Cyclamen vernum: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Vulnerable species. The extent of occurrence and the area of occupancy are less than 500 km2. Since the Armenian population is close to the Georgian one, the category of threat has been downgraded to VU. It was included in the first edition of the Red Data Book of Armenia under Category 0: Apparently disappearing species. New population was found recently. Cyclamen genus is wholly included in the Annex of CITES convention. It is not included in the Annexes of the Bern Convention.

Description. Perennial herb, 5–10 cm, with tubers 3–5 cm in diam. Leaves broadly ovate, from above with whitish–silvery spots, from beneath carmine–red. Corolla lobes oval, with maximal width in the upper half, dark pink–violet, rarely whitish, with dark spot at base and white spots on limb. Decorative plant.

Distribution. In Armenia it occurs only in Idjevan (Achadjur, Getahovit, Koghb) floristic region. EOO is 460 km2, AOO is 20 km2. Locations are 3. Besides Armenia the species grows on the Greater Caucasus, Transcauicasia, Talysh, Turkey, North–West Iran.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in lower mountain belt, at the altitudes of 700–1200 meters above sea level, in the forests, at forest edges and in glades. Flowering from January to March, fruiting from February to March.

Limiting factors. Restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, loss/degradation of habitats caused by the forestry activities, over–collection as ornamental species.

Conservation actions. No conservation actions. Necessary: monitoring of the population state.