Pachyphragma macrophyllum: Red Data Book of Armenia

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

Category. Critically endangered species. Only one sub–population is known. The extent of occurrence and the area of occupancy are less than 10 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 18–45 cm, with long horizontal rhizome. Basal leaves up to 18 cm long, with long petioles and cordate or cordate–reniform blade. Flowers white, 8–10 mm long. Fructifer pedicels horizontally reflexed, 15–20 mm long. Silicle broadly obcordate, 12–18 mm broad, with broad wings and thickened replum.

Distribution. In Armenia it grows only in Idjevan (Tehut) floristic region. AOO is 4 km2, the number of locations is 1. Besides Armenia the general area of distribution includes Ciscaucasia, West, South–West and Central Transcaucasia, North–East Anatolia.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in lower mountain belt, at the altitudes of 700–1000 meters above sea level, in the forests. Flowering from April to May, fruiting from June to July.

Limiting factors. Restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, development of mining industry in the area.

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