Galanthus lagodechianus: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Endangered species. Endemic of Transcaucasia. The extent of occurrence and the area of occupancy are less than 500 km2. The main threat is the collection of the flowers as valuable decorative plant and disturbance of habitat conditions. It was not included in the first edition of the Red Data Book of Armenia. It is included in the 2nd Annex of CITES as representative of the genus Galanthus. It is not included in the Annexes of the Bern Convention.

Description. Perennial herb with small ovate bulb. Leaves with oily shine, narrowly linear, flat at apex, without calyptra. Scape longer than leaves during the flowering. Flowers white, 20–25 cm long; spots of the inner perianth segments narrowly hyppocrepiform.

Distribution. In Armenia it occurs only in Idjevan (surroundings of Idjevan and Berd) floristic region. EOO is 330 km2, AOO is 38 km2, the number of locations is 4. The whole area of distribution covers South– West and South Transcaucasia.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in lower and middle mountain belts, at the altitudes of 800–1500 meters above sea level, in oak–hornbeam and beech–hornbeam forests, at forest edges, in the glades, among shrubs. Flowering in March, fruiting in April.

Limiting factors. Restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, loss/degradation of habitats caused by deforestation and global climate change.

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