Silene arenosa: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Critically endangered species. Two small population are known, one of which is on verge of extinction. The extent of occurrence and the area of occupancy are less than 10 km2. Area of distribution is severely fragmented. 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 plants, 5–25 cm high. Stems and pedicels thin, rigid. Petals white or pale pink.

Distribution. In Armenia it grows only in Yerevan (Goravan, Zvartnots) floristic region. AOO is 8 km2. The number of locations is 2. Besides Armenia the species is distributed in Nakhichevan, North–East Anatolia, Iran.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in lower mountain belt, at the altitudes of 800–900 meters above sea level, in sandy desert. Flowering in May, fruiting from May to June.

Limiting factors. Restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, loss\degradation of habitats caused by use of desert sands for industrial purposes.

Conservation actions. The part of the population grows in "Sands of Goravan" reservation included into “Khosrov Forest” State Reserve. Necessary: monitoring of the population state.