Andrachne rotundifolia: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

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 2: Rare species. It is not included in the Annexes of CITES and that of the Bern Convention.

Description. Dwarf semishrub, 20–40 cm, with branched from the base virgate stems. Leaves small, alternate, rotundate. Flowers small; petals membranous, alternate with sepals. Hypogynous disc of 5 free 2–lobed glands,opposite to petals; masculine flowers with developed petals and 5 anthers; filaments coalescent in column; feminine flowers with reduced petals and large, persistent at fruits, calyx. Sepals of feminine flowers rotundate–rhomboid, obtuse. Fruit 3–locular, seeds without appendage.

Distribution. In Armenia it grows in Meghri floristic region (Meghri, Aldara, Nyuvadi). EOO is 135 km2, AOO is 18 km2. The number of locations is 3. In the Caucasus the species occurs in Dagestan, East Transcaucasia, outside the Caucasus – Asia Minor and Middle Asia, Iran and Afghanistan.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in lower mountain belt, at the altitudes of 800–1000 meters above sea level, in the dry stony slopes, among phryganoid vegetation. Flowering from June to July, fruiting from July to August.

Limiting factors. Restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, degradation of lands, disturbance of habitats caused by road constructions.

Conservation actions. No conservation actions. Necessary: monitoring of the population state, search on new habitats, establishment of new specially protected area in the surrounding of Agarak settlement (Meghri region).