Taxon name
Ehretia obtusifolia
Hochst. ex A.DC.
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Ehretia obtusifolia
Hochst. ex A.DC.
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Plants
Flowering Plants
Species authority
Hochst. ex A.DC.
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
Critically Endangered
Qualifying criteria (if given)
D
Criteria system used
IUCN
(see Assessment details)
Assessment rationale/justification
This species was first recorded for the UAE in 1996; this single know location at Jebel Qitab, from c. 650 m to c. 1,000 m asl, still remains. The species has an extent of occurrence (EOO) and an area of occupancy (AOO) of less than 20 km<sup>2</sup> and occurs in one location, based on drought and the potential threats of grazing. G.R. Feulner (in litt, MEW 2010) reported a maximum of 30 plants, perhaps fewer than 20, and there was little or no regeneration seen. The species is assessed as Critically Endangered (CR D) based on the number of mature individuals being less than 50. Whilst the species occurs at other sites within the Hajar Mountains in Oman, it is thought that there is little opportunity for a rescue effect, and the assessment remains CR.
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 was first recorded for the UAE in 1996 from cliffs on Jebel Qitab at c. 1,000 m asl (Feulner 1997) and this remains the single known site for the species in the UAE. The species is locally common at a small number of localities above c. 800 m elsewhere in Hajar Mountains in Oman (including Jebel Akhdar and Jebel Ghaweel; Feulner 1997). It is absent from the Ru'us al-Jibal in the UAE (Feulner 2011). The species has an EOO and an AOO of less than 20 km<sup>2</sup>. Jongbloed et al. (2003) show the species in the Wadi Khabb Shamsi gorge, in Oman. The native range of this species is from southern Africa, through the Arabian Peninsula, to northwestern India (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
The species is found on moist and sheltering northeast facing slopes, summit cliffs and ravines at Jebel Qitab (Feulner 2014). It generally grows amongst rocks, where it is often found spread below other large shrubs or trees (Feulner 2014), and is often associated with olive trees (G.R. Feulner, in litt, MEW 2010). Little or no regeneration is seen.
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
The species has been impacted in the past by periods of drought (Feulner 2014). Grazing by feral donkeys and goats may also pose a threat.
History
The species was first seen in 1997, when they were in better condition (wetter years) but with the same or similar number of individuals.
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.
