Sternbergia fischeriana: Red Data Book of Armenia

CR B 1 ab(i,ii,iii,iv) + 2 ab(i,ii,iii,iv)

Category. Critically endangered species. It is found only in one location. The extent of occurrence and the area of occupancy are less than 10 km2. It was included in the first edition of the Red Data Book of Armenia under Category 0: Apparently disappearing species. It is included in the 2nd Annex of CITES. It is not included in the Annexes of the Bern Convention.

Description. Perennial herb with globular bulb 2,5–3,5 cm in diam., bulb tunics brown or blackish, collar up to 6 cm long. Leaves shiny, dark green, lorate, flat, obtuse, at base slightly carinate, up to 20 cm long. Flowers bright yellow, sessile or on short pedicel up to 5 mm long. Capsule 10–15 mm in diam., oblong–elliptic. Seed with arilloid.

Distribution. In Armenia it is found only in Zangezur floristic region in the neighborhoods of the village Nerkin Vachagan. AOO is 4 km2, the number of locations is 1. The general area of distribution comprises East and South Transcauasia, South and South–West Anatolia, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Middle Asia.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in lower mountain belt, at the altitudes of 600–800 meters above sea level, in dry stony slopes in forests and shibliak. Flowering from February to March, fruiting in May. The flowers, together with the leaves, appear in early spring.

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

Conservation actions. No conservation actions. Necessary: monitoring of the population state, search of new habitats.