# Sticky Catchfly

*Viscaria vulgaris*

The sticky secretion on its stem acts as a natural barrier, trapping crawling insects like ants to prevent them from stealing nectar without pollinating the flowers.

- **Taxonomy:** Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Caryophyllales › Caryophyllaceae › Viscaria
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** stable
- **Biome:** grassland
- **Habitat:** Dry grasslands, rocky outcrops, cliffs, and open, sunny forest edges.
- **Diet:** Photoautotrophic (produces energy from sunlight via photosynthesis).
- **Range:** Europe, Siberia, Western Asia, British Isles
- **Size:** 30 to 90 cm in height
- **Lifespan:** Perennial (typically lives for 3 to 7 years)
- **Active:** diurnal
- **Threats:** Agricultural intensification, loss of dry meadow habitats, and encroachment of invasive scrub shading out the plants.
- **Safe to approach?:** Harmless. You can safely approach and admire this plant closely. Do not pick the flowers, as they are important for local pollinators. The sticky substance on the stem is non-toxic but can feel tacky to the touch; wash hands with soap and water if you make contact.

## About

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## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/0e116d81-cf3d-4d4d-84a7-f5d683896472
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/741459
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viscaria vulgaris
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/10802722/medium.jpeg (Kostas Zontanos, CC-BY, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.