Cousinia erivanensis: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Endangered species. Endemic of South Transcaucasia. The extent of occurrence and area of occupancy are less than 500 km2. The species grows in the area of intensive land development. 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. Dwarf semishrub 40–50 cm. Leaves dense, alternate, pinnatifid, rough, densely arachnoid, with acute rigid spines at the tips of main veins. Capitula homogamous, globular, terminal at the branches. Involucre phyllaries densely arachnoid, with erect narrow spiny appendages. Flowers yellowish. Achenes cuneate, smooth. Pappus deciduous.

Distribution. In Armenia it occurs in Meghri (Gudemnis, Agarak, Lehvaz, Vahravar, Meghri, Karchevan, Kuris) floristic region. EOO is 90 km2, AOO is 24 km2. The number of locations is 5. Besides Armenia grows in Nakhichevan (Ordubad).

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in lower and middle mountain belts, at the altitudes of 800–1400 meters above sea level, on rocky and stony slopes, in the shrubs, among phryganoid vegetation. Flowering from June to July, fruiting from July to August.

Limiting factors. Loss/degradation of habitats caused by road constructions for mining industry.

Conservation actions. No conservation actions. Necessary: monitoring of the state of the population, establishment of specially protected nature area in the surroundings of Agarak settlement.