Prosopis cineraria | UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants
Taxa
Prosopis cineraria | (L.) Druce
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
Within the UAE, this species is found on inland sand plains and low dunes of the northern Emirates, Abu Dhabi Emirate, Ajman, Dubai, Al Ain and occurs occasionally in wadis of the Hajar Mountains (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Karim and Dakheel 2006, Gallacher and Hill 2005, Gallacher and El-Keblawy 2016). Prosopis cineraria is also reported to occur on offshore islands of the Abu Dhabi Emirate (Sakkir et al. 2017). Globally, the native range of this species includes the Arabian Peninsula, Iran and India (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).
Habitats and Ecology
Ecological system type
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
The trees can reach up to 10 m in height and are known to grow in sand dunes and plains in addition to more rocky wadi habitats (Gallacher and Hill 2005, Karim and Dakheel 2006, Mahmoud et al. 2018). In terms of growth form, this species grows from a woody shrub to a plant covered in thorns - this then allows the plant to resist grazing so that it can grow into an adult tree (Gallacher and Hill 2005). It has oblong leaves with pointed tips, in addition to solitary or twin flowers which can be seen between March to May and October to January (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Gallacher and Hill 2005, Karim and Dakheel 2006). Prosopis cineraria has also been described as a salt-tolerant and leguminous tree (Karim and Dakheel 2006). Regeneration of this perennial tree species is limited which may have knock on effects in terms of the overall population trend in the UAE (Gallacher and Hill 2005, Fawzi and Ksiksi 2012).
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 relatively widespread within the UAE, being dominant in inland sand plain and sand dune environments. In addition, it is also able to utilise wadi habitats within more mountainous areas. Although it can be damaged by grazing, particularly by camels, this species still remains common. It is also known to persist within at least two protected areas within its range. Further research into the current population trend will help to establish whether a higher threat category is required. For now, it is assessed as Least Concern.
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
Generally, this species has been threatened in the past due to overgrazing, expansion of urban areas, reduction in access to ground water and coppicing (Gallacher and Hill 2005). In particular, camels are known to remove foliage from the lower sections of adult trees (Gallacher and Hill 2005).
Conservation Measures
Conservation measures:
Scientific Name
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Prosopis cineraria
Plantae
Tracheophyta
Magnoliopsida
Fabales
Fabaceae
Prosopis
