Taxon name
Calotropis procera
(Aiton) Dryand.
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Calotropis procera
(Aiton) Dryand.
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Plants
Flowering Plants
Species authority
(Aiton) Dryand.
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 considered introduced to the UAE through cultivation as an ornamental plant according to Pagad et al. (2017), however the UAE native plant group considered the species to be potentially native to the UAE. As a result, the species is considered Least Concern. Confirmation of the origin of the species in the UAE is required.
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 species is introduced to the UAE through cultivation as an ornamental plant, according to Pagad et al. (2017), however the UAE native plant group considered the species to be native to the UAE. Jongbloed et al. (2003) showed the species to be be widespread in the eastern parts of the country, although absent from the Hajar Mountains and the east coast. It is also known to occur on Abu Dhabi and Dalma islands (S. Sakkir pers. comm. 2019). This species is native to tropical Africa and Asia (CABI 2018), however, it has been widely introduced globally, and naturalized in Australia, many Pacific islands, Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean islands (CABI 2018). Plants of the World Online (2018) consider the species to be native to the UAE.
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Habitat and systems
Ecological system type
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
Calotropis procera is a shrub or small tree, which generally reaches up to 2.5-4 m (max. 6) high (CABI 2018). It is known to be grazed by camels and gazelles, although this is not considered to pose a threat. However, C. procera may pose a threat to other plant species.
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
There are no threats.
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.
