Orchis stevenii: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

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 1: Endangered species. It is included in the Annex of CITES as representative of Orchidaceae family. It is not included in the Annexes of the Bern Convention.

Description. Perennial herb 20–40 cm, with entire tubers. Bracts squamiform. Cassis from above grayish–pink. Lobes of labellum integerrime; labellum covered with dark hairs.

Distribution. In Armenia it grows in Meghri (Vahravar, Shvanidzor) floristic region. AOO is 12 km2, the number of locations is 2. Besides Armenia the species grows on the Greater Caucasus, Transcaucasia, Talish, Anatolia and North Iran.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows from lower to upper mountain belt, at the altitudes of 700–2000 meters above sea level, in light forests, in the meadows, sometimes along the banks of the water reservoirs. Flowering in May, fruiting in June.

Limiting factors. Restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, loss/degradation of habitats caused by forestry activities, land development for arable purposes, road construction, as well as over– collection as a decorative plant.

Conservation actions. No conservation actions. Necessary: monitoring of the population state.