Taxon name
Pluchea dioscoridis
(L.) DC.
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Pluchea dioscoridis
(L.) DC.
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Plants
Flowering Plants
Species authority
(L.) DC.
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 along the Arabian Gulf coast and is described as common within its range. In addition, it is able to survive in urban environments and wastelands, which may increase its resilience to potential threats from development. Therefore, it is currently 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 urban areas along the Arabian Gulf coast (Jongbloed et al. 2003). Sakkir et al. (2017) state that it is present on off-shore islands of Abu Dhabi. The Sharjah Seedbank & Herbarium and RBG Kew seed survey data hold records of this species from Al Ain city, and from the southern part of the Hajar Mountain range in the UAE; the identity and origin of these records need confirmation. Globally, the native range of this species spans across Africa and the eastern Mediterranean to the Arabian Peninsula and Iraq (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
This perennial shrub species grows within wastelands, sands and gardens (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Mousa and Fawzi 2009, Mahmoud et al. 2018). It can reach up to 150 cm and has rough leaves and stems with glands (Jongbloed et al. 2003). The leaves are leathery and elliptic to oblong in shape with serrated edges, while the flowers and pink-purple and can be seen throughout the year (Jongbloed et al. 2003). The fast growth rate of this species has been considered as a potential threat to the orchid species Epipactis veratrifolia within the UAE (Sakkir et al. 2018).
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
Without detailed information on the distribution in the UAE, little can be said about threats. However, it is likely to have been impacted by coastal development, and grazing by livestock may impact the species in parts of its range.
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.
