Taxon name
Pupalia lappacea
(L.) Juss.
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Pupalia lappacea
(L.) Juss.
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Plants
Flowering Plants
Species authority
(L.) Juss.
Location and scope
Specific locality or subnational name or regional name
United Arab Emirates (the)
Scope (of the Assessment)
National
Countries included within the scope of the assessment
United Arab Emirates (the)
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Not_assigned
Conservation Status
Qualifying criteria (if given)
D
Criteria system used
IUCN
(see Assessment details)
Assessment rationale/justification
This species is considered to be very rare: it is known from few records and has a restricted distribution. The number of mature individuals is estimated to not exceed 200-300. In addition, it doesn't appear to occur in any protected areas and is not cultivated in any way. It is also unclear whether this species is currently threatened. The species is assessed as Endangered on the basis of the restricted number of mature individuals. There not known to be any adjacent populations in Oman, and no rescue effect is inferred; the seed is burred and presumed to be transported by larger animals.
Assessment details
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Criteria system used
IUCN
Reference for methods given
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.
Further information
Endemism (according to assessment)
Endemic to region
Not assigned
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
In the UAE, this species is found in Wadi Naqab and in the Ru'us al-Jibal Mountains in the UAE (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Feulner 2011). Karim and Fawzi (2007) recorded it from Wadi Sha'am. The extent of occurrence (EOO) of this species is estimated at less than 294 km<sup>2</sup>. This species is widespread in the tropics of the Old World. It occurs in tropical Africa from Egypt to South Africa and Madagascar (APD 2019), through the Arabian Peninsula (Yemen, Oman, the UAE) to Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2018). It is introduced in Australia.
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Habitat and systems
Ecological system type
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This species is an annual or perennial amaranth that grows up to 150 cm (Jongbloed et al. 2003). It grows in silt among rocks and produces round leaves in addition to flowers from February to April (Jongbloed et al. 2003). It is typically found in shaded, sheltered and relatively mesic conditions. The species appears to be long lived as known individuals have survived in the same locality for over a decade (G.R. Feulner, in litt, MEW 2010).
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
The species appears to be grazed, however, it is not clear to what extent this poses a threat to the species.
History
The situation in 1996 is thought to be similar to the current situation, including a relatively small population size.
Publication
Allen, D.J., Westrip, J.R.S., Puttick, A., Harding, K.A., Hilton-Taylor, C. and Ali, H. 2021. UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants. Technical Report. Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, United Arab Emirates, Dubai.
