Astragalus camptoceras: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Endangered species. It is known from two floristic regions. The area of distribution is fragmented. The extent of occurrence and area of occupancy are less than 500 km2. The species grows in the area of intensive land development. 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. Annual plant 5–20 cm. Leaves 3–7 cm long, paripinnate; of 7–12 pairs of cuneate, emarginated at apex leaflets. Flower stalks 1–2–flowered. Corolla yellowish. Legumes slightly curved, linear, with hamate rostellum.

Distribution. In Armenia it occurs in Yerevan (surroundings of Yerevan and Vedi) and Darelegis (surroundings of Yeghegnadzor) floristic regions. EOO is 200 km2, AOO is 36 km2, the number of locations is 3. Besides Armenia the species grows in Nakhichevan, Anatolia, Iran and Middle Asia.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in middle mountain belt, at the altitudes of 1000–1500 meters above sea level, in dry clay and saline places, in the semi–desert and steppe vegetation. Flowering from April to May, fruiting from May to June.

Limiting factors. Restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, loss/degradation of habitats caused by land development for arable purposes and development of infrastructures.

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