Tamarix octandra: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Endangered species. It occurs in two floristic regions. The extent of occurrence is less than 5000 km2, the area of occupancy is less than 500 km2. It is collected as firewood. 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. Small trees with yellowish–brown bark. Crown formed by numerous virgate branches. Leaves alternate, squamiform, sessile, amplexicaul. Inflorescences lateral. Racemes appearing on the previous year’s shoots before the leaves, short, up to 4 cm long. Bracts long, linear, with coalescent margins. Flowers small.

Distribution. In Armenia it grows in Yerevan (Markara, Vedi, Ararat, Yeraskh) and Darelegis (Yeghegnadzor, Vajk) floristic regions. EOO is 2990 km2, AOO is 30 km2, the number of locations is 5. Besides Armenia the species grows in East and South Transcaucasia, and Iran.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in lower mountain belt, at the altitudes of 700–1100 meters above sea level, along riversides, in saline soils, swamped meadows. Flowering in May, fruiting in June.

Limiting factors. Restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, loss/degradation of habitats caused by land development, cutting (firewood).

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