Cirsium alatum: Red Data Book of Armenia

CR B 1 ab(ii,iii) + 2 ab(ii,iii); D

Category. Critically endangered species. Only one small population is known. 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 yellowish–green glabrous herbs. Stems 20–100 cm, branched, fragmentate winged. Leaves verruculose from above. Capitula on long pedicels, usually in loose paniculate–corymbose inflorescence. Involucre phyllaries slightly arachnoid, at apex with small prickle 0,5–1 mm long. Corolla pink.

Distribution. In Armenia it occurs in Yerevan floristic region (in the surroundings of Ararat town). AOO is 4 km2, the number of locations is 1. Besides Armenia grows in Ciscaucasia, East Caucasus and East Transcaucasia, Europe, West Siberia, Middle Asia, North–West Iran.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in lower mountain belt, at the altitude of 800 meters above sea level, in salt marshes. Flowering in July–September, fruiting in August–November.

Limiting factors. Restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, small density of the population, restricted ecological adaptation, loss/degradation of ecosystems as a result of drainage of marshes and vegetation burning.

Conservation actions. According to RA Government Decree 2008 salt marshes of Ararat Plain were included in the list of nature monuments. Necessary: monitoring of the population state.