Scorzonera szovitzii: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Endangered species. In Armenia only one population is known with fragmented area of distribution. The extent of occurrence and the area of occupancy are 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. Perennial herb. Root long, cylindrical, with round tuberiform thickening on the end. Stem usually solitary, 15–25 cm, up to 2/3 foliated, 1–capitulate. Leaves linear, flat, 2–5 mm wide. Capitulum cylindrical, during fructification up to 3 cm long. Flowers yellow. Achenes 15–20 cm long, cylindrical, tuberculate.

Distribution. It grows in Yerevan (Yeranos mountain range, Khosrov river gorge) and Darelegis (surroundings of Vayk) floristic regions. EOO is 155 km2, AOO is 16 km2. The number of locations is 3. Besides Armenia the species grows in Nakhichevan and Iran.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in middle mountain belt, at the altitudes of 1200–2000 meters above sea level, on stony and rocky slopes. Flowering from June to July, fruiting from July to September.

Limiting factors. Restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy.

Conservation actions. No conservation actions. Necessary: monitoring of the population state, search of new habitats.