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
Least Concern
Criteria system used
IUCN
(see Assessment details)
Assessment rationale/justification
Although this species is widely cultivated within the UAE, and there appears to be a question over the origin of the plant within the country, the majority of the UAE Native Plant Working Group generally accepted Salvadora persica as a native species. It remains difficult to distinguish between originally wild and cultivated populations of the species. However, it is relatively widespread throughout the country. Therefore, 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
The species is used extensively as a horticultural plant along roads, in wadis and coastal areas, and is likely to have been cultivated historically for medicinal use. The species is not common in the wild in the UAE, and it is hard to differentiate truly 'wild' plants from cultivated and 'escapee' plants. Jongbloed et al. (2003) cite three wild localities in the UAE; Dubai Creek, the Shawka-Munay area, and Kalba. In addition, it is described as occurring in the Hajar Mountains, within rocky areas, in addition to Jebel Hafeet. It is cultivated in many regions of the UAE, especially in western dunes, wadis and coastal areas, and as windbreaks along roadsides (DDCR 2019). The species is native to Africa, the Middle East and the Arabian Peninsula, although the UAE is excluded by Plants of the World online (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 is a large perennial shrub to at least 3 m in height that is found in plantations, roadsides, on sand and hillsides (Jongbloed et al. 2003). It can also survive in rocky areas such as the Hajar Mountains and Jebel Hafeet.
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
Without detailed information on the natural distribution in the UAE, little can be said about threats.
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.
