Salsola griffithii (Chenopodiaceae; Amaranthaceae s. l.): An interesting species new to the flora of United Arab Emirates (UAE)
UDC 582.661:581.95(536.2)
Keywords:
Abu Dhabi, flora of South-West Asia, Irano-Turanian Region, new records, psammophytes
Abstract
Salsola griffithii, a formerly endemic species in Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan is reported from UAE as a new record from the south of the Persian Gulf. This record adds another evidence of the Irano-Turanian elements which extend their range into the Saharo-Sindian region. Furthermore, it contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the flora in the UAE and emphasizes the necessity for continued botanical research in the region. Detailed illustrations of Salsola griffithii in UAE, a short description, habitat, an updated distribution map and its phytogeographical importance are provided.
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References
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Akhani H., Edwards G. E., Roalson H. 2007. Diversification of the old world Salsoleae s. l. (Chenopodi-aceae): Molecular phylogenetic analysis of nuclear and chloroplast data sets and a revised classification. Int. J. Plant Sci. 168(6): 931–956. https://doi.org/10.1086/518263
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Brullo C., Brullo S., Gaskin J. F., Galdo G. G., Hrusa G. F., Salmeri C. 2015. A new species of Kali (Salsoloideae, Chenopodiaceae) from Sicily, supported by molecular analysis. Phytotaxa 201(4): 256–277.
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Pyankov V. I., Artyusheva E. G., Edwards G. E., Black C. C., Soltis P. S. 2001. Phylogenetic analysis of tribe Salsoleae (Chenopodiaceae) based on ribosomal ITS sequences: Implications for the evolution of photosynthesis types. Am. J. Bot. 88(7): 1189–1198. https://doi.org/10.2307/3558329
Rilke S. 1999. Revision der Sektion Salsola s.l. der Gattung Salsola (Chenopodiaceae). Stuttgart: E. Schweizerbartsche Verlagsbuchhandlung. 189 pp.
Rudov A., Mashkour M., Djamali M., Akhani H. 2020. A review of C4 plants in Southwest Asia: An eco-logical, geographical and taxonomical analysis of a region with high diversity of C4 Eudicots. Front. Plant Sci. 11: 546–518. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.546518
Sukhorukov A. P., Fedorova A. V., Kushunina M., Mavrodiev E. V. 2022. Akhania, a new genus for Salso-la daghestanica, Caroxylon canescens and C. carpathum (Salsoloideae, Chenopodiaceae, Amaranthace-ae). Phytokeys 211: 45–61. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.211.89408
White F., Léonard J. 1991. Phytogeographical links between Africa and Southwest Asia. Fl. Veg. Mun. 9: 229–246.
Zohary M. 1973. Geobotanical Foundations of the Middle East. In 2 vols. Stuttgart, Amsterdam: Gustav Fischer Verlag. 738 pp.
Akhani H. 2015. Plants and vegetation of North-West Persian Gulf: the coasts and islands of Khore Mu-sa, Mahshahr and adjacent areas. Tehran: University of Tehran Press. 512 pp.
Akhani H., Abdullahi H., Rudov A. 2024. Afrosalsola (Amaranthaceae–Chenopodiaceae), an intermediate C3-C4 lineage from NW Africa and the Canary Islands, and some new combinations in African species of Caroxylon and Soda. Medit. Bot. 45(2): 1–12. https://doi.org/10.5209/mbot.94654
Akhani H., Barroca J., Koteeva N., Voznesenskaya E., Franceschi V., Edwards G. Ghaffari S. M., Ziegler H. 2005. Bienertia sinuspersici (Chenopodiaceae): A new species from southwest Asia and discovery of a third terrestrial C4 plant without Kranz anatomy. Syst. Bot. 30 (2): 290–301.
Akhani H., Edwards G. E., Roalson H. 2007. Diversification of the old world Salsoleae s. l. (Chenopodi-aceae): Molecular phylogenetic analysis of nuclear and chloroplast data sets and a revised classification. Int. J. Plant Sci. 168(6): 931–956. https://doi.org/10.1086/518263
Akhani H., Khoshravesh R. Malekmohammadi M. 2016. Taxonomic novelties from Irano-Turanian region and NE Iran: Oreosalsola, a new segregate from Salsola s. l., two new species in Anabasis and Salvia, and two new combinations in Caroxylon and Seseli. Phytotaxa 249(1): 159–180. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.249.1.7
Boulos L. 1996. Chenopodiaceae. In: A. G. Miller, T. A. Cope (eds.). Flora of the Arabian Peninsula and Socotra. Vol. 1. Edinburgh: Edinbutgh University Press. Pp. 233–283.
Brullo C., Brullo S., Gaskin J. F., Galdo G. G., Hrusa G. F., Salmeri C. 2015. A new species of Kali (Salsoloideae, Chenopodiaceae) from Sicily, supported by molecular analysis. Phytotaxa 201(4): 256–277.
Freitag H., Brandt R., Chatrenoor T., Akhani H. 2013. Suaeda iranshahrii Akhani & Freitag, a new spe-cies of Suaeda subg. Brezia (Chenopodiaceae) from the Persian Gulf coasts. Rostaniha 14(1): 68–80.
Freitag H., Khani K. 1987. Salsola griffithii (Chenopodiaceae) comb. nova – a remarkable species from the sand deserts of SW Asia. Plant Syst. Evol. 155 (1–4): 49–54. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00936286
Freitag H., Rilke R. 1997. Salsola [Chenopodiaceae]. In: K. H. Rechinger. (ed.). Flora Iranica. Vol. 178. Austria, Graz. Pp. 154–255.
Hernández-Ledesma P., Berendsohn W. G., Borsch T., Mering S., Akhani H., Arias S., et al. 2015. A taxo-nomic backbone for the global synthesis of species diversity in the angiosperm order Caryophyllales. Willdenowia 45(3): 281–384. https://doi.org/10.3372/wi.45.45301
IUCN Standards and Petitions Committee. 2019. Guidelines for using the IUCN red list categories and criteria. Version 14. Prepared by the Standards and Petitions Committee. 113 pp. URL: http://www.iucnredlist.org/documents/RedListGuidelines.pdf
Jongbloed M. V. D., Feulner G. R., Boer B., Western A. A. 2003. The comprehensive guide to the wild flowers of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi, Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency (ERWDA). 576 pp.
Kadereit G., Borsch T., Weising K., Freitag H. 2003. Phylogeny of Amaranthaceae and Chenopodiaceae and the evolution of C4 photosynthesis. Int. J. Plant Sci. 164(6): 959–986. https://doi.org/10.1086/378649
Karim F. M., Fawzi N. M. 2007. Flora of the United Arab Emirates. In 2 vols. Al-Ain: United Arab Emir-ates University. Vol. 1. 444 pp.; Vol. 2. 502 pp.
Kühn U., Bittrich V., Carolin R., Freitag H., Hedge I. C., Uotila P., Wilson P. G. 1993. Chenopodiaceae. In: K. Kubitzki (ed.). The families and genera of vascular plants. Vol. 2. Flowering plants: Dicotyledons. Berlin: Springer. Pp. 253–281.
Meusel H., Jäger E., Bräutigam S., Knapp H. D., Rauschert S., Weinert E. 1992. Vergleichende Chorolo-gie der zentraleuropäischen Flora. Band III. Jena: Gustav Fischer Verlag. 688 pp.
Mucina L. 2017. Caroxylon (Chenopodiaceae s. str.) in continental southern Africa and Madagascar: A preliminary nomenclatural synopsis and biogeographical considerations. Phytotaxa 312(2): 151–178. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.312.2.1
Pahlevani A. H., Liede-Schumann S., Akhani H. 2020. Diversity, distribution, endemism and conservation status of Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae) in SW Asia and adjacent countries. Plant Syst. Evol. 306: 80. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-020-01705-4
POWO. 2026. Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. URL: https://powo.science.kew.org/ (Accessed 08 March 2026).
Pyankov V. I., Artyusheva E. G., Edwards G. E., Black C. C., Soltis P. S. 2001. Phylogenetic analysis of tribe Salsoleae (Chenopodiaceae) based on ribosomal ITS sequences: Implications for the evolution of photosynthesis types. Am. J. Bot. 88(7): 1189–1198. https://doi.org/10.2307/3558329
Rilke S. 1999. Revision der Sektion Salsola s.l. der Gattung Salsola (Chenopodiaceae). Stuttgart: E. Schweizerbartsche Verlagsbuchhandlung. 189 pp.
Rudov A., Mashkour M., Djamali M., Akhani H. 2020. A review of C4 plants in Southwest Asia: An eco-logical, geographical and taxonomical analysis of a region with high diversity of C4 Eudicots. Front. Plant Sci. 11: 546–518. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.546518
Sukhorukov A. P., Fedorova A. V., Kushunina M., Mavrodiev E. V. 2022. Akhania, a new genus for Salso-la daghestanica, Caroxylon canescens and C. carpathum (Salsoloideae, Chenopodiaceae, Amaranthace-ae). Phytokeys 211: 45–61. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.211.89408
White F., Léonard J. 1991. Phytogeographical links between Africa and Southwest Asia. Fl. Veg. Mun. 9: 229–246.
Zohary M. 1973. Geobotanical Foundations of the Middle East. In 2 vols. Stuttgart, Amsterdam: Gustav Fischer Verlag. 738 pp.
Published
2026-04-14
How to Cite
Sakkir S., Akhani H., Kabshawi M., Al Zaidaneen J. Salsola griffithii (Chenopodiaceae; Amaranthaceae s. l.): An interesting species new to the flora of United Arab Emirates (UAE) // Turczaninowia, 2026. Vol. 29, № 1. P. 138–144 DOI: 10.14258/turczaninowia.29.1.18. URL: https://turczaninowia.asu.ru/article/view/19245.
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