Physoptychis caspica: Red Data Book of Armenia

E N B 1 ab(iii) + 2 ab(iii)

Category. Endangered species. It occurs in two floristic regions. The extent of occurrence and the area of occupancy are less than 500 km2. The species is on the verge of extinction caused by changes in habitat conditions as a result of global climate change. It was included in the first edition of the Red Data Book of Armenia under Category 2: Rare species. It is not included in the Annexes of CITES and that of the Bern Convention.

Description. Perennial high mountain plant 5–15 cm, grayish– tomentose thanks to dense stellate pubescence, with branched polycephalous rhizome. Leaves densely congested at stem base, elliptic– lanceolate, from below with prominent midrib. Flowers yellow. Silicle inflated, globose, 15–20 mm in diameter, grayish tenuiter pubescent; locules with 4 seeds.

Distribution. In Armenia it grows in Zangezur (Zangezur and Bargushat mountain ranges) and Meghri (Gokhtan Mountain) floristic regions. EOO is 135 km2, AOO is 24 km2, the number of locations is 3. Besides Armenia the species grows in Nakhichevan, East Anatolia, North and North–West Iran.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Grows in alpine belt, at the altitudes of 2900–3200 meters above sea level, on rocky and stony slopes. Flowering in June, fruiting in July.

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

Conservation actions. No conservation actions. Necessary: survey on population numbers and range, search of new habitats, monitoring of the state of the population.