Scorzonera gorovanica: Red Data Book of Armenia

EN B 1 ab(iii) + 2 ab(iii)

Category. Endangered species. Endemic of Southern Transcaucasia. Area of distribution is severely fragmented. 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 herb, densely arachnoid. Root on the depth 6–10 cm forming nut–shaped or oblong–ovate tuber. Stems 4–15 (18) cm. Leaves before flowering prostrate on the ground, undulate–crisped, 6–10 mm wide. Capitula narrowly cylindrical. Achenes up to 15 cm long, at ribs tuberculate, sometimes smooth. Pappus whitish or yellowish.

Distribution. It grows in Yerevan (Goravan, Vedi, Ararat, Yeraskh) and Darelegis (surroundings of the village Vernashen) floristic regions. EOO is 870 km2, AOO is 40 km2. The number of locations is 5. Besides Armenia the species grows in Nakhichevan.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in lower and middle mountain belts, at the altitudes of 800–1400 meters above sea level, on dry stony slopes, among tragacanth formations, in semi–deserts and sandy desert. 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 sand extraction.

Conservation actions. Part of the population grows in the territory of "Goravan Sands" State Sanctuary included into "Khosrov Forest" State Reserve. Necessary: monitoring of the population state.