Taxon name
Citrullus colocynthis
(L.) Schrad.
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Citrullus colocynthis
(L.) Schrad.
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Plants
Flowering Plants
Species authority
(L.) Schrad.
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
Citrullus colocynthis is generally widespread throughout most of the UAE and is considered to be common. It can grow in a range of habitats and can persist within disturbed areas. The species occurs in at least two protected areas in addition to being cultivated within a botanic garden. Therefore, it is 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 relatively widespread, except for the western part of the country (Jongbloed et al. 2003). Globally, the native range of this species spans from Macaronesia and the Mediterranean through northeast tropical Africa and on to Myanmar (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 herb species grows in both gravel plains, wadis and in sand dunes, in addition to disturbed ground (El Alqamy 2004, Jongbloed et al. 2003, Karim and Dakheel 2006, Mahmoud et al. 2018). It can grow up to 150 cm in height, has triangular alternating leaves and yellow flowers which are present between November and April (Jongbloed et al. 2003). The fruit is green with yellow stripes and turns completely yellow when mature (Jongbloed et al. 2003). This plant also provides a food source for rodents in the desert (Jongbloed et al. 2003). It is a crop wild relative of the water melon, Citrullus lanatus (Kameswara Rao 2013).
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.
