Taxon name
Sporobolus spicatus
(Vahl) Kunth
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Sporobolus spicatus
(Vahl) Kunth
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Plants
Flowering Plants
Species authority
(Vahl) Kunth
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 widespread across the UAE and 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
This species is widespread throughout the UAE except in mountainous areas (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Al Meharibi et al. 2019). Jongbloed et al. (2003) considered the species to occur on offshore islands (Jongbloed et al. 2003), including Abu Dhabi Island (Western 1982, 1983), although the recent map of Al Meharibi et al. (2019) show it to be absent from the islands, as well as from some coastal areas in Abu Dhabi Emirate. The species is also recorded for Wadi Wurayah National Park (Feulner 2016, Judas 2016), although Feulner comments that it is known from a single site at the waterfall and is likely to be of anthropogenic origin here. Globally, this species occurs widely across Africa, in the Arabian Peninsula and in India (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2018).
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Habitat and systems
Ecological system type
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
Sporobolus spicatus is a perennial grass with rhizomes that grows up to 0.7 m (0.3 m; Al Meharibi et al. 2019) and flowers throughout the year, but peaks in January - April. It grows in sand, gardens and plantations and tolerates high salinity (Jongbloed et al. 2003, MEW 2010).
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
Grazing by livestock may impact the species in parts of its range, and impacts from coastal development are likely to have been significant.
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.
