Pluchea dioscoridis | UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants

Taxa
Pluchea dioscoridis | (L.) DC.
Publication
UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants
Location
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Scope (Assessment)
National
Taxon
Taxonomic Group
Plants
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Flowering Plants
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
Within the UAE this species occurs in urban areas along the Arabian Gulf coast (Jongbloed et al. 2003). Sakkir et al. (2017) state that it is present on off-shore islands of Abu Dhabi. The Sharjah Seedbank & Herbarium and RBG Kew seed survey data hold records of this species from Al Ain city, and from the southern part of the Hajar Mountain range in the UAE; the identity and origin of these records need confirmation. Globally, the native range of this species spans across Africa and the eastern Mediterranean to the Arabian Peninsula and Iraq (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).
Habitats and Ecology
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This perennial shrub species grows within wastelands, sands and gardens (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Mousa and Fawzi 2009, Mahmoud et al. 2018). It can reach up to 150 cm and has rough leaves and stems with glands (Jongbloed et al. 2003). The leaves are leathery and elliptic to oblong in shape with serrated edges, while the flowers and pink-purple and can be seen throughout the year (Jongbloed et al. 2003). The fast growth rate of this species has been considered as a potential threat to the orchid species Epipactis veratrifolia within the UAE (Sakkir et al. 2018).
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Least Concern
Assessment status abreviation
LC
Assessment rationale/justification
This species is relatively widespread along the Arabian Gulf coast and is described as common within its range. In addition, it is able to survive in urban environments and wastelands, which may increase its resilience to potential threats from development. Therefore, it is currently assessed as Least Concern.
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1 + Regional Guidelines v4.0
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
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.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
Without detailed information on the distribution in the UAE, little can be said about threats. However, it is likely to have been impacted by coastal development, and grazing by livestock may impact the species in parts of its range.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Scientific Name Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus
Pluchea dioscoridis Plantae Tracheophyta Magnoliopsida Asterales Asteraceae Pluchea