Polygala irregularis | UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants

Taxa
Polygala irregularis | Boiss.
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, this species has been recorded from Al Ain and Sharjah (Jongbloed et al. 2003), in addition to two other scattered localities within the northeast of the country (Sharjah Seed Bank and Herbarium pers. comm. 2019). The estimated EOO of this species is 3,992 km<sup>2</sup> and it is considered to occur at four locations, based on the most important threat of grazing. Globally, the native range of this species spans across the Sahara, Kenya and India, including the Arabian Peninsula (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
This annual (or short-lived perennial) herb species has slender stems that can reach up to 0.3 m in height (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Norton et al. 2009). It has linear to oblong leaves, mauve flowers, which can be seen between February and May, and fruit capsules (Jongbloed et al. 2003). Polygala irregularis typically grows within stable sand between sand dunes (Jongbloed et al. 2003), although it has also been recorded from a road-side in Al Ain.
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Endangered
Assessment status abreviation
EN
Assessment status criteria
B1ab(iii)
Assessment rationale/justification
This species is known from a few scattered localities within the northeast of the UAE. It has an estimated EOO of 3,992 km<sup>2</sup> and occurs at four locations. Due to grazing, it is undergoing a continuing decline in the extent and quality of its habitat. Therefore, it is assessed as Endangered.
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 species is known to be affected by grazing.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Further information
History
The species' status is thought to have deteriorated due to development and grazing since 1996, when it would have been Least Concern.
Scientific Name Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus
Polygala irregularis Plantae Tracheophyta Magnoliopsida Fabales Polygalaceae Polygala