Taxon name
Volutaria sinaica
(DC.) Wagenitz
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Volutaria sinaica
(DC.) Wagenitz
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Plants
Flowering Plants
Species authority
(DC.) Wagenitz
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)
D
Criteria system used
IUCN
(see Assessment details)
Assessment rationale/justification
Although a wider distribution through the Hajar Mountains is given by Jongbloed et al. (2003), there is little information recorded for this species, aside from an observation of the plant at a single locality within the Olive Highlands where fewer than 50 individuals were seen. As a result, it qualifies as Critically Endangered. It is known from two other sites in Wilayat Mahdhah, part of Oman, at lower elevations within steep mountain wadis. The species was first recorded at the known UAE site in 2014, meaning it is possible that the species is the result of natural introduction (potentially through wind dispersal) from Oman. As such, the potential for future colonisation is considered to be high and a regional adjustment of one category is applied, making the final category 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
Jongbloed et al. (2003) show a narrow distribution through the Hajar Mountains in the UAE. This species has also been recorded within the Olive Highlands in the UAE (Feulner 2014), on the upper parts of Jebel Qitab summit plateau at c.1,000 m elevation. It also occurs in adjacent parts of Oman in the same mountain group, as well as at lower altitudes (Jongbloed et al. 2003). The species is found in fallow fields and in plantations (Jongbloed et al. 2003) and is a ruderal species (Feulner 2014), and its origin in the country perhaps requires confirmation. Globally, this species occurs across the Sahara and northern Africa from Morocco eastwards to the Arabian Peninsula (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019). Plants of the World Online does not list the UAE as a native country for this species (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019), however Ghazanfar (2015) includes the UAE, Oman, and northern and eastern Saudi Arabia in the regional distribution.
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Habitat and systems
Ecological system type
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This annual herb has been recorded from ridge-tops and summit plateau within the mountainous habitat of the Olive Highlands (Feulner 2014) in stony areas. The species is found in fallow fields and in plantations (Jongbloed et al. 2003) and is a ruderal species (Feulner 2014). In Oman, the species occurs in the foothills and coastal plains, in sandy soil, in wadis, fallow fields, and roadsides (Ghazanfar 2015).
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
There are no known threats.
History
The species was first recorded for the UAE in 2014, however occurrence on a similar basis in 1996 is likely and is considered to have also been EN(D) at that time.
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.
