Polygala urartu: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Endangered species. Endemic of Armenia. It is known from two floristic regions. The extent of occurrence and the area of occupancy are less than 500 km2. 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. Dwarf semishrub with numerous erect, foliated stems 20–25 cm. Leaves sessile, with distinct midrib; lower ones rotundate, middle ones rhomboid, sometimes emarginated at apex. Racemes dense, long, flowers bright blue. Bracts at margins membranous, ciliate, on dorsal side greenish–blue, twice longer than bracteoles and longer than pedicels. Sepaloid sepals almost equal, broadly lanceolate, greenish–blue, sparsely pilose. Corolla shorter or equal to wings; corolla tube erect, lateral petals longer than crista.

Distribution. In Armenia it occurs in Yerevan (neighborhoods of Garni) and Aparan (Arayiler, Marmarik river valley) floristic regions. EOO is 360 km2, AOO is 12 km2, the number of locations is 3.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in middle mountain belt, at the altitudes of 1000–1700 meters above sea level, in steppes, light forests, in felled oak forests. Flowering in June, fruiting in July.

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

Conservation actions. No conservation actions. Necessary: search of new populations, monitoring of the population state.