Echinops tournefortii: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Endangered species. One population is known which is situated in the area of intensive economic activity. The extent of occurrence and the area of occupancy are less than 500 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 herbs. Stems up to 1 m, tomentose–white, not foliated under capitulum. Leaves very spiny, emarginated or pinnatisect, from above arachnoid, from below tomentose–white, with glandular veins. Penicillum not dense, up to ½ of capitulum length. All involucre phyllaries free; external and middle ones on the margins with long, rigid, divaricate, aculeate cilia, at apex with sparse, small, short–stalked glands. Corolla blue.

Distribution. In Armenia it grows in Idjevan (surroundings of Idjevan and Berd) floristic region. EOO is 430 km2, AOO is 20 km2. The number of locations is 3. Besides Armenia the species grows in East Anatolia and North–West Iran.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in lower and middle mountain belts, at the altitudes of 700–1400 meters above sea level, on forest edges. Flowering from August to September, fruiting from September to October.

Limiting factors. Restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, loss/degradation of habitats caused by land development.

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