Pseudovesicaria digitata: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Critically endangered species. Endemic of the Caucasus. It grows only in Aragats massif. The extent of occurrence and the area of occupancy are less than 10 km2. The species is on the verge of extinction as a result of global climate change. It was included in the first edition of the Red Data Book of Armenia under Category 2: Rare species. It is not included in the Annexes of CITES and that of the Bern Convention.

Description. Biennial glabrous, glaucous plant 5–20 cm. Stem almost simple, flexuose. Leaves fleshy; lower ones obtuse–tridentate or integerrime. Inflorescence dense, racemiform. Petals white, entire. Silicle elliptic or rounded–elliptic, slightly attenuate at base and apex, 7–10 (15–25) mm long; locules 2–4 (6)–seeded.

Distribution. In Armenia it occurs only in Aragats floristic region (in the crater and at the foot of Northern peak, between Northern and Western peaks). AOO is 8 km2, the number of locations is 1. Besides Armenia the species grows in the Greater Caucasus and South Transcaucasia.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in alpine belt, at the altitudes of 3600–3900 meters above sea level, on screes. Flowering in July, fruiting in August.

Limiting factors. Restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, loss/degradation of habitats caused by global climate change.

Conservation actions. No conservation actions. Necessary: survey on population numbers and range, search of new habitats, monitoring of the state of the population.