Taxon name
Commicarpus helenae
(Romer & Schultes) Meikle
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Commicarpus helenae
(Romer & Schultes) Meikle
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Plants
Flowering Plants
Species authority
(Romer & Schultes) Meikle
Taxonomic notes and synonyms listed
The taxonomy of this widespread species across the global range may merit some revision. Specimens from Oman appear to differ substantially in leaf form from those found on St Helena.
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
Least Concern
Criteria system used
IUCN
(see Assessment details)
Assessment rationale/justification
Although this species is generally described as rare, it appears to have a somewhat widespread distribution within the north and northeast of the UAE, in addition to along the east coast. Therefore, it is currently assessed as Least Concern, pending further detailed distribution data and investigation into potential threats to this species - this may warrant a change in category.
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, this species is known to occur in east coast plantations in addition to Masafi, Khatt and Wadi Hiluw in the north and the north-east of the UAE (Jongbloed et al. 2003). Globally, this species is native to Africa, western Asia, the Arabian Peninsula and India (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 perennial species can grow up to 40 cm in height (Jongbloed et al. 2003). It has round to triangular leaves, club-like fruit and pink or red-purple flowers which are present between March and June (Jongbloed et al. 2003). The plant is generally recorded as growing within wadis and plantations, in addition to the foothills of mountains (Jongbleod et al. 2003, MEW 2010).
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.
