Taxon name
Launaea omanensis
N.Kilian
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Launaea omanensis
N.Kilian
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Plants
Flowering Plants
Species authority
N.Kilian
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 has been recorded within the Wadi Wurayah National Park and in the 'Olive Highlands' area of the Hajar Mountains within the UAE. It was originally considered to be endemic to Oman, but it is now known to be endemic to the Northern Hajar Mountains of Oman and the UAE. Due to being a fairly new record, there is little information available on this species within the UAE, and it is known from very few specimens and observations. However, the population size is suspected to be low. The species could be given a precautionary assessment of Near Threatened on the basis of an assumed restricted population size, and probably susceptibility to grazing. However, populations in adjacent parts of Oman are found in moister areas and are likely to be in good status. Therefore, a regional adjustment of one category is applied, so it is instead listed 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)
Endemism Notes
Endemism Notes
The species is considered endemic to the Hajar Mountains which span Oman and the UAE
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
Within the UAE, the species has been recently recorded from four widely-spaced localities within Wadi Wurayah National Park (WWNP; Feulner 2016, Judas 2016). Feulner (2016) also notes a record from the 'Olive Highlands', on a rocky ridge on the slopes of Jebel Qitab southwest of Fujairah city, in Fujairah Emirate. The species is considered endemic to the Hajar Mountains which span Oman and the UAE (Feulner 2011). Despite the few records shown here, it is likely to be more widespread, and it is hard to identify when not in flower.
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Habitat and systems
Ecological system type
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This species has leafless stems that originate from a rosette of leaves on the ground, in addition to a daisy-like flower (Feulner 2016). The Wadi Wurayah National Park records were found in a small scree gully at Ghalil al-Haban, the others in tributary wadis of Wadi Ghayl: one in wadi bed of third order tributary, two flowering in shallow gullies on terraces (Feulner 2016). It is also found on gravel slopes.
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
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.
