Pyrus grossheimii: Red Data Book of Armenia

EN B 1 ab(ii,iii,v) + 2 ab(ii,iii,v)

Category. Endangered species. Two sub–populations are known. 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. Tree up to 20 m, without spines or slightly spiny. Leaves with attenuate, folded, acuminate apex, ovate or elliptic, 6–10 x 3–5 cm, obtusate–rounded at base, at margins acuti–minutiserrate; petioles thin, long. Fruits 2–2,5 cm in diameter, ovate–globose, in fascicles; pedicles almost 3 times longer than fruit.

Distribution. In Armenia it occurs in Zangezur (surroundings of Aravus village) and Meghri (Tashtun) floristic regions. AOO is 16 km2, the number of locations is 2, the distance between which is 42 km. Besides Armenia grows in Talish and North Iran.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in middle and upper mountain belts, at the altitudes of 1800–2300 meters above sea level, in the forests and forest edges. Flowering from April to May, fruiting from June to September.

Limiting factors. Restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, global climate change.

Conservation actions. No conservation actions. Necessary: survey on population numbers and range, search of new habitats, monitoring of the state of the population.