This European endemic species is rare. The overall population is declining and all populations are threatened, with the primary threat to the Portuguese populations at least being the intensification of agriculture, and intensive cattle grazing in particular. The extent of occurrence (EOO) is moderately large, however, the area of occupancy (AOO) is restricted at c.228 km². The species occurs in more than 20 locations, however, there is a continuing decline observed or inferred in the AOO, extent and quality of habitat, the number of subpopulations, and the number of mature individuals. It is therefore classed as Near Threatened nearly meeting B2ab(ii,iii,iv,v).

This species is endemic to the western Iberian Peninsula, where it is restricted to south-western and north-eastern Portugal and Galicia in north-western Spain. Excluding GBIF records from north-eastern Portugal that are not accepted by Flora-On (2024), the AOO is moderately restricted at c.228 km² and the EOO is 66,602 km². It is declining in the north of Portugal and suffering from habitat loss in the south (A. Carapeto pers. comm.).

There is no detailed information on population size or trends in this species. The Portuguese population consists of more than fifteen thousand mature individuals, however, most subpopulations contain fewer than 100 specimens (Flora-On 2024) and show significant declines (A. Carapeto pers. comm.). In Spain, the population size was estimated at c.11,000 individuals, also in decline (Moreno Saiz et al. 2019).

This species occurs in herbaceous and hygrophilous heather communities in humid depressions, peat bogs and swamps, and other permanent or very humid sites, with species such as Agrostis juressi, Molinia caerulea, Erica erigena, Rhynchospora modesti-lucennoi, Myrica gale (Flora-On 2017)

This species is threatened by drainage, conversion to agriculture, and by competition arising through eutrophication. In Portugal, threats include pressure from intensive grazing (mainly with cattle; Flora-On 2024).

There is no evidence that this species is used.

There is no conservation action in place but there is a need to clarify the status of the populations and threats to this species. The species was assessed as Near Threatened for Portugal, however, this assessment is proposed for revision (A. Carapeto pers. comm.). In Spain, the species has been assessed as Critically Endangered (Moreno Saiz et al. 2019).

In Portugal (Flora-On 2024), the proposed conservation action is substantially reduce grazing pressure (especially of cattle) through the implementation of extensive and low-intensity grazing regimes, the creation of protected areas, and the reinforcement of the application of existing legislation.