Carex phyllostachys: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Vulnerable species. The extent of occurrence is less than 20000 km2, the area of occupancy is less than 2000 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 as well.

Description. Cespitose perennial herbs 20–40 cm. Leaves 2–3 mm broad, soft, equal to the stem. Inflorescence axis geniculate. Male spikelets 1–3–flowered. Utricules 5–6 mm long, convexed–triangulate, uneven situated in spikelets: lower one 6–9 mm distant from the upper one; rostellum 1 mm long, serrulate.

Distribution. It occurs in Idjevan (Debedashen forest enterprise), Zangezur (surroundings of Tsav and Vachagan villages) and Meghri (Vahravar river valley) floristic regions. EOO is 4900 km2, AOO is 12 km2. The number of locations is 3. The main area of distribution includes East Caucasus, Central, East and South Transcaucasia, Talish, South Europe, Anatolia and North Iran.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in lower and middle mountain belts, at the altitudes of 700–1800 meters above sea level, in the forests, in the glades and groves. Flowering from May to June, fruiting from June to July.

Limiting factors. Loss/degradation of habitats caused by economic and forestry activities.

Conservation actions. A part of the population is situated in "Shikahogh" State Reserve. Necessary: monitoring of the population state.