Trifolium sebastianii: Red Data Book of Armenia

VU* B 1 ab(i,ii,iii) + 2 ab(i,ii,iii)

Category. Vulnerable species. Two small sub–populations are known. The extent of occurrence and the area of occupancy are less than 10 km2. Taking into consideration the wide range of general distribution of the species the category of threat has been downgraded to VU. 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. Annual plants 15–20 cm. Leaflets elongate, narrowed at both ends. Peduncles thin. Inflorescense loose, 8–20–flowered. Pedicels at the beginning of flowering erect, later reflexed. Calyx with opened glabrous gorge. Corolla 3–4 cm long, yellow, after flowering reddish– brown.

Distribution. In Armenia it occurs only in Idjevan (surroundings of Noyemberyan) and Zangezur (surroundings of Chakaten village) floristic regions. AOO is 8 km2, the number of locations is 2 (distance between them is 260 km). Besides Armenia the species grows in Ciscaucasia, Dagestan, Karabagh, Talish, countries of the Meditarranean Sea Basin, North–West Anatolia.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in lower mountain belt, at the altitude of 1000 meters above sea level, in the forest glades. Flowering from May to June, fruiting in June–July.

Limiting factors. Restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, loss/degradation of habitats caused by forestry activities.

Conservation actions. No conservation actions. Necessary: monitoring of the population state.