🌸 A cuckoo flower (Cardamine pratensis) by a small stream.

🥰 This delicate flower thrives in moist meadows but struggles in waterlogged or swampy ground. The nearby stream emerges from a swamp, yet the cuckoo flower prefers drier margins with consistent moisture rather than standing water.

🌾 Although cuckoo flowers are still widespread across the Northern Hemisphere, their reliance on wet meadows - a habitat type increasingly under threat - makes them vulnerable. This shows that even common species can become endangered when their specialized habitats disappear.

🧐 Many people assume that a species’ widespread presence automatically means it’s safe or not at risk, but the reality is more nuanced. Even common species can be vulnerable if they depend on specific habitat conditions that are shrinking or changing due to factors like urbanization, climate change, or agricultural practices.

🤗 For a more nuanced discussion, please feel free to use the comments section, private messages or the anonymous contact form on my website.