Aira elegantissima: Red Data Book of Armenia

EN* B 1 ab(iii) + 2 ab(iii)

Category. Endangered species. The distance between the locations is 285 km, whereas the extent of occurrence and the area of occupancy are less than 10 km2. The general 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. Annual herb with thin smooth stems up to 40 cm. Leaf sheaths scabrous, splitted almost to the base. Panicle 3–10 cm long, with diffuse branches. Spikelets 2–flowered. Lemma 1,5 mm long, grayish– brown; awn geniculate.

Distribution. In Armenia it occurs in Idjevan (Bagratashen surroundings) and Meghri (Agarak surroundings) floristic regions. AOO is 8 km2, the number of locations is 2. Besides Armenia the species grows in Transcaucasia, Europe, Mediterranean Sea basin, North Iran, Middle Asia. The species is introduced into North America.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in lower mountain belt, at the altitudes of 400–1000 meters above sea level, in sandy places and stony slopes, in the shibliak and open forests. Flowering from April to May, fruiting from May to June.

Limiting factors. Restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, loss/degradation of habitats caused by expansion of arable lands and the intensity of mining activities.

Conservation actions. No conservation actions. Necessary: monitoring of the population state, establishment of new specially protected nature area in the surroundings of Agarak settlment (Meghri region).