Oxytropis armeniaca: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Endangered species. Endemic of Armenia. The area of distribution is fragmented. The extent of occurrence is less than 5000 km2, the area of occupancy is less than 500 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. Stemless perennial herbs 10–30 cm, covered with long, yellow and white hairs. Leaves 8–18 cm long; leaflets 12–19–paired. Peduncles firm, erect, exceeding the leaves; inflorescence many–flowered, capitate–ovate, elongating after flowering. Corolla light blue–violet. Flag 17–22 mm long. Legumes oblong–ovate, 23 x 8–9 mm, covered with short, black and white hairs.

Distribution. In Armenia it grows in Lori (upper stream of Dzoraget river), Sevan (surroundings of Shordzha and Djil villages) and Gegham (Gridzor) floristic regions. EOO is 1860 km2, AOO is 16 km2, the number of locations is 4.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in upper and sub–alpine belts, at the altitude of 1950–2700 meters above sea level, in the meadows, on dry stony slopes. Flowering from June to July, fruiting from July to August.

Limiting factors. Restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, weak generative reproduction, loss/degradation of habitats caused by intensive grazing.

Conservation actions. Part of the population grows in "Sevan" National Park. Necessary: monitoring of the population state.