Lycium anatolicum: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Endangered species. Two sub–populations are known. The extent of occurrence is less than 5000 km2, the area of occupancy is less than 500 km2. The species grows in the area of intensive land development. In the first edition of the Red Data Book of Armenia it was included under Category 2: Rare species. It is not included in the Annexes of CITES and that of the Bern Convention.

Description. Shrub, thorny because of acuminate shortened leafy shoots and few not foliated spines. Leaves narrowly elliptic. Corolla tube glabrous from inside, cylindrical, much longer than calyx. Filaments sparsely pilose. Bacca dark greyish–brown–red.

Distribution. In Armenia it occurs in Zangezur (neighborhoods of Goris) and Meghri (Agarak, Vahravar) floristic regions. EOO is 935 km2, AOO is 20 km2, the number of locations is 3. Besides Armenia the species grows in Nakhichevan and Anatolia.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in lower and middle mountain belts, at the altitudes of 800–1400 meters above sea level, on dry stony slopes, along roads, among phryganoid vegetation. 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 mining industry and the arable lands expansion.

Conservation actions. No conservation actions. Necessary: monitoring of the population state, establishment of specially protected nature area in the neighborhoods of Agarak settlement.