Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Plants
Flowering Plants
Taxonomic notes and synonyms listed
In the past, Plantago psyllium was associated to both Plantago arenaria and Plantago afra, whereas the latter two are now regarded as separate species, with P. arenaria being an accepted synonym of P. psyllium (Euro+Med Plantbase 2006, Castroviejo et al. 1993, The Plant List 2014, GRIN 2014).
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 appears to be relatively widespread within the Hajar Mountains and the Ru'us al-Jibal, in addition to occurring at a range of altitudes. It is also known to occur in at least one protected area within its range. 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 is widespread in the Hajar Mountains and the Ru'us al-Jibal (Jongbloed et al. 2003). It is considered to occur at all elevations and up to at least 1,525 m in the Ru'us al-Jibal (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Feulner 2011). Globally, the native range of this species spans across Africa. Macaronesia, the Mediterranean and to Pakistan (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 annual herb species is known to grow in mountain environments and hillsides, in addition to within wadis and on wadi slopes (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Feulner 2014, 2016, Mahmoud et al. 2018). It can grow up to 15 cm tall, has branches covered in soft hairs, leaves with pointed tips and produces small yellow-white flowers which can be seen between February and April (Jongbloed et al. 2003).
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
There is no information available.
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.
