Ferula szowitsiana: Red Data Book of Armenia

VU* B 1ab(ii,iii,iv) + 2 ab(ii,iii,iv)

Category. Vulnerable species. It grows in 2 floristic regions. The extent of occurrence and the area of occupancy are less than 500 km2. The key threats are restricted area and expansion of arable lands. The population is bordering with the close population situated beyond the borders of Armenia, thus the category of threat has been downgraded to VU. It was included in the first edition of the Red Data Book of Armenia under Category 1: Endangered species. It is not included in the Annexes of CITES and that of the Bern Convention.

Description. Perennial herb; stems thin, up to 50 cm. Blades of basal leaves with 2–3–pinnate dissected segments. Terminal lobes of leaves oval, incised lobate. Central umbel 7–11–rayed. Petals from outside finely pubescent. Fruits with widely lateral wing, with numerous vittae in valleculae.

Distribution. In Armenia it grows in Yerevan (Karakert, Eraskh) and Darelegis (Khachik) floristic regions. EOO is 400 km2, AOO is 12 km2, the number of locations is 3. Besides Armenia it occurs in Nakhichevan, Anatolia, Iran, Central Asia, Afghanistan.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in lower and middle mountain belts, at the altitudes of 800–1800 meters above sea level, in saline arid semi–deserts and steppes, on stony slopes. Flowering from May to June, fruiting from July to August.

Limiting factors. Restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, severely fragmentation of the area of distribution, loss/ degradation of habitats caused by expansion of arable lands.

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