Tamarix florida: Red Data Book of Armenia

EN B 1 ab(i,ii,iii,iv) + 2 ab(i,ii,iii,iv)

Category. Endangered species. It occurs only in one floristic region. The extent of occurrence and the area of occupancy are less than 500 km2. In the first edition of the Red Data Book of Armenia it was included under Category 2: Rare species. It is not included in the Annexes of CITES and that of the Bern Convention.

Description. Small trees with purple bark. Crown formed by numerous virgate branches. Leaves alternate, squamiform, sessile, amplexocaul. Inflorescence lateral. Racemes appearing on the previous year’s shoots before the leaves, always simple, often in fascicles. Bracts longer than calyx, but shorter than petals. Flowers small, pentamerous; petals crateriform opened, deciduous.

Distribution. In Armenia grows only in Meghri (at the bank of Araks river) floristic region. EOO is 40 km2, AOO is 12 km2, the number of locations is 3. Besides Armenia the species grows in East and South Transcaucasia, Iran, Middle and Central Asia.

Ecological, biological and phytocoenological peculiarities. Flower– bearing stems change their form from sharp triangled to blunt linear, in connection with blooming phase. Grows in lower mountain belt, at the altitudes of 700–900 meters above sea level, along riversides, on sandy and clay slopes. Flowering in May, fruiting in June.

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

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