Periploca aphylla | UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants

Taxa
Periploca aphylla | Decne.
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
Periploca aphylla occurs in the Hajar mountains and the Ru'us al Jibal mountains in the UAE (Jongbloed et al. 2003); it is considered to be widespread within montane areas (Western 1992, Jongbloed et al. 2003). This species occurs at a range of altitudes, from around 400-500 m to high elevations (Feulner 2011). Globally, this species occurs in West Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and India (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2018).
Habitats and Ecology
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This perennial shrub or small tree species can grow up to 4 m (Western 1992, Fawzi and Ksiksi 2012). It produces white and purple flowers between January and April and grows on hillsides and Wadi banks (Jongbloed et al. 2003).When damaged, this species produces a milky white sap (latex) characteristic of the Asclepiadaceae family (Jongbloed et al. 2003). The species is utilised as the food plant for the Desert White Butterfly (Pontia glauconome; Jongbloed et al. 2003).
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 common and widespread within rocky habitats, such as the Hajar Mountains, at medium to high elevations. It is also reported from at least one protected area within its range. Although grazing may pose a threat to this species, the impact of this on Periploca aphylla is not yet known. It is assessed 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
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
This plant is reportedly browsed by native grazers within the UAE, such as gazelle and ibex (Ghazanfar and Fisher 1998) in addition to other species such as goats (Stuart and Stuart 1998, Shahid 2017).
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Scientific Name Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus
Periploca aphylla Plantae Tracheophyta Magnoliopsida Gentianales Apocynaceae Periploca