Taxon name
Ophioglossum polyphyllum
A.Braun
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Ophioglossum polyphyllum
A.Braun
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Plants
Ferns and Allies
Species authority
A.Braun
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
Near Threatened
Qualifying criteria (if given)
B1b(iii)
Criteria system used
IUCN
(see Assessment details)
Assessment rationale/justification
This species occurs within sand and coastal habitats in the UAE and has an estimated extent of occurrence of 2,646 km<sup>2</sup>; this falls within the threshold for Endangered under Criterion B. In addition, the species' habitat is declining due to ongoing coastal development, causing the once common species to become less common in its range. However, the number of locations for this species (based on the most plausible threat of habitat degradation) is currently unclear. Therefore, it is currently assessed as Near Threatened.
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 plant occurs in coastal areas and in the Hajar Mountains (Jongbloed et al. 2003) and has been found to occur in Wadi Wurayah National Park, Fujairah (Feulner 2016). It also occurs at Jebel Ali along the Arabian Gulf Coast. The estimated EOO of this species is 2,646 km<sup>2</sup>. Globally, Ophioglossum polyphyllum is distributed across Africa and southwest Asia, eastwards to India and southwards to South Africa (Board of Trustees, RGB Kew 2018). In Europe it occurs only on the Canary Islands (Christenhusz et al. 2017). It is also distributed in Central America and Australia (Board of Trustees, RGB Kew 2018).
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Habitat and systems
Ecological system type
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This perennial fern species is known to grow in open sand habitats and coastal areas (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Rothfels et al. 2012). At higher altitudes, it can grow within silt rather than sand (Jongbloed et al. 2003). It has two or three elliptic leaves growing from the stem in addition to other stem like leaves (Jongbloed et al. 2003). The plant generally appears after periods of rain (Jongbloed et al. 2003).
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
This plant is reportedly threatened by development in its coastal habitat range (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Feulner 2016).
History
Coastal development within the UAE has been increasing in frequency and intensity since 1996, reducing the extent and quality of available habitat for this 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.
