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National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Plants
Flowering Plants
Taxonomic notes and synonyms listed
This species is widely placed with the genus Emex, however, we follow Schuster et al. (2015) in retaining this species within Rumex.
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 widespread at lower altitudes in the UAE. Although data are lacking on the population size and trend, the species is assessed as Least Concern as it is thought unlikely that it will approach the thresholds for a threatened category.
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
Widespread within the central desert of the UAE (Jongbloed et al. 2003). It has been recorded from a range of altitudes, up to c. 1,200 m (Feulner 2011). Also recorded in moist, disturbed grounds (MEW 2010). Its native range is Macaronesia, through the Mediterranean to the Arabian Peninsula (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
It is found in sandy habitats including compacted sand, disturbed soils, wadis and the silt of plantations (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Norton et al. 2009). However, it is also recorded from agricultural areas (Perry 2008) and has been described as a weed in cultivated and abandoned fields (Feulner 2011). This annual herb species has a thick taproot, fleshy branches and rosette leaves (Ghazanfar and Fisher 1998, Jongbloed et al. 2003, Mahmoud et al. 2018). It can grow up to 30 cm in height, produces small green flowers between February to April in addition to both an above ground fruit and a below ground fruit (Jongbloed et al. 2003). It is a salt tolerant plant (Karim and Dakheel 2006) and is an important contributor to biomass in dune and stabilised sand environments (Ghazanfar and Fisher 1998).
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
There is no information available. Although this species likely occurs in the same area as browsing goats, it may be poisonous or inedible and therefore disliked by these animals (Shahid 2017).
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.
