Sclerotiaria pentaceros
Status: CR B2ab(iii). Endemic to a monotypic genus.
Description. A polycarpic plant up to 30 cm tall, with a powerful spindle-shaped root. The leaves are numerous, short-stalked, and gathered in a rosette. The leaf blades are thrice pinnately dissected, up to 8 cm long; the terminal lobes are linear, up to 2.5 mm long. The umbel has rays of varying lengths; the central umbel is 10-rayed, sessile, and fruiting; the lateral umbels are often sterile. The umbels are 5-7-flowered; the flowers are of different sexes, the calyx has 5 lanceolate-needle-like teeth that become woody at fruit maturity; the petals are white and elongated. The fruits are up to 6 mm long, with semi-fruits that are rounded and ribbed.
Biological features. Blooms in July, fruits in August.
Distribution general and in the country. The species is known from a single type specimen from the western end of the Kyrgyz Ridge. All other collections of this species are questionable and presumably belong to the genera Schrenkia or Schtschurowskia.
Habitat. The specimen was collected on a rocky slope with gravelly scree, at an altitude between 1700 and 1900 m above sea level.
Population. Not found in subsequent searches.
Limiting factors. Likely intensive livestock grazing.
Cultivation. No data available.
Existing conservation measures. Included in the Red Book of the Kazakh SSR (1981), as there are suitable biotopes in the Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve, and there were unreliable reports of the species' presence. Included in the Red Book of the USSR (1984). In Kyrgyzstan, listed in the Red Book in 1985.
Recommended conservation measures. Continue searching for the species in nature and organize a botanical reserve.
Sclerotiaria
Sclerotiaria pentaceros (Korov.) Korov.
Status: Critically endangered (CR B2ab (iii)). This medium-sized perennial plant is representative of a monotypic genus (a unique element of the world genetic fund) and is still known only by type specimen despite special searches. The species was found in the western part of the Alexander Mountain Range on a metal slope with scree, between 1,700 and 1,900 m above sea level. All other records were unauthentic and belong to other genera. Period of flowering: July, fruiting in August, propagation is presumably generative (by seeds) only. Unordered excessive pasturage is one of the possible limiting factors for the species. The species is included in the USSR Red Book. It is necessary to rediscover this plant and organize special protection for the species, as well as introduce it into cultivation (from collected seeds).
