Vavilovia formosa: Red Data Book of Armenia

EN B 1 ab(iii) + 2 ab(iii)

Category. Endangered species. Area of distribution is fragmented. The extent of occurrence is less than 5000 km2, the area of occupancy is less than 500 km2. Wild relative of cultural pea. 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 herb with creeping rhizome. Stems up to 20 cm. Stipules small; leaflets in 1 pair, tendril absent, rachis ending with cusp. Peduncles exceeding the leaves, 1–flowered. Cololla bright pink; flag 16–18 mm long. Legume compressed, lanceolate. Seeds smooth.

Distribution. In Armenia it occurs in Gegham (mountain peaks Sevsar, Ziaret) and Zangezur (mountain peaks Kaputdjugh, Parakan, Mets Ishkhanasar, Ukhtasar) floristic regions. EOO is 3750 km2, AOO is 28 km2, the number of locations is 5. Besides Armenia the species grows in the mountain range of the Greater Caucasus, Eastern Transcaucasia, South and East Anatolia, North and North–West Iran.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in alpine belt, at the altitudes of 3000–3500 meters above sea level, on black volcanic slag and moving screes. Flowering from July to September, fruiting from August to September.

Limiting factors. Restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, global climate change.

Conservation actions. No conservation actions. Necessary: establishment of specially protected nature area on Gegham mountain range, monitoring of the population state.