Rheum ribes: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Critically endangered species. In Armenia the species is situated in the northern border of the main area of distribution. The extent of occurrence and the area of occupancy are less than 10 km2. The area of distribution is severely fragmented. The species faces extinction caused by internal factors and changes in habitat conditions. It was included in the first edition of the Red Data Book of Armenia under Category 1: Endangered species. It is not included in the Annexes of CITES and that of the Bern Convention.

Description. Perennial herb. Flower stalks leafless, thick, 50–100 cm. Basal leaves petiolate, coriaceous, cordate–rotundate or reniform, up to 50 cm in diam. Panicle semiglobose, many–flowered. Perianth segments 6, petal–shaped.

Distribution. In Armenia it occurs only in Shirak (neighborhoods of Aragats village) and Yerevan (neighborhoods of Surenavan village) floristic regions. AOO is 8 km2, the number of locations is 2. Besides Armenia the species grows in Nakhichevan, East Anatolia, North Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in middle mountain belt, at the altitudes of 1200–1400 meters above sea level, on dry stony places. Flowering from May to June, fruiting from June to July. Edible and fodder plant.

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

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