Astragalus achundovii: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Critically endangered species. One sub–population is known in the area of intensive economic activities zone. The extent of occurrence and area of occupancy are less than 10 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. Perennial stemless green plants, covered with small rough bipartite hairs. Leaves 6–30 cm long; leaflets 6–10–paired, rotundate–elloptic, obtuse, 2–11 x 1,5–5 mm. Peduncles coming out from the centre of leaf rosette, slender, procumbent, together with inflorescence equal to leaves or shorter. Flag pinkish–lilac, 16–19 cm long; carina and wings more light. Legumes 15–30 x 3–5 mm, pendent, slightly curved.

Distribution. In Armenia it occurs in Darelegis (surroundings of Areni and Chiva villages) floristic region. AOO is 8 km2, the number of locations is 1. Besides Armenia the species grows in Nakhichevan, South–East Anatolia and North Iran.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in lower mountain belt, at the altitudes of 900–1300 meters above sea level, on dry clay and stony slopes, in the semi–desert. Flowering from April to May, fruiting from May to June.

Limiting factors. Loss/degradation of habitats caused by expansion of arable land, vegetation burning.

Conservation actions. No conservation actions. Necessary: establishment of new specially protected nature area in the surroundings of the village Areni, monitoring of the population state.