Astragalus holophyllus: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Endangered species. Endemic of Armenia. The extent of occurrence is less than 5000 km2, the area of occupancy is less than 500 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. Stemless plant. Scapes coming from radical leaf rosette. Leaves simple, shortly petiolate, ovate–rounded or almost reniform, densely appressed pubescent on the both sides. Scapes short, up to 5 cm long, 3–7–flowered. Corolla pink. Legumes elliptic–oblong, 4–5 x 1,5 cm. Taxonomically isolated species, belonging to monotypic section Holophyllum Boriss.

Distribution. In Armenia it grows in Yerevan (Yeranos Mountain, Yerakh and Urts mountain ranges) floristic region. EOO is 640 km2, AOO is 32 km2, the number of locations is 4.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in lower mountain belt, at the altitudes of 800–1000 meters above sea level, on dry stony slopes consisting of marl–lime, in sandy desert. The density of the plants in the habitat is 20–30 individuals per 1 square kilometer. 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 grazing.

Conservation actions. Part of the population grows in "Sands of Goravan" Reservation included into “Khosrov Forest” State Reserve. Necessary: monitoring of the population state.