Taxon name
Melilotus indicus
(L.) All.
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Melilotus indicus
(L.) All.
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Plants
Flowering Plants
Species authority
(L.) All.
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 Hajar Mountains, in addition to being able to persist within urban areas. It is also generally described as being common. Therefore, it is assessed as 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
Within the UAE, it is widespread throughout oases in the Hajar Mountains, specifically in the Masafi area (MEW 2010), in addition to occurring in urban areas (Jongbloed et al. 2003). Globally, the native range of this species spans from northern Africa and the Mediterranean to central Asia and the Indian subcontinent (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 an annual herb species that is recorded to grow within plantations and urban areas (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Mahmoud et al. 2018), in addition to wadi environments (Karim and Dakheel 2006). The stems can grow up to 50 cm, while the leaves are aromatic with toothed edges (Jongbloed et al. 2003). It also produces small yellow flowers between February and May, in addition to oval pods (Jongbloed et al. 2003).
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
Grazing by goats may affect this species within parts of its range (Shahid 2017).
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.
