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Alhagi maurorum - 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
The species has been recorded from scattered localities close to the Arabian Gulf coast, in addition to some further inland such as Al Ain (Jongbloed et al. 2003). Western (1983, 1994) recorded the species from Dubai - Abu Dhabi. Western (1983) classified the species as a weed that has colonised large areas. The origin of the species in the UAE perhaps requires confirmation. ILDIS (2019) excludes the Arabian Peninsula from the native range of the species Globally, this species is known from Greece to India, the Arabian Peninsula, Central Asia and Russia, and through northern Africa (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019). It has been widely introduced.
Habitats and Ecology
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This species is known to be a halophyte i.e. salt-tolerant plant (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Böer and Saenger 2006, Karim and Dakheel 2006, Llewellyn-Smith 2012). It grows as a small shrub, up to around 1.0 m in height, and is grazed by camels (Jongbloed et al. 2009, Norton et al. 2009). Typically, it is found growing within salty or disturbed sandy soils, in addition to farms, coastal habitats and roadsides (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Norton et al. 2009). It is suggested that this plant is locally common within plantations and urban areas (Jongbloed et al. 2003, MEW 2010). This species produces crimson flowers between March and August, in addition to secreting a sugary sap as a result of insect punctures (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Norton et al. 2009).
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Least Concern
Assessment status abreviation
LC
Assessment rationale/justification
In general, this species is considered common and is able to persist in disturbed environments. It is unclear what effect grazing by camels is having on the overall population of this species, but it is currently assessed as Least Concern.
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 known to be grazed by camels (Norton et al. 2009), which may pose a threat in parts of its distribution.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures: