Puccinellia grossheimiana: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Endangered species. It was considered extinct after the drainage of Lake Gilli. Later new sub–populations were found in Lake Sevan basin and in the Ararat Plain. At present the extent of occurrence is less than 5000 km2, the area of occupancy is less than 500 km2. The species faces decline of the extent of occurrence and the area of occupancy caused by the changes in habitat conditions. It was included in the first edition of the Red Data Book of Armenia under Category 0: Apparently disappearing species. It is not included in the Annexes of CITES and that of the Bern Convention.

Description. Perennial tuft–forming herb. Stems erect, 30–60 cm, usually dark violet. Leaf blades setaceously folded. Panicle very loose, diffuse, with capilliform flexuose branches. Lemma 2,5–3 mm long, acuminate.

Distribution. In Armenia it occurs only in Sevan (banks of Sevan Lake and of the rivers falling into it) and Yerevan (Ararat) floristic regions. EOO is 3850 km2, AOO is 40 km2, the number of locations is 5. Besides Armenia the species grows in Central and East Anatolia and West Iran.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows from lower to upper mountain belt, at the altitudes of 700–2100 meters above sea level, along lakesides and riversides, on grinded boulders and bare grounds. Flowering in June, fruiting in July.

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

Conservation actions. Part of the population grows in “Sevan” National Park. Necessary: monitoring of the population state.