Whorled Clary
EN

Whorled Clary

Salvia verticillata

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvia_verticillata

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Whorled Sage faces severe population declines primarily due to agricultural intensification and urban development across its Mediterranean and temperate European range. Traditional grazing practices that historically maintained suitable open habitats have been abandoned in many areas, leading to scrubland succession that eliminates the species' preferred sunny, disturbed sites. Climate change compounds these pressures by altering precipitation patterns and increasing drought stress in already marginal habitats.

Threat summary

Habitat

Whorled Sage typically inhabits dry grasslands, rocky slopes, scrublands, and disturbed ground in Mediterranean and temperate regions. The species thrives in sunny, well-drained soils and often colonizes roadsides, field margins, and areas with light grazing pressure.

TERRESTRIAL· majorTERRESTRIAL· majorTERRESTRIAL· major

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Whorled Clary classified as Endangered?
Whorled Clary is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. Whorled Sage faces severe population declines primarily due to agricultural intensification and urban development across its Mediterranean and temperate European range. Traditional grazing practices that historically maintained suitable open habitats have been abandoned in many areas, leading to scrubland succession that eliminates the species' preferred sunny, disturbed sites. Climate change compounds these pressures by altering precipitation patterns and increasing drought stress in already marginal habitats.
Where does Whorled Clary live?
Whorled Clary occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Whorled Clary?
The main threats to Whorled Clary are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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