Cyperus laevigatus | UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants
Location
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Scope (Assessment)
National
Taxon
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Flowering Plants
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
This species is locally common along the Arabian Gulf coast in suitable habitat in Abu Dhabi Emirate (Al Mehairbi et al. 2019) and has also been recorded from the Hatta pools (Jongbloed et al. 2003), although the continued presence of some coastal subpopulations requires confirmation due to extensive coastal development. Feulner (2011) recorded the species from coastal parts of northern Ras al-Khaimah. There are also records from the western slopes of the Hajar Mountains (Al Qasheesh Dam, Ras al-Khaimah; Sharjah Seedbank & Herbarium) and from the east coast at Kalba (1994, <a href=""http://data.rbge.org.uk/herb/E00398627"">RBGE Herbarium</a>); the latter record at least requires confirmation, and may no longer be extant. The species has a wide distribution in the tropics and subtropics, including Africa, southern Europe, the Americas, Australia and parts of Asia (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2018).
Habitats and Ecology
Ecological system type
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This is a perennial rush-like plant species with many stems rising from creeping rhizomes (Jongbloed et al. 2003). It is found near or in fresh or brackish water (Jongbloed et al. 2003), in swamps and depressions (Al Mehairbi et al. 2019). Its presence is often indicative of freshwater (Feulner 2011).
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 locally common along the Arabian Gulf coast in suitable habitat and has also been recorded from some inland sites, and with a record from Kalba on the east coast that requires confirmation. The extent of occurrence (EOO) exceeds 20,000 km<sup>2</sup>, although the area of occupancy (AOO) cannot be estimated as too few locality data are available, and the continued presence of some coastal subpopulations requires confirmation due to extensive coastal development. The species is water-dependent (freshwater, but also brackish) and may also be impacted by water abstraction and long term climatic change. The species is assessed at present as Least Concern as the number of locations exceeds ten and there is no information to support a level of population decline such as to qualify for a threatened category, however, ongoing monitoring is required, and the species should be reassessed if population trend data become available.
About the assessment
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
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
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
The species would be susceptible to the over-abstraction of ground and surface water, however, the scope and impact of this within the range of the species in the UAE are not known. Long term declines in rainfall as a result of climate change is likely to impact the species. Impacts from coastal development are likely to have been significant.
Conservation Measures
Conservation measures:
Scientific Name
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Cyperus laevigatus
Plantae
Tracheophyta
Liliopsida
Poales
Cyperaceae
Cyperus
