Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Plants
Flowering Plants
Taxonomic notes and synonyms listed
A large number of synonyms have been described for this widespread species.
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
Assessed as
Data Deficient
Criteria system used
IUCN
(see Assessment details)
Assessment rationale/justification
This species, although not common within the UAE, has been recorded from a range of elevations within the Ru'us al-Jibal and the northern Hajar Mountains in the UAE. However, the origin of the species in the UAE requires confirmation, and the species is considered introduced to the UAE by MoCCaE (O. Al Shamsi pers. comm. 2018). It is therefore assessed as Data Deficient.
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
Within the UAE, it has been recorded from the Ru'us al-Jibal where it is known from all elevations (Jongbloed et al. 2003). It is known to occur as far north as Jebel Jais and has also been recorded from Wadi Naqab (M. Tsaliki pers. comm. 2019). Its range extends into the northern Hajar Mountains, and an unidentified Galium species has been recorded from Wadi Wurayah National Park (Feulner 2016). The origin of the species in the UAE requires confirmation, and the species is considered introduced to the UAE by MoCCaE (O. Al Shamsi pers. comm. 2018). The global native range of this species is obscure and it is considered to be be very widely introduced and naturalised (GRIN 2019). Plants of the World Online considers it to be native to Europe, northern Africa and temperate and tropical Asia (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019). It has also been introduced to the Americas, Greenland and Australasia (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Habitat and systems
Ecological system type
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This annual species has slender stems and can reach up to 0.5 m in height (Jongbloed et al. 2003). It climbs on surrounding vegetation and has downward pointing prickles on both the spines and the leaf whorls, which give the plant a 'sticky' feel (Jongbloed et al. 2003). The fruit is a round, hairy capsule and the small white flowers can be seen between February and April (Jongbloed et al. 2003). It generally grows within mountain wadis and in plantations (Jongbloed et al. 2003). G.R. Feulner (in litt, MEW 2010) notes that it is found in the same habitats as G. ceratopodum, in the foothills and wadis, on silty soils amongst stones and near water channels and runnels.
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
There is no information available.
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.
