Tragopogon tuberosus: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Vulnerable species. Endemic of the Caucasus. The extent of occurrence is less than 20000 km2, the area of occupancy is less than 2000 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 35–70 cm. Root thickened, tuber–shaped. Basal leaves long, linear; cauline ones very dilatate at base, gradually narrowing towards the tip of stem. Stem erect, unbranched. Peduncle not thickened. Involucre phyllaries equal to flowers. Flowers bright yellow. Marginal achenes muriculate–squamose, rostellum shorter than dilatate part of achene or almost equal to it. Pappus of connate at base, pinnate hairs.

Distribution. In Armenia it grows in Idjevan (Idjevan), Lori (Shahnazar) and Zangezur (Kapan) floristic regions. EOO is 6230 km2, AOO is 12 km2. The number of locations is 3. Besides Armenia the species grows in Ciscaucasia, Dagestan, East Transcaucasia. It is rare everywhere.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in lower and middle mountain belts, at the altitudes of 800–1600 meters above sea level, in the steppes and meadows, among steppe shrubs. Flowering from April to May, fruiting in June.

Limiting factors. Restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, loss/degradation of habitats caused by city and road constructions.

Conservation actions. No conservation actions. Necessary: search of new habitats, monitoring of the state of the population.