Taxon name
Tamarix aphylla
(L.) H.Karst.
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Tamarix aphylla
(L.) H.Karst.
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Plants
Flowering Plants
Species authority
(L.) H.Karst.
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
It is unclear whether natural populations of this species occur within the UAE, particularly in terms of the Hajar Mountain range. Artificially planted trees are thought to occur in Liwa within the UAE, however this does not represent the wild population of the species. As such, confirmation and details of a wild population of this species within the UAE are needed in order to accurately assess this species. Therefore, it is currently 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
This species is known from wadis within the Hajar Mountains and has also been recently been recorded from Jebel Hafeet (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Sakkir and Brown 2014). In addition, it is thought to have been artificially planted in the Liwa region and has been recorded on offshore islands of Abu Dhabi (no specific localities are given), which may also be the result of artificial planting (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Sakkir et al. 2017). Due to its range, it is possible that the natural occurrence of this species, within the Hajar Mountain range, actually lies across the border in Oman, rather than in the UAE specifically (G.R. Feulner, in litt, MEW 2010). Globally, the native range of this species spans from the Sahara to India (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).
Is there a map available in assessment?
Incomplete
Habitat and systems
Ecological system type
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This tree species is known to grow within wadis, in sand and gravel plains, and on hillsides (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Mahmoud et al. 2018). It can reach up to 10 m in height, has reduced scale-like leaves, a conical fruit capsule and small pink flowers which can be seen between October and February (Jongbloed et al. 2003).
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.
