Gundelia rosea: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Endangered species. It grows only in Yerevan floristic region. The extent of occurrence and the area of occupancy are less than 500 km2. It was included in the first edition of the Red Data Book of Armenia as Gundelia tournefortii under Category 2: Rare species. It is not included in the Annexes of CITES and that of the Bern Convention.

Description. Perennial herbs 15–60 cm. Leaves large, pinnatisect, coriaceous, spiny. Capitula 4–8 (10)–flowered, aggregated into large oblong–elliptic or globular secondary capitulum–like head, covered with rigid spiny bracts. Flowers hermaphrodite, purple or brownish. Achenes in rigid cover – diaspora, at ripe seeds grey or brown, oval or obovate, with small prickles at tip.

Distribution. In Armenia it grows only in Yerevan (from Djrvezh to Geghard and Zovashen) floristic region. EOO is 300 km2, AOO is 100 km2. The number of locations is 2. The area of distribution includes Nakhichevan, Middle Asia, Cyprus, Anatolia, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in lower and middle mountain belts, at the altitudes of 800–1600 meters above sea level, on dry stony slopes, generally in the steppes. Flowering from June to July, fruiting from July to August.

Limiting factors. Restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, disturbance of habitats.

Conservation actions. Part of the population is conserved in "Erebuni" State Reserve. Necessary: monitoring of the population state, enlargement of the area of "Erebuni" State Reserve.