In the past, there has been confusion as to whether this species concept should also include individuals previously listed under Heliotropium kotschyi, in addition to unclear differences between the two potential species (Brown et al. 2007). In agreement with G.R. Feulner (pers. comm. 2019), here, we treat H. bacciferum as a distinct species. This species is described as occurring in the Ru'us al-Jibal, Al Ain region and offshore islands (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Feulner 2011, Sakkir et al. 2017, D. Aplin pers. comm. 2019). Feulner (2011) refers to H. bacciferum as the 'montane' species when compared to H. kotschyi, however there is agreement that both species may be found along the coast. H. bacciferum has also been recorded from Al Hamriyah (Sharjah Seedbank & Herbarium; S. Gairola pers. comm. 2019). The global range of this species spans from northwest and northeast Africa to India (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, it has been recorded in the northeast of the country, close to the Hajar Mountain range (Jongbloed et al. 2003). MEW (2010) considered the species to be common at lower altitudes in the Hajar Mountains, and present on Jebel Hafeet and Jebel Masafi; G.R. Feulner (in litt., MEW 2010) adds presence in the Ru'us al-Jibal. This genus is not well studied in the UAE and, therefore, misidentification is likely. Globally, the native range of this species spans from the eastern Mediterranean to Afghanistan (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, this diminutive annual species has been recorded from the Ru'us al-Jibal (Feulner 2011). In this area, it is known to occur between 1,250 m and 2,000 m altitude (Feulner 2011). However, detailed distribution for this species within the UAE is lacking as there have only been a few records of the species (G.R. Feulner, in litt, MEW 2010). Not common in Oman, and reported only from the Musandam mountains, where it has been collected only twice, but probably missed in collections or over-looked (as with most annuals) in Oman due to their short life and dependency on rain; it is a southwest Asian species whose presence in Musandam is not unexpected (S. Ghazanfar pers. comm. 2019). Globally, the native range of this species extends across a large range, including Ukraine, China and the Arabian Peninsula (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Jongbloed et al. (2003) considered this species to be ""Not common but widespread in the Hajar Mountains and Ru'us al-Jibal."" The species is also recorded for Abu Dhabi Emirate by Brown and Sakkir (2004) from rocky habitats, and recorded as present in dams and water breakers in the western foothills of the Hajar Mountains by Mahmoud et al. (2018). However, the draft Red Data Book for the UAE (MEW 2010) considered the species to be unconfirmed for the UAE; ""Very similar to S. macrosiphon; Rechinger in Flora Iranica (p.445) states that there is a possibility of hybridisation with S. macrophiphon - but at present there is not enough material seen to establish the identity of S. spinosa."" Plants of the World online (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2020) give the native range as from northern Africa, through the Arabian Peninsula (KSA and the Gulf states) to Afghanistan, whilst Will and Claßen-Bockhoff (2014) appear to restrict the species to coastal areas of the eastern Mediterranean.

Within the UAE, it has been recorded from Jebel Hafeet and the Ru'us al-Jibal (Stuart and Stuart 1998, Jongbloed et al. 2003, Feulner 2011), and from the Masafi Mountains and Wadi Al Helo (Sharjah Seedbank & Herbarium; S. Gairola pers. comm. 2019), with the main concentrations recorded on Jebel Hafeet and in Ra's al-Khaimah (Western 1989). G.R Feulner noted that he has not collected this species in the UAE (in litt, MEW 2010) and has not distinguished it in the field from H. lippii (Feulner 2011). In Oman, it is considered to occur at relatively high altitudes, to 1,850 m asl (Patzelt 2015). This species is native to northern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

This species is known from an unconfirmed herbarium specimen from Abu Dhabi Emirate (S. Sakkir pers. comm. 2019). It is expected to occur in the UAE, although the presence of the species within the country is currently not certain (S. Ghazanfar pers. comm. 2019). The global range of this species is from Spain, across the north and north-east of Africa, through the Arabian Peninsula (Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Oman), and the eastern Mediterranean region (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

The presence of this species in the UAE is uncertain (Brown and Sakkir 2004, MEW 2010) and no distribution information is available. The global range of this species is across northern Africa and through the Arabian Peninsula to Iran (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, it occurs in wadis and associated gravel plains in the Hajar Mountains (MEW 2010). The global range of this species extends from north and northeast Africa to Macaronesia and throughout temperate Eurasia (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, this species is known from a small number of scattered localities in the northern parts of the country; a roadside in Hatta (Jongbloed et al. 2003), Ras al Khaimah (along the Emirates road, E611, and from a locality south of the E611; M. Tsaliki pers. comm. 2019), from Nad al Shiba (Dubai), and from the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (Gallacher and Hill 2008). This species is likely to have been under-recorded in the UAE, and may have a significantly wider distribution within firm sandy areas. Globally, its range spans across tropical and subtropical Africa, through to the Arabian Peninsula and on to southeastern Asia and Java (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

This species was considered widespread throughout the Hajar Mountains in the UAE (Jongbloed et al. 2003), however this wide distribution may be exaggerated, resulting from confusion with A. aspera. The species has been recorded from the Ru'us al-Jibal (Feulner 2011) and M. Tsaliki (pers. comm. 2019) records the species from several localities (Huwaylat, Jebal Sahab (olive wadi, Wadi Sfai), Wadi Maidaq and Wadi Naqab) within R'as al Khaimah Emirate from 210 to 983 m asl. However, all records from the Wadi Wurayah National Park refer to A. aspera, which is more common in the Hajar Mountains than A. telephioides (Feulner 2016). G.R. Feulner (pers. comm. 2019) has rarely recorded A. telephioides with certainty. Globally, the native range of this species spans from Cape Verde across the Mediterranean and northeast tropical Africa to northwest India (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).