changes and habitat fragmentation.
Agricultural intensification and conversion
Habitat fragmentation
Urban development and infrastructure expansion
Loss of traditional grazing management
Nutrient enrichment and eutrophication
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). Upright Chickweed (Moenchia erecta). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/upright-chickweed