Rhaponticoides tamanianae: Red Data Book of Armenia

CR B 1 ab(i,ii,iii) + 2 ab(i,ii,iii)

Category. Critically endangered species. Endemic of Armenia. Area of distribution is severely fragmented. The extent of occurrence and area of occupancy are less than 10 km2. The species faces decline of the population caused by agricultural 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 herbs. Stems thin, up to 80 cm, in lower part reddish–purple. Leaves glaucescent, pale green, pinnatipartite, with narrow lobes, at margins cartilaginose, serrate. Capitula large, 20–30 mm in diameter, almost globular, in lax corymbose common inflorescense. Involucre phyllaries in 8 rows, domed, at base whitish, in upper part dark green, narrowly membranous. Flowers light yellow; marginal ones with spiral lobes. Achenes and pappus almost black or dark brown.

Distribution. In Armenia it is met in Shirak (surroundings of Krashen village) and Darelegis (surroundings of Khachik village) floristic regions. AOO is 8 km2, the number of locations is 2, the distance between which is 176 km.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in middle mountain belt, at the altitude of 1800–1900 meters above sea level, in the steppes, among steppe shrubs, on dry stony slopes. Flowering from June to July, fruiting from July to August.

Limiting factors. Restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, loss/degradation of habitats caused by the expansion of arable lands and grazing.

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