Launaea omanensis | UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants

Taxa
Launaea omanensis | N.Kilian
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
Within the UAE, the species has been recently recorded from four widely-spaced localities within Wadi Wurayah National Park (WWNP; Feulner 2016, Judas 2016). Feulner (2016) also notes a record from the 'Olive Highlands', on a rocky ridge on the slopes of Jebel Qitab southwest of Fujairah city, in Fujairah Emirate. The species is considered endemic to the Hajar Mountains which span Oman and the UAE (Feulner 2011). Despite the few records shown here, it is likely to be more widespread, and it is hard to identify when not in flower.
Habitats and Ecology
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This species has leafless stems that originate from a rosette of leaves on the ground, in addition to a daisy-like flower (Feulner 2016). The Wadi Wurayah National Park records were found in a small scree gully at Ghalil al-Haban, the others in tributary wadis of Wadi Ghayl: one in wadi bed of third order tributary, two flowering in shallow gullies on terraces (Feulner 2016). It is also found on gravel slopes.
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 has been recorded within the Wadi Wurayah National Park and in the 'Olive Highlands' area of the Hajar Mountains within the UAE. It was originally considered to be endemic to Oman, but it is now known to be endemic to the Northern Hajar Mountains of Oman and the UAE. Due to being a fairly new record, there is little information available on this species within the UAE, and it is known from very few specimens and observations. However, the population size is suspected to be low. The species could be given a precautionary assessment of Near Threatened on the basis of an assumed restricted population size, and probably susceptibility to grazing. However, populations in adjacent parts of Oman are found in moister areas and are likely to be in good status. Therefore, a regional adjustment of one category is applied, so it is instead listed as Least Concern.
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
No
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: No
Endemism specifics: The species is considered endemic to the Hajar Mountains which span Oman and the UAE
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
Grazing by livestock may impact the species in parts of its range.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Scientific Name Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus
Launaea omanensis Plantae Tracheophyta Magnoliopsida Asterales Asteraceae Launaea