Hypericum eleonorae: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Critically endangered species. Endemic of Armenia. Two sub–populations are known, one in Southern and the other in Northern Armenia. The distance between two localities is 230 km. The extent of occurrence and area of occupancy are less than 10 km2. Area of distribution is severely fragmented. The species faces decline of the extent of occurrence and the area of occupancy caused by anthropogenic factor. It was included in the first edition of the Red Data Book of Armenia under 2 category: Rare species. It is not included in the Annexes of CITES and that of the Bern Convention.

Description. Perennial small plants 15–25 cm, with numerous stems. Leaves ovate or rounded–ovate, integerrime, opposite. Flowers solitary or sometimes 2–3 at the stem tip. Sepals 5, at margins with dense, sessile or on small peduncles, gland; sometimes without glands. Petals 5, yellow, at margins with 1 row of black glands. Fruit an ovoid capsule; seeds numerous.

Distribution. In Armenia it occurs only in Idjevan (Idjevan mountain range, mountain Aghaya) and Zangezur (Khustup Mountain) floristic regions. AOO is 8 km2, the number of locations is 2.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in upper and alpine belts, at the altitudes of 2100–3100 meters above sea level, on rocky and stony slopes. Flowering from June to July, fruiting from July to August.

Limiting factors. Restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy.

Conservation actions. No conservation actions. Necessary: search of new populations, monitoring of the population state.