Taxon name
Astragalus squarrosus
Bunge
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Astragalus squarrosus
Bunge
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
Qualifying criteria (if given)
B1ab(iii)
Criteria system used
IUCN
(see Assessment details)
Assessment rationale/justification
This species occurs in Umm al-Quwain and Jebel Ali along the Arabian Gulf Coast of the UAE. These coastal areas are currently undergoing development for residential, commercial and industrial purposes. As a result, this species' habitat is reducing in extent and quality. In addition, the species has a relatively restricted range, with an estimated EOO of 1,885 km<sup>2</sup> and two locations. Therefore, it is assessed as Endangered.
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 occurs along the Arabian Gulf coast within the north of the country (Jongbloed et al. 2003), including from Jebel Ali, northwards to Umm al-Quwain. The estimated EOO is 1,885 km<sup>2</sup> and the species is considered to occur within two threat-based locations. The native range of this species spans from the Arabian Peninsula to central Asia and Pakistan (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
It is a perennial species that can grow up to 0.5 m in height (Jongbloed et al. 2003). It produces oval leaves with pointed tips, pink flowers between February and April and egg shaped seed pods (Jongbloed et al. 2003). The entire plant is also covered in fine white hairs (Jongbloed et al. 2003). Astragalus squarrosus typically grows within sand dunes (Jongbloed et al. 2003).
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
Known localities of this species, including Jebel Ali, have been highly developed as result of ongoing coastal development in the UAE. For example, a specific site where this species was previously found has now been converted into a golf course.
History
Coastal development within the UAE has been increasing in frequency and intensity since 1996, reducing the extent and quality of available habitat for this species.
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.
