Cistanche fissa: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Endangered species. At present one sub–population is known. The extent of occurrence and the area of occupancy are less than 500 km2. The species faces decline of the extent of occurrence and the area of occupancy caused by changes in habitat conditions and first of all by wash off of saline soils. 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 herb with solitary thick stem up to 50–60 cm. Inflorescence dense, thick, up to 20 x 5–8 cm. Corolla pale blue, slightly zygomorphic.

Distribution. In Armenia it occurs only in Yerevan (surroundings of Ararat) floristic region. EOO is 85 km2, AOO is 12 km2, the number of locations is 3. Besides Armenia the species grows in Nakhichevan, Middle Asia, North–East Anatolia, Iran, Afghanistan.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Parasite plant. More often grows on the roots of various species of Artemisia and Tanacetum genera. Grows in lower mountain belt, at the altitudes of 700–900 meters above sea level, in salt marshes, on saline soils, among semi–desert vegetation. Flowering in May, fruiting from May to June.

Limiting factors. Restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, area severely fragmentation, loss/degradation of habitats caused by land development for arable purposes and amelioration.

Conservation actions. No conservation actions. Necessary: survey on the number and range of sub–populations, search of new habitats, monitoring of the state of the population, establishment of new specially protected nature area on saline soils.