Astragalus sangezuricus: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Endangered species. Endemic of Armenia. Only one population is known. The extent of occurrence and area of occupancy are 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. Thorny, very branched tragacanth subshrub, 10–15 cm. Leaves 6 cm long, ending in spinule; leaflets 5–9–paired, almost glabrous. Flowers sessile, by 3–5 in axillary fascicules. Peduncles up to 8 mm long. Calyx covered with squarrose or spreading hairs 0,5–1 mm long. Corolla blue–violet; flag 16–23 mm long. Legumes oblong–ovoid, shortly and adpressed pilose.

Distribution. In Armenia it grows in Zangezur (mountains Kaputdjugh and Saridara) and Meghri (Bughakar, Lichk) floristic regions. EOO is 200 km2, AOO is 24 km2, the number of locations is 2.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows from upper to alpine mountain belts, at the altitudes of 2100–3500 meters above sea level, on dry stony slopes, screes, in the meadows and in oak forests. Flowering from June to July, fruiting from July to August.

Limiting factors. Restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, global climate change.

Conservation actions. Part of population is situated on the territory of "Arevik" National park. Necessary: monitoring of the population state.