Psilurus incurvus: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Vulnerable species. The extent of occurrence is less than 100 km2. Since the general area of distribution of the species is situated beyond the borders of Armenia the category of threat has been downgraded to VU. 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 plant. Stems glabrous, thin, 7–30 cm. Leaf blades short, narrowly linear; sheaths almost to the base splitted. Spike very thin, tender, flexuose or curved, up to 20 cm long. Lemma with awn 2,5–7 mm long.

Distribution. In Armenia it occurs in Meghri (Agarak, Meghri, Nyuvadi) floristic region. EOO is 90 km2, AOO is 12 km2. Location is 1. The species grows in Nakhichevan, Azerbaidjan, Mediterranean Sea basin, South–West, Middle and Central Asia.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in lower mountain belt, at the altitudes of 400–700 meters above sea level, on dry stony slopes, on ground boulders of the rivers, on screes, along the drained riverbeds. Flowering from March to April, fruiting from April to May.

Limiting factors. Restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, loss/degradation of habitats caused by intensive mining industry and grazing.

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