Potentilla erecta: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Critically endangered species. The extent of occurrence and area of occupancy are less than 10 km2. The species faces extinction because of changes in habitat conditions. 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. Perennial herb 10–30 cm. Stems tender, solitary, ascending, furcated branched in upper part, densely foliated. Leaves tripartite, almost glabrous or with sparse hairs. Flowers bright yellow, solitary, 10–13 mm in diameter, on thin pedicels, axillar in the upper leaves, quadrimerous. Receptacle domed. Fruit a multinucula.

Distribution. It occurs only in Lori floristic region (upper stream of Dzoraget, Oran–Lori Klor lake). AOO is 8 km2, the number of locations is 1. Besides Armenia it grows in the Caucasus, Europe (except south regions), West Siberia, North America.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in middle mountain belt, at the altitude of 1500–1800 meters above sea level, in wetlands, along lake shores. Flowering from June to July, fruiting from July to August.

Limiting factors. Restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, loss/degradation of habitats caused by the expansion of economic activities and global climate change.

Conservation actions. No conservation actions. Necessary: monitoring of the population state, establishment of specially protected nature area in the territory of Lori Plateau Lakes.