Astragalus guttatus: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Endangered species. Only one sub–population is known. The extent of occurrence and area of occupancy are less than 500 km2. The area of distribution is fragmented. 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 glabrous plant 8–20 cm. Leaves 2,5–5,5 cm, pinnate; leaflets in 4–9 pairs. Inflorescence 1–3–flowered. Corolla light blue; flag with violet veins, 6–9 mm long. Legumes pedunculate, semilunate, 12–22 x 4–5 mm.

Distribution. In Armenia it is found in Yerevan ("Erebuni" State reserve, Djrvezh forest grove, Yerakh mountain range) floristic region. EOO is 90 km2, AOO is 16 km2, the number of locations is 3. Besides Armenia the species grows in Dagestan, East Transcaucasia, the Crimea, Anatolia, South–West and Middle Asia, Iran.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in middle mountain belt, at the altitudes of 1200–1400 meters above sea level, on dry clay places, among 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.

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