Astragalus amblolepis: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Critically endangered species. One small population is known. 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. Tomentose, thorny, branched tragacanth undershrub, 10–35 cm. Leaves 6–11 cm long; leaflets 6–8–paired, elliptic, with domed veins, 5–13 x 2,5–4 mm. Inflorescence globose, many–flowered. Calyx villose, 6–9 mm long; teeth tips turned inside of calyx. Corolla pink; flag 13–14 mm long, auriculate. Legumes ovoid–oblong, 6–8 mm long.

Distribution. In Armenia it grows in Gegham (surroundings of Geghard village and in the ruins of the church Prkich) floristic region. AOO is 8 km2, the number of locations is 1. Besides Armenia the species grows in South and East Anatolia, North Iraq and North Iran.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in upper mountain belt, at the altitudes of 1700–1900 meters above sea level: on stony slopes, among steppe shrubs. Flowering from June to July, fruiting from July to August.

Limiting factors. Restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, small density of the population, loss/degradation of habitats caused by arable land expansion.

Conservation actions. Part of the population grows in "Khosrov Forest" State Reserve. Necessary: monitoring of the population state.