Taxon name
Prosopis cineraria
(L.) Druce
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Prosopis cineraria
(L.) Druce
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Plants
Flowering Plants
Species authority
(L.) Druce
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
This species is relatively widespread within the UAE, being dominant in inland sand plain and sand dune environments. In addition, it is also able to utilise wadi habitats within more mountainous areas. Although it can be damaged by grazing, particularly by camels, this species still remains common. It is also known to persist within at least two protected areas within its range. Further research into the current population trend will help to establish whether a higher threat category is required. For now, it is assessed as Least Concern.
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 found on inland sand plains and low dunes of the northern Emirates, Abu Dhabi Emirate, Ajman, Dubai, Al Ain and occurs occasionally in wadis of the Hajar Mountains (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Karim and Dakheel 2006, Gallacher and Hill 2005, Gallacher and El-Keblawy 2016). Prosopis cineraria is also reported to occur on offshore islands of the Abu Dhabi Emirate (Sakkir et al. 2017). Globally, the native range of this species includes the Arabian Peninsula, Iran 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
The trees can reach up to 10 m in height and are known to grow in sand dunes and plains in addition to more rocky wadi habitats (Gallacher and Hill 2005, Karim and Dakheel 2006, Mahmoud et al. 2018). In terms of growth form, this species grows from a woody shrub to a plant covered in thorns - this then allows the plant to resist grazing so that it can grow into an adult tree (Gallacher and Hill 2005). It has oblong leaves with pointed tips, in addition to solitary or twin flowers which can be seen between March to May and October to January (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Gallacher and Hill 2005, Karim and Dakheel 2006). Prosopis cineraria has also been described as a salt-tolerant and leguminous tree (Karim and Dakheel 2006). Regeneration of this perennial tree species is limited which may have knock on effects in terms of the overall population trend in the UAE (Gallacher and Hill 2005, Fawzi and Ksiksi 2012).
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
Generally, this species has been threatened in the past due to overgrazing, expansion of urban areas, reduction in access to ground water and coppicing (Gallacher and Hill 2005). In particular, camels are known to remove foliage from the lower sections of adult trees (Gallacher and Hill 2005).
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.
