Rhinopetalum gibbosum: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Critically endangered species. The extent of occurrence and 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. Perennial herb with small globular bulb. Scape 6–20 cm, at base glabrous, in upper part papillose. Leaves lanceolate or ovate. Perianth segments 13–15 x 6–10 mm, light or dark pink, at base dark violet. Capsule horizontally compressed, 12–14 x 16–20 mm, at apex dentate, at margins narrowly dentate, undulate winged. Seeds flat, narrowly winged, light brown.

Distribution. In Armenia it grows only in Yerevan floristic region (Yerakh mountain range, Vedi, Goravan, Ararat). EOO is 85 km2, AOO is 16 km2, the number of locations is 2. Besides Armenia the species grows in Nakhichevan, Iran, Middle Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in lower mountain belt, at the altitudes of 850–1000 meters above sea level, on dry clay and stony slopes, in the sandy desert and semi–desert. Flowering from March to April, fruiting from May to June.

Limiting factors. Restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, loss/degradation of habitats caused by expansion of arable land and use of desert sands for industrial purposes.

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