Amberboa amberboi: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Critically endangered species. It occurs in one floristic region. The extent of occurrence and the area of occupancy are less than 10 km2. 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 plants. Stems erect, 20–60 cm, shortly crisped– pilose. Radical leaves lyrate–pinnate; cauline leaves pinnatilobate or pinnatipartite. Capitula on long pedicels, solitary, terminal. Involucre broadly ovate, at early stages fine arachnoid, later becoming glabrous. Marginal flowers very large, yellow. Pappus 4–6 mm long.

Distribution. In Armenia it grows only in Yerevan floristic region (surroundings of Khor Virap Castle). AOO is 4 km2. The number of locations is 1. Besides Armenia the species occurs in Nakhichevan, East Transcaucasia, Mountainous Turkmenia, North and East Iran.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. In Armenia grows in lower mountain belt, at the altitudes of 700–800 meters above sea level, on dry stony slopes, on clays, among semi–desert vegetation. Flowering from April to May, fruiting from May to June. Ornamental species.

Limiting factors. Restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, loss/degradation of habitats caused by the land development for arable purposes.

Conservation actions. No conservation actions. Necessary: enlargement of the area of “Khor Virap” Sanctuary, survey on population numbers and range, search of new habitats, monitoring of the state of the population.