Taxon name
Cenchrus orientalis
(Rich.) Morrone
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Cenchrus orientalis
(Rich.) Morrone
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Plants
Flowering Plants
Species authority
(Rich.) Morrone
Taxonomic notes and synonyms listed
Cenchrus orientalis Rich. is a wild relative of Pearl Millet Cenchrus americanus (L.) Morrone [=Pennisteum glaucum (L.) R.Br.] and has confirmed use in breeding for this valuable crop species. It is not yet known if this wild relative belongs to Gene Pool 1b, 2 or 3 of Pearl Millet.
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
There is little information available regarding this species within the UAE. In particular, lack of a detailed distribution within the country makes it difficult to assess this species accurately. As a result, it is 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
The distribution of this species in the UAE is not well understood. Feulner (2016) records the species from the Wadi Wurayah National Park buffer zone in the upper parts of Wadi Siji and Feulner (2014) records the species from northeast facing cliffs along the summit ridge of Jebel Qitab, from Jebel Masafi. It is known from a single site in the Ru'us al-Jibal on a cliff-face close to a spring ('Ayn as-Sih in Oman) at 470 m elevation (Feulner 2011). The species also occurs at cultivated sites elsewhere in the UAE. Globally, the native range of this species spans across northern Africa to Caucasus and to the Indian subcontinent (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019). Although Plants of the World Online lists the UAE as a native country of occurrence, there is very little available information on this species within the country, including detailed distribution data.
Is there a map available in assessment?
Incomplete
Habitat and systems
Ecological system type
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This plant is a perennial grass species (Fawzi and Ksiksi 2012) which has been found along roadsides, in addition to on wadi banks and cliffs within the Hajar Mountains.
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
There is no available information.
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.
