Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Plants
Flowering Plants
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 common and widespread within rocky habitats, such as the Hajar Mountains, at medium to high elevations. It is also reported from at least one protected area within its range. Although grazing may pose a threat to this species, the impact of this on Periploca aphylla is not yet known. 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
Periploca aphylla occurs in the Hajar mountains and the Ru'us al Jibal mountains in the UAE (Jongbloed et al. 2003); it is considered to be widespread within montane areas (Western 1992, Jongbloed et al. 2003). This species occurs at a range of altitudes, from around 400-500 m to high elevations (Feulner 2011). Globally, this species occurs in West Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and India (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2018).
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Habitat and systems
Ecological system type
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This perennial shrub or small tree species can grow up to 4 m (Western 1992, Fawzi and Ksiksi 2012). It produces white and purple flowers between January and April and grows on hillsides and Wadi banks (Jongbloed et al. 2003).When damaged, this species produces a milky white sap (latex) characteristic of the Asclepiadaceae family (Jongbloed et al. 2003). The species is utilised as the food plant for the Desert White Butterfly (Pontia glauconome; Jongbloed et al. 2003).
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
This plant is reportedly browsed by native grazers within the UAE, such as gazelle and ibex (Ghazanfar and Fisher 1998) in addition to other species such as goats (Stuart and Stuart 1998, 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.
