Halostachys belangeriana: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Endangered species. It occurs 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, erect shrub with short trunk, 100–150 (200) cm. Shoots opposite, succulent, articulate; young ones mainly verrucose. Leaves squamiform, coadnate in pairs. Spikelets erect, on articulate peduncles. Perianth with 3 coalite to ¾ segments. Stamen 1.

Distribution. It grows only in Yerevan floristic region (Arazap, Markara, Yeraskhahun, Yeraskh). EOO is 350 km2, AOO is 18 km2. The number of locations is 3. Besides Armenia the species is distributed in East Ciscaucasia, East Caucasus, Central and East Transcaucasia, Nakhichevan, Anatolia, Iran, Pakistan, Central and Middle Asia, China.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in lower mountain belt, at the altitudes of 800–900 meters above sea level, in mellow or dry solonchaks. Flowering from July to August, fruiting from September to October.

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