Tragopogon armeniacus: Red Data Book of Armenia

EN B 1 ab(i,ii,iii) + 2 ab(i,ii,iii)

Category. Endangered species. Endemic of Armenia. One population is known. The extent of occurrence and the area of occupancy are less than 500 km2. The species faces decline of the extent of occurrence and the area of occupancy caused by the intensity of agricultural activity. It was not included in the first edition of the Red Data Book of Armenia. It is not included in the Annexes of CITES and that of the Bern Convention.

Description. Annual or biennial plant 25–75 cm. Stem erect, unbranched. Leaves linear, semiamplexicaul. Peduncle not thickened during the flowering and slightly thickening after flowering. Involucre phyllaries equal or slightly shorter than achenes together with pappus. Flowers dark lilac. Marginal achenes with 5 not deep grooves and wing– shaped ribs; dilatate part of achenes suddenly transforming into rostellum. Pappus almost equal to achene, of connate at base, pinnate hairs.

Distribution. In Armenia it grows in Shirak (Djadjur, Spandaryan, Aghin, Baghramyan) floristic region. EOO is 480 km2, AOO is 16 km2. The number of locations is 4.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in middle mountain belt, at the altitudes of 1400–1900 meters above sea level, on dry stony slopes. Flowering from May to June, fruiting from June to July.

Limiting factors. Restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, loss/degradation of habitats caused especially by economic activity.

Conservation actions. No conservation actions. Necessary: monitoring of the population state.