Beta lomatogona: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Critically endangered species. Two small sub–populations are known, the area of distribution is severely fragmented. The extent of occurrence and the area of occupancy are less than 10 km2. It was included in the first edition of the Red Data Book of Armenia as Category 3: Reducing species. It is not included in the Annexes of CITES and that of the Bern Convention.

Description. Perennial herb, 40–50 cm. Root firm, lignose, fusiform. Flowers not coalescing into glomerules, in long spiciform inflorescence. Perianth segments green, with wide, white, scarious, irregular dentate at apex margin. Fruits 5–edged.

Distribution. In Armenia it occurs in Shirak (Zarndja) and Yerevan (surroundings of Yerevan) floristic regions. AOO is 8 km2, the number of locations is 2, the distance between which is 80 km. Besides Armenia the species grows in Talish, Turkey and North–West Iran.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in lower and middle mountain belts, at the altitudes of 850–1500 meters above sea level, on stony and clay slopes, in saline areas, in the steppes and semi–deserts. Flowering from June to July, fruiting from the end of July to September. It is wild relative of cultivated beetroot.

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

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