Crotalaria persica | UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants

Taxa
Crotalaria persica | (Burm.f.) Merr.
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 known from Jebel Ali (Jongbloed et al. 2003), in addition to Jebel Hafeet, Hamriyah, Sharjah, Ras al-Khaimah and Sila in the western UAE. It was also found from Wadi Siji in 2017. Crotalaria persica is known considered to have possibly been lost from Jebel Ali, in addition to subpopulations being lost due to development. In particular, a subpopulation was lost due to construction of a radio mast (G.R. Feulner pers. comm. 2019) and the occurrence in Taweela no longer exists (G. Brown pers. comm. 2019). The estimated EOO for this species is 10,500-15,000 km<sup>2 </sup>and the number of threat-based locations is considered to be close to ten, according to the threat of development. Globally, this species is found from north-east tropical Africa to Pakistan (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).
Habitats and Ecology
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
Crotalaria persica grows within low sand dunes (Jongbloed et al. 2003) and gravel habitats, in addition to wadis, around Jebel Hafeet. It is a perennial species which produces solitary, slightly red flowers between January to April (Jongbloed et al. 2003). This species is a crop wild relative of sunhemp, Crotalaria juncea (Kameswara Rao 2010).
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Near Threatened
Assessment status abreviation
NT
Assessment status criteria
B1ab(iii,iv,v)
Assessment rationale/justification
The extent of occurrence (EOO) of this species is estimated to be less than 10,500-15,000 km<sup>2</sup> and, although it is widely scattered throughout the UAE, the number of locations is likely to be close to ten. Crotalaria persica is known to have been lost from some areas and is therefore inferred to be declining. Development, including along the coastline, is thought to pose a threat to this species, in addition to grazing by goats. Therefore, it is assessed as Near Threatened under criterion B1.
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
Impacts from coastal development within this species distribution are likely to have been significant. This species is known to have been extirpated from one locality due to the construction of a radio mast (G. Feulner pers. comm. 2019). In addition, grazing by goats could present a threat within specific localities, such as Wadi Siji.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Further information
History
Increasing frequency and intensity of development, both commercial and residential, since 1996 mean that it is now listed as Near Threatened rather than Least Concern.
Scientific Name Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus
Crotalaria persica Plantae Tracheophyta Magnoliopsida Fabales Fabaceae Crotalaria