Astragalus vedicus: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Endangered species. Endemic of South Transcaucasia. The extent of occurrence and area of occupancy are less than 500 km2. Grows in the zone of land development. 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. Poorly branched undershrub 10–35 cm. Leaf rachis thin, usually orange-red, ending in spinule; leaflets fleshy, reflected down, 4-6-paired, pubescent, elliptic, folded, 4–10 x 2–4,5 mm. Flowers in very approximate axillary fascicles, forming globular inflorescence 2–3 cm in diam. Calyx covered with long squarrose hairs; teeth much longer than tube, setiform, long ciliate. Corolla light pink; flag not exceeding the calyx, not auriculate, gradually narrowed in wide claw.

Distribution. In Armenia it grows in Yerevan (mountain ranges Yeranos and Urts, villages Kaghtsrashen, Yeraskh, Vedi) floristic region. EOO is 120 km2, AOO is 16 km2, the number of locations is 3. Besides Armenia the species grows in Nakhichevan.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in lower mountain belt, at the altitudes of 800–1000 meters above sea level, on screes and stony places.

Limiting factors. Restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, small density of the population, loss/degradation of habitats caused by land development.

Conservation actions. No conservation actions. Necessary: establishment of new specially protected nature area on Yerakh mountain range, monitoring of the population state.