Minuartia sclerantha: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Endangered species. Two sub–populations are known. The extent of occurrence is less than 5000 km2, the area of occupancy is less than 500 km2. The species grows in developed lands. 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. Annual plant, 3–7 cm. Veins of bracts and sepals with crystalline lamellules. Bracts hamate curved inside, equal to fascicules of inflorescence or slightly longer. Calyx at base truncate or with gibbosities. Petals reduced or absent. Capsule with 2–3 seeds.

Distribution. In Armenia it occurs in Yerevan (Goravan, Yeraskh) and Meghri (Karchevan, Nyuvadi) floristic regions. EOO is 750 km2, AOO is 12 km2. The number of locations is 2. Besides Armenia the species grows in East Transcaucasia, Talish, Anatolia, Iraq and Iran.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in lower mountain belt, at the altitudes of 550–900 meters above sea level, on sands, on dry slopes, in the deserts and semi–deserts, among phryganoid vegetation. Flowering from April to May, fruiting from May to June.

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

Conservation actions. Part of the population grows in "Khosrov Forest" State Reserve. Necessary: monitoring of the population state.