Potentilla porphyrantha: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Critically endangered species. Endemic of South Transcaucasia. The extent of occurrence and area of occupancy are less than 10 km2. The area of distribution is severely fragmented. 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, whitish appressed sericeous pubescent herb 6–15 cm, with thick main root. Basal leaves digitate, with 5 thickish obovate lobes and cuneate base; cauline leaves tripartite. Inflorescence loose. Flowers 5–15, pentamerous, bright purple with distinct dark veins. Fruit a multinucula. Ornamental plant.

Distribution. In Armenia it grows in Gegham (mountains Sevsar, Agusarka) and Zangezur (mountain Mets Ishkhanasar) floristic regions. AOO is 8 km2, the number of locations is 2, the distance between which is 130 km. Besides Armenia it grows in Nakhichevan.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in alpine belt, at the altitude of 3300–3500 meters above sea level, on rocky and stony slopes, on screes and “chingils”. Flowering from July to August, fruiting from August to September.

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

Conservation actions. No conservation actions. Necessary: search of new habitats, monitoring of the population state, to cultivate in botanical gardens as decorative plant, introduction into floriculture.