Calotropis procera | UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants

Taxa
Calotropis procera | (Aiton) Dryand.
Publication
UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants
Location
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Scope (Assessment)
National
Taxon
Taxonomic Group
Plants
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Flowering Plants
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
This species is introduced to the UAE through cultivation as an ornamental plant, according to Pagad et al. (2017), however the UAE native plant group considered the species to be native to the UAE. Jongbloed et al. (2003) showed the species to be be widespread in the eastern parts of the country, although absent from the Hajar Mountains and the east coast. It is also known to occur on Abu Dhabi and Dalma islands (S. Sakkir pers. comm. 2019). This species is native to tropical Africa and Asia (CABI 2018), however, it has been widely introduced globally, and naturalized in Australia, many Pacific islands, Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean islands (CABI 2018). Plants of the World Online (2018) consider the species to be native to the UAE.
Habitats and Ecology
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
Calotropis procera is a shrub or small tree, which generally reaches up to 2.5-4 m (max. 6) high (CABI 2018). It is known to be grazed by camels and gazelles, although this is not considered to pose a threat. However, C. procera may pose a threat to other plant species.
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Least Concern
Assessment status abreviation
LC
Assessment rationale/justification
This species is considered introduced to the UAE through cultivation as an ornamental plant according to Pagad et al. (2017), however the UAE native plant group considered the species to be potentially native to the UAE. As a result, the species is considered Least Concern. Confirmation of the origin of the species in the UAE is required.
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1 + Regional Guidelines v4.0
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
IUCN. 2012. IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1, Second edition. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. iv + 32pp pp. And IUCN. 2012. Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional and National Levels: Version 4.0. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK: IUCN. iii + 41pp.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
There are no threats.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Scientific Name Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus
Calotropis procera Plantae Tracheophyta Magnoliopsida Gentianales Apocynaceae Calotropis