Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Plants
Flowering Plants
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
Near Threatened
Qualifying criteria (if given)
A2a
Criteria system used
IUCN
(see Assessment details)
Assessment rationale/justification
This species, although being described as 'not common' or 'occasional', is considered to be a weed in certain habitats. The species is known to have declined over time as a result of changing rainfall patterns. It is known to survive within both disturbed areas and at a wide range of altitudes. The species is Near Threatened because of a population decline (approaching 30%) over the last ten years.
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
This species is widespread in the Hajar Mountains and Ru'us al-Jibal (Jongbloed et al. 2003). This plant species can be found in silt and fallow fields up to 1,200 m and above (Feulner 2011). However, it is also recorded at lower elevations within montane areas too (Feulner 2011). The global distribution of this species is in Macaronesia, Europe to the Mediterranean and West Himalaya, and the Arabian Peninsula (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 is an annual herb species which produces yellow flowers from January to March (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Norton et al. 2009). It grows to heights of up to 30 cm and typically occurs in silt substrate between rocks in montane areas (Jongbloed et al. 2003). This species can be found in sandy and gravelly habitats, wadis, plantations and fallow fields (MEW 2010, Feulner 2011). It is sometimes considered as a weed of disturbed areas and silty depressions within its habitat (Norton et al. 2009). It is highly rain-dependent.
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
Grazing by goats may affect this species in parts of its range (Shahid 2017). Declining rainfall is thought also be causing declines.
History
This species is considered to have become much less common due to decreasing frequency of wet years. In addition, increasing grazing may have contributed to population declines since 1996.
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.
