Carex bohemica: 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 included in the first edition of the Red Data Book of Armenia under Category 1: Endangered species. It is not included in the Annexes of CITES and that of the Bern Convention.

Description. Densely cespitose perennial plants 5–30 (50) cm, with short rhizomes. Leaves 2–4 mm broad. Inflorescence dense, capitate, setose, 1–2 cm in diam. Lower bract 8–20 cm long, much longer than inflorescence; the rest 1–2 much shorter than inflorescence. Utricules large, 7–9 x 1 mm, elongate–lanceolate, greenish; rostellum deeply splitted, bidentate, 5 mm long.

Distribution. It occurs in Lori floristic region, in the lakes of the Lori Plateau (lakes Zhangot, Klor and Tsolak). AOO is 12 km2. The number of locations is 3. Besides Armenia the general area of distribution covers Europe, Siberia, Far East, Middle Asia, Mongolia, North Korea and Japan.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in middle mountain belt, at the altitudes of 1300–1500 meters above sea level, on swampy banks of relic lakes. Flowering from June to July, fruiting in July.

Limiting factors. Restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, loss/degradation of habitats caused by vegetation succession in the lakes.

Conservation actions. No conservation actions. Necessary: establishment of new protected area in the Lori Plateau, monitoring of the population state.