Astragalus schelkovnikovii: Red Data Book of Armenia
CR B 1 ab(i,ii,iii,iv) + 2 ab(i,ii,iii,iv)
Category. Critically endangered species. It grows in the Ararat Valley, in the zone of intensive economic activity. The extent of occurrence and area of occupancy are less than 10 km2. The area of distribution is severely fragmented. 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 branched plant 10–40 cm, covered with bipartite hairs. Leaflets narrowly linear. Inflorescence lax, elongate, few–flowered. Corolla red. Legumes pendent or horizontal, arcuate, with distinctly visible seeds and constrictions between them.
Distribution. In Armenia it grows in Yerevan floristic region (surroundings of Artashat, village Goravan). AOO is 8 km2, the number of locations is 2, the distance between which is 19 kilometers. Besides Armenia the species grows in East Anatolia and North–West Iran.
Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in lower mountain belt, at the altitude of 900–1200 meters above sea level, in desert and semi–desert. Flowering from May to June, fruiting from June to July.
Limiting factors. Restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, restricted ecological suitability, loss/degradation of habitats caused by land development for agricultural purposes.
Conservation actions. One of the populations grows in "Sands of Goravan" reservation included into "Khosrov Forest" State Reserve. Necessary: survey on population numbers and range, search of new habitats, monitoring of the state of the population.
