Vincetoxicum auritum
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Vincetoxicum auritum faces severe population decline due to habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development across its limited Mediterranean range. The species is particularly vulnerable to grazing pressure from livestock, which damages its specialized rocky habitat requirements. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that affect the delicate moisture balance this plant requires for reproduction.
Habitat
This rare milkweed species inhabits rocky limestone outcrops, cliff faces, and stony slopes in Mediterranean scrubland environments. It requires well-drained calcareous soils and typically grows in crevices and ledges where it can access moisture while avoiding direct competition from larger vegetation.