Echinops polygamus: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Endangered species. Two populations are known. The extent of occurrence is less than 5000 km2, the area of occupancy is less than 500 km2. The species grows in the area of intensive economic activity. 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 herb. Stems deeply sulcate, branched, foliated on the whole length, arachnoid and glandulose. Leaves emarginated spinose–dentate, amplexicaul; upper ones suddenly diminished, from above glandulose; from below arachnoid–white, with glandulose veins. Penicillus dense, equal to 3/5 of capitulum length. Inner involucre phyllaries at 2/3 of their length connate into 5–edged tube and concrescent with achene.

Distribution. In Armenia it grows in Darelegis (Arpa village) and Meghri (Shvanidzor, Kuris, Karchevan, Lehvaz) floristic regions. EOO is 830 km2, AOO is 16 km2. The number of locations is 3. Besides Armenia the species grows in Nakhichevan, North and Central Iran.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in lower mountain belt, at the altitudes of 800–1100 meters above sea level, on dry stony slopes, among phryganoid vegetation and in ruderal places. Flowering from June to July, fruiting in August.

Limiting factors. Loss/degradation of habitats caused by land development and the intensity of mining industry.

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