Venus's-looking-glass
Legousia hybrida
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
37
Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legousia_hybrida
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Asterales
Family
Campanulaceae
Genus
Legousia
Venus's-looking-glass belongs to the family Campanulaceae, order Asterales, within the Magnoliopsida class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Venus's-looking-glass faces severe population declines due to intensive agricultural practices and habitat loss across its range. The species is particularly vulnerable to herbicide use, changes in traditional farming methods, and the conversion of arable land to intensive monocultures that eliminate the disturbed soil conditions this annual plant requires for germination and establishment.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Disturbed arable land, field margins, waste ground, and areas with recently turned soil, typically in agricultural landscapes and ruderal habitats. The species requires open, nutrient-rich soils with minimal vegetation competition and thrives in traditional extensive farming systems.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Venus's-looking-glass faces severe population declines due to intensive agricultural practices and habitat loss across its range. The species is particularly vulnerable to herbicide use, changes in traditional farming methods, and the conversion of arable land to intensive monocultures that eliminate the disturbed soil conditions this annual plant requires for germination and establishment.
Habitat fragmentation and land conversion
Intensive agriculture and herbicide use
Loss of traditional farming practices
Climate change affecting germination patterns
Competition from invasive species
Found in 37 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). Venus's-looking-glass (Legousia hybrida). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/venuss-looking-glass