Taxon name
Heliotropium bacciferum
Forssk.
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Heliotropium bacciferum
Forssk.
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Plants
Flowering Plants
Species authority
Forssk.
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
Data Deficient
Criteria system used
IUCN
(see Assessment details)
Assessment rationale/justification
Although there is distribution data available for this species, it is difficult to definitively separate out records of Heliotropium bacciferum from those of Heliotropium kotschyi, as the two names appear to have been used somewhat interchangeably in the past. Clarification of the distinction between these species would be valuable in terms of being able to accurately assess each taxonomic entity separately within the UAE. Therefore, this species is assessed as Data Deficient.
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
In the past, there has been confusion as to whether this species concept should also include individuals previously listed under Heliotropium kotschyi, in addition to unclear differences between the two potential species (Brown et al. 2007). In agreement with G.R. Feulner (pers. comm. 2019), here, we treat H. bacciferum as a distinct species. This species is described as occurring in the Ru'us al-Jibal, Al Ain region and offshore islands (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Feulner 2011, Sakkir et al. 2017, D. Aplin pers. comm. 2019). Feulner (2011) refers to H. bacciferum as the 'montane' species when compared to H. kotschyi, however there is agreement that both species may be found along the coast. H. bacciferum has also been recorded from Al Hamriyah (Sharjah Seedbank & Herbarium; S. Gairola pers. comm. 2019). The global range of this species spans from northwest and northeast Africa to India (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).
Is there a map available in assessment?
Incomplete
Habitat and systems
Ecological system type
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This perennial shrub species has been recorded as growing within dry shrubland and montane areas, in addition to sand and gravel substrates and fields (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Böer and Saenger 2006, Fawzi and Ksiksi 2012, Patzelt 2015). It has a woody base and can reach up to 0.5 m in height, in addition to having stiff white hairs (Jongbloed et al. 2003). The leaves are dark green and a narrow lance-shape with wavy edges and pointed tips, while the white flowers are arranged in double rows on one side of a curved inflorescence spike and can be seen throughout the year (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.
