Centaurea alexandrii: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Endangered species. Endemic of Armenia which it grows only in Meghri floristic region in the area of strong anthropogenic impact. The extent of occurrence and the area of occupancy are less than 500 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. Perennial herbs. Stems thin, virgate, repeatedly branched, laxly foliated, in upper part arachnoid. Leaves pinnatipartite or bipinnatipartite; segments linear–lanceolate. Capitula 11–14 mm long, oblong–ovate. Involucre phyllaries whitish or yellowish–brown. Flowers white or pinkish. Achenes 2 mm long, oblong–cuneate, with vertical white stripes. Pappus 1–1,5 mm long.

Distribution. In Armenia it occurs only in Meghri (Meghri, Aldara, Shvanidzor, Nyuvadi) floristic region. AOO is 16 km2. The number of locations is 1.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in lower mountain belt, at the altitudes of 400–1000 meters above sea level, on dry stony slopes, in dry riverbeds, on the sands of river banks, in oak or juniper open forests, among phryganoid vegetation. Flowering in June, fruiting in July.

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

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