Ephedra foliata | UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants

Taxa
Ephedra foliata | Boiss. ex C.A.Mey.
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
Gymnosperms
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
This species is widespread in the UAE from eastern Abu Dhabi, throughout the Hajar Mountains, to the east coast (Jongbloed et al. 2003). Feulner (2016) records the species from Wadi Wurayah. The species is rare in the southern (Jebel Ayuzah) and central (western Zibat) Ru'us al-Jibal (Feulner 2011), but it is uncertain if these localities are within the UAE. The species occurs on Jebel Hafeet at medium and high altitudes (Stuart and Stuart 1998, Fawzi and Ksiksi 2012, Al Dhaheri 2017). The global distribution of this species is from northwestern and eastern Africa, widespread across the Arabian Peninsula, extending east to India (Saharo-Sindian/Irano-Turanian distribution; Freitag and Maier-Stolte 2003).
Habitats and Ecology
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
The species is widespread in sandy deserts and lower hills (MEW 2010). Feulner (2016) recorded the species from shaded north-facing rubble slopes in Wadi Wurayah, where it is normally a climber or straggler, rarely a shrub. Often found climbing Prosopis cineraria ghaf (Jongbloed et al. 2003) and Acacia trees.
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 widespread at lower altitudes in the eastern UAE, although also occurring at higher elevations on Jebel Hafeet. Although data are lacking on the population size and trend, the species is assessed as Least Concern as it is thought unlikely that it will approach the thresholds for a threatened category.
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
Grazing by livestock may impact the species in parts of its range, but there is no information on this. It is also threatened by threats to Acacia trees, over-grazing and and development.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Scientific Name Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus
Ephedra foliata Plantae Tracheophyta Gnetopsida Ephedrales Ephedraceae Ephedra