Cousinia tenella: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Endangered species. It is known in three locations of the Ararat valley which are subjected to intensive economic activity. The extent of occurrence and area of occupancy are less than 500 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. Annual plant. Stems thin, procumbent, 30–40 cm. Leaves oblong, smooth–edged, thin, slightly arachnoid. Capitula small, 0,5–1 cm in diam., globular. Involucre phyllaries narrowly lanceolate– subulate, slightly recurved on the apex, thin. Flowers pale purple. Achenes cuneate, smooth, small. Pappus deciduous.

Distribution. In Armenia it occurs only in Yerevan (Ilan Dag, Dvin, Khor Virap) floristic region. EOO is 140 km2, AOO is 12 km2. The number of locations is 3. Besides Armenia grows in East Transcaucasia, Iran and Afghanistan.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in lower and middle mountain belts, at the altitudes of 800–1400 meters above sea level, in the semi–desert. Flowering in May, fruiting in June.

Limiting factors. Loss/degradation of habitats caused by the expansion of arable lands and construction.

Conservation actions. No conservation actions. Necessary: search of new habitats, monitoring of the population state.