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Grewia tenax | UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants

Publication
UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants
Location
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates (the)
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Scope (Assessment)
National
Taxon
Taxonomic Group
Plants
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Flowering Plants
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
This species has been recorded from slopes within the north-east of Jebel Qitab (Feulner 2011) and from nearby Wadi Hayl in 2015 (Sharjah Seedbank & Herbarium) in the Olive Highlands. The species appears to be restricted to this specific habitat within the UAE (Feulner 2011), however it is also found in Ru'us al-Jibal in northern Oman (Jongbloed et al. 2003), e.g. the Wadi Khaab Shamsi gorge in Oman. Generally, the species is found in a few scattered montane locations (Jongbloed et al. 2003, MEW 2010) in the region. The native range for this species extends from the Sahara to Tanzania and the Arabian Peninsula, in addition to from southern Africa to the Indian subcontinent (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).
Habitats and Ecology
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This species grows as a large shrub (Feulner 2011). It is known from moist ravines and cliffs of mountainous areas, such as Jebel Qitab (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Feulner 2011). A perennial and woody species, this plant can grow up to 200 cm in height (Jongbloed et al. 2003). Between November to March, small white flowers are present, and it also produces an orange-yellow fruit with multiple lobes (Jongbloed et al. 2003). The species is associated with outer range-restricted species that have also been subject to drought in recent years.
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Critically Endangered
Assessment status abreviation
CR
Assessment status criteria
B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)
Assessment rationale/justification
This species has a very restricted distribution within the UAE, having only been recorded from Jebel Qitab and Wadi Hayl. Its estimated extent of occurrence (EOO) is 24 km<sup>2</sup> and area of occupancy (AOO) is 8 km<sup>2</sup>. According to the most important threat to this species (drought and extreme weather), it is considered to occur at one threat-based location. In addition, this species is experiencing an ongoing decline in the extent and quality of available habitat due to ongoing droughts and grazing by animals. Therefore, this species is assessed as Critically Endangered (CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)). There is not considered to be any rescue effect from subpopulations in Oman, meaning that no regional adjustment is required for the assessment and it remains as Critically Endangered.
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
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 is threatened by ongoing drought, in addition to grazing by feral animals.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Further information
History
Although the species may have been in better condition as a result of higher rainfall in the 1990s, the species is considered to also have been CR in 1996.