Taxon name
Cistanche phelypaea
(L.) Cout.
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Cistanche phelypaea
(L.) Cout.
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Plants
Flowering Plants
Species authority
(L.) Cout.
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 in the UAE, occurring inland and within farm areas in addition to plantations. It is a parasite and is described as common within its range, in addition to being highly salt-tolerant and even considered as a weed in some areas. Although this plant is known to be grazed by gazelles, it is not known whether these factors pose a threat to the species. Therefore, this species 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 occurs in the Liwa area to the south of the country. It is also found in inland plantation sites. The distribution is uncertain due to confusion with Cistanche tubulosa. Globally, the native range of this species spans across the Mediterranean, Macaronesia and northern Africa to the Arabian Peninsula (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
Cistanche phelypaea is known to be a common parasite of shrub species, including Cornulaca monacantha and, occasionally, Zygophyllum qatarense (Brown et al. 2007, MEW 2010). The plant can reach up to 60 cm in height, has alternate scale-like leaves, in addition to dense spikes of yellow flowers which can be seen between December and March (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Karim and Dkaheel 2006, Norton et al. 2009). It is known to grow along roadsides, in plantations and farms, and is considered to be highly salt tolerant (Karim and Dakheel 2006, Norton et al 2009, MEW 2010). This species is also considered to be a weed and is known to be grazed by the sand gazelle, Gazella subgutturosa (Hornby 2003, Karim and Dakheel 2006).
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
This species may be grazed by livestock and wild animals, however, it is unknown whether this poses a major threat to the species.
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.
