Astragalus eriopodus: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Endangered species. Two sub–populations are known. The extent of occurrence and area of occupancy are less than 500 km2. It was included in the first edition of the Red Data Book of Armenia under Category 1: Endangered species. It is not included in the Annexes of CITES and that of the Bern Convention.

Description. Perennial herb, covered with simple long squarrose hairs. Stems 17–50 cm, branched. Leaflets 6–12–paired, rounded–elliptic, glabrous from above, pubescent from below. Inflorescence elongating and becoming loose after flowering. Corolla reddish–violet. Legumes on peduncle, oblong–ovoid.

Distribution. In Armenia it occurs in Yerevan (Yeranos Mountain, between the villages Zovashen and Garni) and Darelegis (Yeghegis) floristic regions. EOO is 500 km2, AOO is 12 km2, the number of locations is 2. Besides Armenia the species grows in North–East Anatolia and Iran.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in lower and middle mountain belts, at the altitudes of 800–1400 meters above sea level, on the gypsaceous slopes, in the steppes and among phryganoid vegetation. Flowering from May to June, fruiting in June.

Limiting factors. Loss/degradation of habitats caused by land development.

Conservation actions. No conservation actions. Necessary: monitoring of the population state.