Salsola tomentosa: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Endangered species. 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. Greyish semishrub, 10–30 cm, with decumbent and ascending short shoots. Stems and leaves covered with semiadpressed, scabrous or branched hairs. Leaves 5–10 cm long, semicylindrical. Perianth segments 2,4–2,7 mm long, lanceolate, yellowish–grey, scarious, lanceolate, acuminate, at fruits with blackish–purple wings.

Distribution. In Armenia it occurs only in Yerevan floristic region (Armavir, Arevshat, Garni, Zovashen, Yerakh, Vedi, Shahumyan). EOO is 320 km2, AOO is 32 km2. The number of locations is 3. Besides Armenia the species grows in Nakhichevan, North Iran, Turkmenia and Afghanistan.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in lower mountain belt, at the altitudes of 800–1200 meters above sea level, on stony and gypsaceous clay slopes, in the semi–deserts. Flowering from July to September, fruiting from September to October.

Limiting factors. Restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, loss/degradation of habitats caused by expansion of arable lands, expansion of the settlements and development of infrastructures.

Conservation actions. No conservation actions. Necessary: monitoring of the population state, establishment of specially protected nature area on Yerakh mountain range.