Halocnemum strobilaceum: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Endangered species. It grows only in Yerevan floristic region. The extent of occurrence and the area of occupancy are less than 500 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. Succulent semishrub, 15–70 cm, with opposite, procumbent and rooting shoots. Formes tumules with numerous prostrate branches. Annual shoots grayish–green, articulate, bud–shaped. Spikelets shortly cylindrical, sessile. Perianth of 3 coalite at base segments. Stamen 1.

Distribution. It occurs in Yerevan floristic region (Arazap, Markara, Yeraskhahun, Echmiadzin, Yeraskh). EOO is 250 km2, AOO is 12 km2. The number of locations is 2. Besides Armenia the species is distributed in East Ciscaucasia, East Caucasus, East Transcaucasia, Nakhichevan, south of Europe, Anatolia, Iran, Central Asia and North Africa.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in lower mountain belt, at the altitudes of 850–900 meters above sea level, in wet and mellow solonchaks. Flowering from July to August, fruiting from September to October. The species often forms pure communities.

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

Conservation actions. One of the populations grows in the surroundings of Yeraskhahun village in Armavir region, in the stationary plot of the Institute of Soil Science of the Ministry of agriculture and in the area of "Vordan Karmir" Reservation. Necessary: monitoring of the population state.