Argyrolobium biebersteinii: Red Data Book of Armenia

EN B 1 ab(i,ii,iii) + 2 аb(i,ii,iii)

Category. Endangered species. Only one sub–population is known. The extent of occurrence and the area of occupancy are less than 500 km2. The species faces decline of the extent of occurrence and the area of occupancy caused by forest cuttings and overgrazing. 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. Undershrub with numerous ascending stems 20–40 cm. Leaves ternate; leaflets widely elliptic, glabrous from above, pubescent from below, 10–30 x 6–8 mm. Inflorescences terminal on the main stems and lateral branches, 3–9–flowered. Corolla bright yellow. Legumes widely linear, compressed.

Distribution. In Armenia occurs in Zangezur ("Shikahogh" State Reserve, mountain Khustup) floristic region. EOO is 80 km2, AOO is 24 km2, the number of location is 2. Besides Armenia the main area of distribution includes the Caucasus, the southern coast of the Crimea, North Anatolia, and North–West Iran.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in lower and middle mountain belts, at the altitudes of 950–1600 meters above sea level, in the forest, at forest edges, in the glades and shrubs. Flowering from June to July, fruiting in July.

Limiting factors. Loss/degradation of habitats caused by forest devastation timber cutting and overgrazing.

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