Psephellus debedicus: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Endangered species. Endemic of North Armenia. One population is known with fragmented area of distribution. The extent of occurrence is less than 5000 km2, the area of occupancy is 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 70–105 cm. Radical and lower cauline leaves 24–42 cm long, pinnatisect; middle cauline ones smooth– edged or with 3–5 narrowly lanceolate lobes; upper ones always entire. Capitulum solitary, terminal, together with marginal flowers 3–4 mm in diam. Flowers pink; marginal ones large, 5 (7)–narrowly–lobate. Achenes 4–5, 2–2,5 mm, light brown; pappus 1–1,5 mm long.

Distribution. It grows only in Idjevan (surroundings of Idjevan, Sevan mountain pass, Debed, Dzoraget, Dsegh) floristic region. EOO is 1475 km2, AOO is 24 km2. The number of locations is 4.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows from lower to upper mountain belts, at the altitudes of 900–2000 meters above sea level, in the steppe, meadow–steppe, among steppe shrubs, at forest edges and in the glades. Flowering from June to July, fruiting from July to September.

Limiting factors. Restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, loss/degradation of habitats caused by land development for arable purposes and intensive grazing.

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