Within the UAE, this species is known from sand dunes in the north east, in addition to being widespread in the Hajar Mountains and the Ru'us al-Jibal (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Brown et al. 2007, MEW 2010, Feulner 2014). It is recorded as growing at a wide range of altitudes (Feulner 2011). Globally, this species occurs from Macaronesia to Tanzania, in addition to northern Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and on to western India (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, this species occurs at scattered localities within the northeast of the country (Jongbloed et al. 2003), but is believed to be widespread in the Hajar Mountains and foothills (MEW 2010). It has been recorded at altitudes up to 1,000 m (Feulner 2011). Globally, this species occurs from the Canary Islands, across northern Africa to the Arabian Peninsula and on to India (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, this species has a restricted geographic range and has only been recorded from the Ru'us al-Jibal (Jongbloed et al. 2003). It is further restricted in this area to only encompass terrace habitats (Patzelt 2015), but is thought to persist at high altitudes of around c. 1100 m (Feulner 2011). Globally, the native range of this species spans from the Mediterranean and northern Africa, to the Arabian Peninsula and India (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

This species was known from a small number of scattered localities in the Al Ain, Al Dabb'iya, and Dubai Creek areas (Jongbloed et al. 2003). Davis recorded the species from a Kalba date garden, 1 km west of Kalba (coll. P.H. Davis, 1993, <a href=""http://data.rbge.org.uk/herb/E00003810"">RBGE Herbarium</a>). More recent surveys (Sharjah Seedbank & Herbarium, RBG Kew seed survey data) show a wider, although still scattered, distribution in the eastern emirates, although some locality records may be the result of human transport, as associated with road networks. It is also known from Abu Dhabi island and Al Ain, and it may be more widespread than currently known. The species occurs from Spain, across northern Africa, to the Arabian Peninsula, and east to Afghanistan (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, this species is known to be widespread with the northern Emirates: it has been recorded from the Taweelasands (Brown et al. 2007) and from Jebel Hafeet (Sakkir and Brown 2014), and occurs across sandy areas, although it is absent from the mountains. Globally, the native range of this species spans from the Canary Islands, across northern Africa, to the Arabian Peninsula and to Iran (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

This species is mentioned in the draft Red Data Book of the UAE (MEW 2010) as unconfirmed. Two specimens, collected in 1986, from the UAE are held at the University of Vienna Herbarium (WU); the foothill area of Jebel Milaya, Sharjah (<a href=""https://herbarium.univie.ac.at/database/detail.php?ID=910470"">UBT0004415</a>) and from near Al Awir, Dubai (<a href=""https://herbarium.univie.ac.at/database/detail.php?ID=910462"">UBT0004414</a>). The identity and origin of the records of this species in the UAE require confirmation. Globally, this species is considered to be native to eastern Spain, Italy (Sicilia), and Malta in Europe, and in Africa from North Africa and the Sahara (Anthos 2019, Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, this species is known from offshore islands and the white sands of Taweela, in addition to Jebel Hafeet (Western 1994, Brown et al. 2007, Sakkir and Brown 2014). In general, it is widespread among the north of the UAE and can usually be found along the Arabian Gulf Coast (Jongbloed et al. 2003). Globally, its native range spans from the Canary Islands to the Arabian Peninsula and India (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

In the UAE, this species has been recorded from the Ru'us al-Jibal (Feulner 2011). It is typically recorded from 400 m to 1,900 m altitude within this area (Feulner 2011). D. Aplin (pers. comm. 2019) made the first record of this species outside of the Musandam Peninsula, extending the southern-most extent of the distribution to a steep shaded wadi at 570 m asl, a kilometre north of Al Khulaibiah in Fujairah. Globally, the native range of this species encompasses Egypt, the eastern Mediterranean and the Arabian Peninsula through to western Asia (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, this species has been recorded from Jebel Hafeet and Ru'us al-Jibal (Jongbloed et al. 2003, MEW 2010), and from Jebel Huwayyah in Oman. Feulner (2011) notes that the species appears to be limited to areas of carbonate bedrock, specifically, the Ru'us al-Jibal and intermittent mountain front ridges and massifs such as Jebel Hafeet. Based on currently known data, the extent of occurrence is estimated to be less than 1,000 m². Globally, the native range of this species spans from the Mediterranean and northern Africa to the Arabian Peninsula and central Asia (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, it is known to occur in the Hajar Mountains (Feulner 2014) and it also occurs on Jebel Hafeet (Jongbloed et al. 2003), but it is absent from the Ru'us al Jibal. Globally, the native range of this species spans from the eastern Mediterranean to northeast tropical Africa and the Arabian Peninsula (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).