Centaurea shelkovnikova: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Critically endangered species. Endemic of South Transcaucasia. In Armenia it grows in Meghri floristic region where is extremely rare. The extent of occurrence and 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. Perennial herbs with creeping long branched rhizomes and few fusiform roots. Stems slightly curved, coming out from the centre of leaf rosette. Leaves lyrate–pinnatifid and remote emarginated–dentate, greenish–grey, fine tomentose, early dying. Capitulum solitary, ovate or oblong–ovate, 18–20 x 12–15 mm. Appendages of basal involucre phyllaries completely covering the upper phyllary; at the margins silvery long–fimbriate, with black or brown margins. Marginal flowers purple– blue, light blue, whitish or pinkish–purple; central ones violet–purple. Achenes oblong–elliptic. Pappus 2–3 mm long.

Distribution. In Armenia it is found in Meghri floristic region (Vardanadzor, Lichk, Tashtun mountain pass). AOO is 8 10 km2, the number of locations is 2. Besides Armenia the species grows in Nakhichevan.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in sub–alpine and alpine belts, at the altitude of 2200–2700 meters above sea level, in stony slopes. Flowering in July, fruiting in August.

Limiting factors. Restricted distribution, global climate change.

Conservation actions. Part of population grows on the area of "Arevik" National park. Necessary: monitoring of the population state, search of new habitats.