Onobrychis major: Red Data Book of Armenia

CR 1 ab(i,ii,iii) + 2 ab(i,ii,iii)

Category. Critically endangered species. Only one sub–population is known. The extent of occurrence and area of occupancy are less than 10 km2. 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 herbs 50–90 cm. Leaves 10–35 cm long; leaflets 6–11–paired, oblong–elliptic, 10–30 x 2–7 mm. Peduncles 15–30 cm long. Inflorescence many–flowered, elongating after flowering up to 5–12 cm. Flag glabrous. Legumes sessile, slightly compressed, semicircular, 7–9 mm long, densely appressed pilose, prickly; prickles violet on tips.

Distribution. The species grows in Darelegis floristic region (Selim mountain pass). AOO is 4 km2, the number of locations is 1. Besides Armenia it grows in South–Eest Anatolia, West and Central Iran.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in upper mountain belt, at the altitude of 2200 meters above sea level, in the meadow–steppe. Flowering in June, fruiting in July.

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

Conservation actions. No conservation actions. Necessary: survey on population numbers and range, search of new habitats, monitoring of the state of the population.