Geranium albanum: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Endangered species which occurs in one floristic region. The extent of occurrence and the 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. Perennial herbs with fusiform thickened roots. Stems 20–60 cm, covered with long reflexed hairs. Leaves 6–8 cm broad, reniform–rounded; lower ones septempartite, upper ones quinquepartite, with cuneate tripartite–dentate lobes. Flowers purple; petals 15–20 mm long, emarginated. Fruit valves with pectinate thickened excrescences on dorsal side, pilose; rostrum filiform, pubescent.

Distribution. In Armenia it grows only in Zangezur ("Shikahogh" State Reserve, surroundings of Chakaten village) floristic region. EOO is 35 km2, AOO is 16 km2, the number of locationë is 2. The general area of distribution includes East Transcaucasia and Iran.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in lower mountain belt, at the altitudes of 800–1200 meters above sea level, among shrubs, at forest edge. Flowering from May to June, fruiting from July to August.

Limiting factors. Restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, habitat disturbance caused by overgrazing.

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