Cistanche salsa: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Endangered species. The extent of occurrence and the area of occupancy are less than 10 km2. The main area of distribution of the species is situated beyond the borders of Armenia, thus the category of threat has been downgraded to EN. 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 40–50 cm. Inflorescence dense, thick, up to 20 x 4–5 cm. Corolla pale blew, slightly zygomorphic. Calyx synsepalous; lobes uniform, lanose on the margins.

Distribution. In Armenia it is found only in Yerevan (surroundings of Yeraskh and Khor Virap) floristic region. AOO is 8 km2, the number of locations is 1. Besides Armenia the species grows in Azerbaidjan, Middle Asia, Anatolia, Iran, Tibet and Mongolia.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Parasite plant. More often grows on the roots of the species of Chenopodiaceae family and Tanacetum genus. Grows in lower mountain belt, at the altitudes of 700–900 meters above sea level, in saline soils, among semi– desert vegetation, along the banks of irrigation canal. Flowering in May, fruiting in June. There is a second flowering in September.

Limiting factors. Restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, loss/degradation of habitats caused by the expansion of arable land and amelioration.

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