Cicer anatolicum: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Endangered species with fragmented area of distribution. The extent of occurrence is less than 5000 km2, the area of occupancy is less than 500 km2. Grows in the zone of intensive land development. It was included in the first edition of the Red Data Book of Armenia under Category 1: Endangered species. It is not included in the Annexes of CITES and that of the Bern Convention.

Description. Glandulose undershrub 25–70 cm. Stems very branched. Leaves paripinnate, ending in tendril; leaflets 4–9–paired, in upper part dentate. Peduncles 1–2–flowered. Corolla dark blue–violet, 17–21 mm long. Filaments widening at tip. Legumes elliptic, 18–33 x 7–13 mm, inflated. Seeds 2–3, black, rugose.

Distribution. In Armenia it grows in Gegham (Ukhtuakunk), Darelegis (Martiros, Gndevaz) and Meghri (Bughakar, Vahravar) floristic regions. EOO is 1775 km2, AOO is 28 km2, the number of locations is 5. Besides Armenia the species grows also in Nakhichevan, Anatolia, Iraq, West and North–West Iran.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in upper and sub–alpine belts, at the altitudes of 1800–2550 meters above sea level, in rocky and stony slopes, on screes and in steppe shrubs. Flowering from June to July, fruiting from July to August.

Limiting factors. Loss/degradation of habitats caused by land development, mining industry and grazing.

Conservation actions. Part of the population grows in "Khosrov Forest" State Reserve and “Arevik” National park. Necessary: monitoring of the population state.