Rhanterium epapposum | UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants

Taxa
Rhanterium epapposum | Oliv.
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
This species is widespread in the northeastern UAE, from Jebel Hafeet (<a href=""http://data.rbge.org.uk/herb/E00586818"">RBGE; coll. J.R. Edmondson, 1980</a>; <a href=""http://data.rbge.org.uk/herb/E00586811"">RBGE; coll. R.A. Western 1982</a>) and Al Ain north to Ras Al Khaimah, widespread north of Abu Dhabi-Al Ain road, east to the foothills of the Hajar Mountains (Jongbloed et al. 2003). It is also recorded from Dubai, south of Dubai and to the west towards Abu Dhabi. Whilst subpopulations have been lost, leading to a decline in the area of occupancy, it is unclear whether the extent of occurrence has undergone decline. The species is found through the Arabian Peninsula to south-east Iraq and southern Iran (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 dwarf shrub (up to 0.7 m in height) is found in sand and gravel plains, low sand dunes, and low hillsides (Jongbloed et al. 2003), in addition to some mountainous areas. It also occurs on Jebel Hafeet to c. 1,000 m asl.
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Endangered
Assessment status abreviation
EN
Assessment status criteria
A2ac
Assessment rationale/justification
This species has a relatively restricted area within the UAE, is severely fragmented and is experiencing a continuing decline in the number of mature individuals in addition to its habitat extent/quality. Although it occurs within at least one protected area, Rhanterium epapposum has experienced a population decline of over 75% in the past 20 years. Therefore, this species is assessed as Endangered.
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
Overgrazing by both camels and sheep has led to the disappearance of this species in many locations, both within the UAE and across the region, and even where it still persists, it is often only possible to find flowering plants where they are protected from grazing (Jongbloed et al. 2003). Development (agricultural and urbanisation) has also caused further declines of Rhanterium epapposum.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Further information
History
This species was recorded as locally common in the 1980's, however it has since experienced a population decline of over 75% due to overgrazing and development.
Scientific Name Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus
Rhanterium epapposum Plantae Tracheophyta Magnoliopsida Asterales Asteraceae Rhanterium