Salvia suffruticosa: Red Data Book of Armenia

EN B 1 ab(iii) + 2 ab(iii)

Category. Endangered species. The extent of occurrence and the area of occupancy are less than 500 km2. It was included in the first edition of the Red Data Book of Armenia under Category 2: Rare species. It is not included in the Annexes of CITES and that of the Bern Convention.

Description. Semi–shrub up to 50 cm, branched from the base. Leaves pinnate. Inflorescence simple, of 4–8 remote, 6–10–flowered pseudoverticilles. Flowers bilabiate. Corolla yellowish–white; upper lip galeiform, lower one tripartite. Calyx greenish; teeth at margins with thick stipulate glandules. Fruit of 4 nutlets.

Distribution. In Armenia it occurs in Yerevan (Geghadir, Garni, Hatsavan villages, Yeranos mountain range) floristic region. EOO is 60 km2, AOO is 16 km2, the number of locations is 2. Besides Armenia the general area of distribution includes Nakhichevan, Anatolia, North Iraq, North and West Iran.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in middle mountain belt, at the altitude of 1200–1700 meters above sea level, on dry stony slopes in the mountain steppes. Flowering in June, fruiting in July. Ether–oil plant with pleasant odor of nutmeg.

Limiting factors. Restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, loss/degradation of habitats caused by the expansion of agricultural lands.

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