Oxytropis karjaginii: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Endangered species. One fragmented sub–population is known. The extent of occurrence and the area of occupancy are less than 500 km2. 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. Perennial stemless grey herbs, covered with long white hairs. Leaves 4–16 cm long; leaflets 6–10–paired, oblong–elliptic. Peduncles almost equal to leaves, 5–16 (25) cm long; inflorescence capitate, 4–8 (14)–flowered. Corolla bright purple–violet, 11–14 mm long. Legumes oblong, slightly curved, 15–25 mm long, densely covered with long, soft, white hairs.

Distribution. In Armenia it grows only in Darelegis (surroundings of Khachik village, Ayar gorge, Selim mountain pass) floristic region. EOO is 150 km2, AOO is 20 km2, the number of locations is 3. Besides Armenia the species grows in Nakhichevan, North–East Anatolia and North–West Iran.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in middle and upper mountain belts, at the altitude of 1200–2400 meters above sea level, in dry, stony slopes and screes in steppe and meadow– steppe belts. Flowering from May to June, fruiting from June to July.

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 specially protected nature area in Ayar Gorge, monitoring of the population state.