United Arab Emirates

Official name
United Arab Emirates
ISO alpha-2 code
AE
ISO alpha-3 code
ARE
ISO numeric-3 code
784
Continent
Asia

Spergularia flaccida | UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants

Location
Scope (Assessment)
National
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This is an annual herb species that grows within sandy soil and plantations, in addition to along the lower areas of wadi slopes (MEW 2010, Feulner 2014, Mahmoud et al. 2018). The leaves of this plant grow in a whorl pattern (Jongbloed et al. 2003). In general, it seems to prefer shaded areas and is also described as 'opportunistic' (Norton et al. 2009, Feulner 2011, 2016).
Taxon
Taxa
Spergularia flaccida | (Madden) I.M.Turner
Taxonomic Group
Plants
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Flowering Plants
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
The species generally seems to be found within the northeast of the UAE and has been described as widespread within the Hajar Mountains (Chamberlain 1996). It is known to occur in the Ru'us al-Jibal within the UAE, where it is found up to 900 m in altitude (Feulner 2011). Globally, the native range of this species encompasses Macaronesia, northern Africa, northeast tropical Africa and the Arabian Peninsula (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Least Concern
Assessment status abreviation
LC
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Assessment rationale/justification
This species is described as widespread throughout the Hajar Mountains and is generally considered to be common. It is therefore assessed as Least Concern.
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1 + Regional Guidelines v4.0
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
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.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
There is no information available.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Verified entry
Off

Pteranthus dichotomus | UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants

Location
Scope (Assessment)
National
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Is there a map available in assessment?
Not possible
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
There is little information available.
Taxon
Taxa
Pteranthus dichotomus | Forssk.
Taxonomic Group
Plants
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Flowering Plants
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
Within the UAE, this species has only been recorded from Wadi Bih (Böer and Chaudhary 1999, cited in Feulner 2011). Globally, the native range of this species extends from the Mediterranean and northern Africa to Pakistan (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Data Deficient
Assessment status abreviation
DD
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Assessment rationale/justification
This species is known from Wadi Bih in the UAE, collected between 1994 and 1996 (Böer and Chaudhary 1999). There is little other information available on the population of this species, its threats and it habitats and ecology, and it is therefore assessed as Data Deficient.
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1 + Regional Guidelines v4.0
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
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.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
There is no information available.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Verified entry
Off

Polycarpon tetraphyllum | UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants

Location
Scope (Assessment)
National
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This is an annual species that grows up to 10 cm (Jongbloed et al. 2003). It has leaves organised in whorls of four and produces white and green flowers between February and April (Jongbloed et al. 2003). This plant is typically found growing in gravel within wadis, in addition to fields, in low montane areas (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Feulner 2011).
Taxon
Taxa
Polycarpon tetraphyllum | (L.) L.
Taxonomic Group
Plants
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Flowering Plants
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
Within the UAE, this species is reported as widespread within the Hajar Mountains and in the southern Ru'us al-Jibal (Jongbloed et al. 2003). It has been reported from altitudes up to c. 1,200 m in the Ru'us al-Jibal (Feulner 2011). Globally, this species is native to Europe, northern and eastern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Least Concern
Assessment status abreviation
LC
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Assessment rationale/justification
This species is considered to be widespread within the Hajar Mountain range and it is suggested that it is currently under-collected, which may cause it appear less common that it actually is. As a result, it is assessed as Least Concern.
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1 + Regional Guidelines v4.0
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
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.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
Grazing by goats may pose a threat in parts of this species' range (Shahid 2017).
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Verified entry
Off

Minuartia meyeri | UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants

Location
Scope (Assessment)
National
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
It is presumed to occur on rocky slopes and hillsides.
Taxon
Taxa
Minuartia meyeri | (Boiss.) Bornm.
Taxonomic Group
Plants
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Flowering Plants
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
In the UAE, Feulner (2011) reported the species from higher altitudes (1,500 m) in the Ru'us al-Jibal. The species appears to have a disjunct global range, with occurrences in Sinai, the Arabian Peninsula (Oman and saudi Arabia, UAE not listed), Turkey and Syria, and then Central Asia cited by Plants of the World Online (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019), whilst Chamberlain (1996) restricted the species to south-west Asia (Oman and Saudi Arabia).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Data Deficient
Assessment status abreviation
DD
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Assessment rationale/justification
The species is known from higher altitudes (1,500 m) in the Ru'us al-Jibal, where it is rare but possibly overlooked. Confirmation of the presence and distribution of the species in the UAE is required, and it is currently considered Data Deficient.
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1 + Regional Guidelines v4.0
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
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.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
Without detailed information on the distribution in the UAE, little can be said about threats.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Verified entry
Off

Herniaria hirsuta | UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants

Location
Scope (Assessment)
National
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This annual herb species is covered in stiff white hairs (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Norton et al. 2009, Sakkir and Brown 2014). It is known to grow within sand and clay substrates in wadi and plateaux habitats (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Feulner 2011).
Taxon
Taxa
Herniaria hirsuta | L.
Taxonomic Group
Plants
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Flowering Plants
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
Within the UAE, it has been reported from R'as al-Khaimah, Fujairah, Masafi and the Ru'us al-Jibal (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Brown et al. 2007, Feulner 2011) and has been recently recorded from Jebel Hafeet (Sakkir and Brown 2014). In the Ru'us al-Jibal, this species is reported from 300-1,000 m altitude (G.R. Feulner, in lit, MEW 2010). Globally, the native range of this species spans across Africa, Europe and temperate Asia (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Least Concern
Assessment status abreviation
LC
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Assessment rationale/justification
Although the coastal range of this species may be at threat due to residential and commercial development, this species is also able to persist in mountainous areas such as the Ru'us al-Jibal and Jebel Hafeet. Within these areas, it utilises a range of altitudes. Therefore, it is assessed as Least Concern.
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1 + Regional Guidelines v4.0
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
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.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
This species may be negatively affected by ongoing development of coastal areas within the UAE. For example, this species used to be locally common in Al Jazirah Al Hamra in R'as al-Khaimah, although this locality has now been heavily developed (G. Brown pers. comm. 2019).
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Verified entry
Off

Herniaria hemistemon | UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants

Location
Scope (Assessment)
National
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Is there a map available in assessment?
Incomplete
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This annual herb species grows within compacted sand and rocky ground within mountain environments (Brown et al. 2007, Jongbloed et al. 2003, Mahmoud et al. 2018). It has a perennial and prostrate growth form, reaching up to 25 cm across (Karim and Dakheel 2006). The oblong leaves are crowded across the plant, small petal-less flowers are present between February and April, and the seeds are small and brown (Jongbloed et al. 2003). This species is also considered to be moderately salt tolerant (Karim and Dakheel 2006).
Taxon
Taxa
Herniaria hemistemon | J.Gay
Taxonomic Group
Plants
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Flowering Plants
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
Within the UAE, this species is considered to be widespread and is found in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and R'as al-Khaimah (Brown et al. 2007, Karim and Dakheel 2006). It generally occurs along the Arabian Gulf coast and in the Ru'us al-Jibal (Jongbloed et al. 2003). This plant has been recorded at altitudes up to 1,600 m in the Ru'us al-Jibal (Feulner 2011). Globally, the native range of this species spans from Africa to temperate Asia (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Least Concern
Assessment status abreviation
LC
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Assessment rationale/justification
This species is generally widespread along the Arabian Gulf coast of the UAE and is considered locally common within this range. It is also able to persist at a range of altitudes. The species is assessed as Least Concern.
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1 + Regional Guidelines v4.0
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
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.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
There is no information available.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Verified entry
Off

Amaranthus graecizans | UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants

Location
Scope (Assessment)
National
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This species is an annual amaranth that grows up to 30 cm (Jongbloed et al. 2003). It flowers between January and April and grows in compacted sand, gardens and disturbed sites (Jongbloed et al. 2003) in addition to cultivated areas.
Taxon
Taxa
Amaranthus graecizans | L.
Taxonomic Group
Plants
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Flowering Plants
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
Amaranthus graecizans occurs in coastal areas, as well as Al Ain and offshore islands in the UAE (Jongbloed et al. 2003). MEW (2010) comment that the species is common in coastal areas and also found in moist disturbed areas, suggesting that the species may have been spread by humans within the UAE. It is known to occur within farms in the Liwa area, in addition to localities between Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. Globally, this species occurs in North and Central Africa, southern Europe and the Middle East, and has been widely introduced (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2018).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Least Concern
Assessment status abreviation
LC
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Assessment rationale/justification
This species is widespread in coastal areas, as well as inland areas and offshore islands in the UAE. The species is locally common in disturbed areas and farms, and is therefore assessed as Least Concern.
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1 + Regional Guidelines v4.0
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
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.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
Some coastal subpopulations are likely to be impacted by coastal development.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Verified entry
Off

Aerva javanica | UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants

Location
Scope (Assessment)
National
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This perennial shrub species is known to grow in rocky wadis and gravel and sand alluvial plains (El Alqamy 2004, Fawzi and Ksiksi 2012, Mahmoud et al. 2018), however it has also been recorded from disturbed ground near to cultivation sites (Feulner 2011, 2016). It is also considered to be found along roadsides. Typically, it produces small white flowers between January and May (Karim and Dakheel 2006) which are used by various insects, including Cylindrothorax angusticollis suturellus (Gillett and Gillett 1996). Aerva javanica has woody stems and can grow up to 75 - 120 cm in height (Western 1991, Karim and Dakheel 2006).
Taxon
Taxa
Aerva javanica | (Burm.f.) Juss. ex Schult.
Taxonomic Group
Plants
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Flowering Plants
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
It is widespread within the UAE, occurring in Dubai, Masafi, Fujairah, Al Ain and at Jebel Hafeet (Stuart and Stuart 1998, El Alqamy 2004, Karim and Dakheel 2006). It has also been spread to Abu Dhabi Island. Globally, this species occurs from Africa to Myanmar (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Least Concern
Assessment status abreviation
LC
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Assessment rationale/justification
This species appears to be generally widespread and common within the north-east of the UAE and also occurs on Abu Dhabi Island. In addition, it occurs in multiple protected areas. As a result, it is assessed as Least Concern.
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1 + Regional Guidelines v4.0
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
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.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
There are no major threats.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Verified entry
Off

Zaleya pentandra | UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants

Location
Scope (Assessment)
National
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This species is an annual, sometimes perennial, herb with a woody base (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Mahmoud et al. 2018). Its flowering period is from December to March, when small red-green flowers without petals can be seen (Jongbloed et al. 2003). This weed species occurs in compacted sand and gravel, cultivated and disturbed ground, in addition to plantations (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Norton et al. 2009, MEW 2010, Mahmoud et al. 2018).
Taxon
Taxa
Zaleya pentandra | (L.) C.Jeffrey
Taxonomic Group
Plants
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Flowering Plants
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
This halophytic species is found in scattered locations throughout the UAE (Jongbloed et al. 2003). The origin of the species in the UAE requires confirmation; whilst GRIN (2019) considers it to be native to the UAE, others consider (Anum et al. 2018, Xu 2019) it to be native to Africa. The global distribution of this species is from Africa to Israel and the Arabian Peninsula, and from Pakistan to India (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019). Globally, it is a widespread introduced ruderal invasive weed of crops and cultivated areas.
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Data Deficient
Assessment status abreviation
DD
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Assessment rationale/justification
This species is found across the UAE in scattered localities. Although it is generally described as not common, it is thought to be overlooked and therefore more common than initially thought. In addition, it is known to occur in at least one protected area within the UAE. However, it is currently assessed as Data Deficient because the origin in the UAE of this globally introduced ruderal weed requires confirmation.
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1 + Regional Guidelines v4.0
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
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.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
There is no information available.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Verified entry
Off

Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum | UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants

Location
Scope (Assessment)
National
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This is an annual species occurring in saline sand in coastal environments (Jongbloed et al. 2003) in addition to consolidated and disturbed ground. It forms cushion-like clumps, has succulent cylindrical leaves and solitary white flowers, in addition to brown triangular seeds (Jongbloed et al. 2003). As this plant matures, the leaves turn from green to red (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Western 1994). It has been suggested that Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum is a larval food plant for the Western Pygmy Blue butterfly, Brephidium exilis (Gillett 2002).
Taxon
Taxa
Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum | L.
Taxonomic Group
Plants
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Flowering Plants
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
This plant species has been recorded from Ras al Khaimah and Arabian Gulf islands, including Das Island (Western 1994, Gillett 2002, Jongbloed et al. 2003, Sakkir et al. 2017). In 2007, one individual was found at Taweela (Brown et al. 2007), although this area has now been lost as a result of development. The species is also scattered across offshore islands, and is thought to be common on Zirku and Arzanah. Further, in 2005 and 2007, this species was reported as being locally common in Al Jazeera al-Hamra (Ra's al-Khaimah). Therefore, it is possible that this plant species is more widespread in disturbed areas along the coastline (Brown et al. 2007). The estimated EOO is around 21,009 km<sup>2</sup> and it is considered to occur in 5-10 threat-based locations. The AOO has not been calculated as few point data are available, but is estimated to be very much less than 2,000 km<sup>2</sup> and inferred to be undergoing a continuing decline as a result of development. The global distribution of this species includes Europe, Africa and Asia-Temperate (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2018).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Vulnerable
Assessment status abreviation
VU
Assessment status criteria
B2ab(ii,iii)
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Assessment rationale/justification
This species mainly occurs in sandy coastal areas within the UAE. These parts of the country are undergoing rapid development for residential and tourist areas which could threaten the species' habitat. In addition, this species is described as rare in the UAE and is known to have a restricted distribution: the estimated extent of occurrence (EOO) for this species is around 21,009 km<sup>2</sup>. The area of occupancy (AOO) has not been calculated as few point data are available, but is estimated to be very much less than 2,000 km<sup>2</sup> and inferred to be a continuing decline as a result of development. The number of locations for this species is estimated at between 5 and 10, and it is thought to be undergoing a continuous decline in the extent and quality of habitat. As a result, it is assessed as Vulnerable (B2ab(ii,iii)), with little potential for a regional rescue effect suspected.
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1 + Regional Guidelines v4.0
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
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.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
Due to its coastal distribution, it is likely that this species is threatened by ongoing coastal development within the UAE.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Further information
History
Ongoing development of coastal areas, in addition to the loss of previous Taweela locality mean that the species is listed as Vulnerable. The current ongoing threats are not thought to have had a significant impact on the species in 1996, and so it would have been listed as Least Concern then.
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