Paeonia tenuifolia: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Critically endangered species. One small sub–population is known. The extent of occurrence and the area of occupancy are less than 10 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 2 of the Bern Convention. It is not included in the Annexes of CITES.

Description. Perennial herb with cone–shaped roots. Stems 40–60 cm, unbranched. Leaves bipinnate; leaflets dissected into numerous thin linear lobes 0,7–2 mm broad. Upper leaves obvoluting the flower. Flowers solitary, terminal, 6–8 cm in diameter, dark red. Fruit a multifolliculus; each folliculus many–seeded. Seeds with arillus.

Distribution. In Armenia it grows only in Zangezur floristic region (surroundings of Kapan). AOO is 4 km2, the number of locations is 1. The general area of distribution includes Ciscaucasia, West, Central, East and South Transcaucasia, Balkan Peninsula, Eastern Europe, Asia Minor and North–West Iran.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in lower mountain belt, at the altitudes of 700–800 meters above sea level, in the shibliak. Flowering in April, fruiting in May. Very ornamental species.

Limiting factors. Restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, loss/degradation of habitats caused by development of territories.

Conservation actions. No conservation actions. Necessary: monitoring of the population state, search of new habitats, establishment of small protected area in the habitat of the species.