Cenchrus orientalis | UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants

Taxa
Cenchrus orientalis | (Rich.) Morrone
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
Taxonomic Notes
Cenchrus orientalis Rich. is a wild relative of Pearl Millet Cenchrus americanus (L.) Morrone [=Pennisteum glaucum (L.) R.Br.] and has confirmed use in breeding for this valuable crop species. It is not yet known if this wild relative belongs to Gene Pool 1b, 2 or 3 of Pearl Millet.
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
The distribution of this species in the UAE is not well understood. Feulner (2016) records the species from the Wadi Wurayah National Park buffer zone in the upper parts of Wadi Siji and Feulner (2014) records the species from northeast facing cliffs along the summit ridge of Jebel Qitab, from Jebel Masafi. It is known from a single site in the Ru'us al-Jibal on a cliff-face close to a spring ('Ayn as-Sih in Oman) at 470 m elevation (Feulner 2011). The species also occurs at cultivated sites elsewhere in the UAE. Globally, the native range of this species spans across northern Africa to Caucasus and to the Indian subcontinent (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019). Although Plants of the World Online lists the UAE as a native country of occurrence, there is very little available information on this species within the country, including detailed distribution data.
Habitats and Ecology
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This plant is a perennial grass species (Fawzi and Ksiksi 2012) which has been found along roadsides, in addition to on wadi banks and cliffs within the Hajar Mountains.
Is there a map available in assessment?
Incomplete
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Data Deficient
Assessment status abreviation
DD
Assessment rationale/justification
There is little information available regarding this species within the UAE. In particular, lack of a detailed distribution within the country makes it difficult to assess this species accurately. As a result, it is assessed as Data Deficient.
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 is no available information.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Scientific Name Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus
Cenchrus orientalis Plantae Tracheophyta Liliopsida Poales Poaceae Cenchrus