Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Plants
Flowering Plants
Taxonomic notes and synonyms listed
A large number of synonyms have been described for this widespread and introduced species.
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 considered to be widespread in the UAE. In addition, it is not thought to currently face any major threats. Therefore, it is considered to be 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
This species was considered introduced to the UAE (Pagad et al. 2017, citing CABI). However, subsequent expert opinion (UAE Native Plant Working Group, 2019) considered that the species may be native to the country. Along the Arabian Gulf coast, the species is primarily found in urban areas, including Abu Dhabi Island; it also occurs along the east coast and the Hajar Mountains and around Al Ain (Jongbloed et al. 2003). The native range of this species is the temperate and subtropical Old World (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2018), who include the UAE in its native distribution, however, it has been widely introduced globally (CABI 2018).
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Habitat and systems
Ecological system type
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This species is a climbing, herbaceous, perennial weed found in a wide range of habitats, often disturbed or anthropogenic. The species is found in plantations, gardens and fallow fields (Jongbloed et al. 2003) as well as in irrigated areas.
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
There are no widespread threats.
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.