Centaurea takhtajanii: 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 Armenia. It occurs in one floristic region (areas of intensive development) where is extremely rare. The extent of occurrence and area of occupancy are less than 10 km2. 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 herbs. Stems erect or ascending, branched. Leaves narrowly linear, sessile. Capitula solitary, apical. Involucre phyllaries with small, dark brown, coriaceous appendages, bearing 5–9 almost equal small spines. Achenes 5–6 mm long. Pappus very short, 1,5–2,5 mm long.

Distribution. In Armenia it grows only in Shirak floristic region (mountain Arteni, between the villages Hakko, Karakert, Zarindja, Tsamakasar and Hatsashen). AOO is 8 km2, the number of locations is 1.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in middle mountain belt, at the altitude of 1600–1800 meters above sea level, in dry stony and rocky slopes, in the steppe, in the fields. Flowering in June, fruiting in August.

Limiting factors. Restricted distribution, land development.

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