Rubus takhtadjanii Mulkidzhanyan (1957: 125)

Akopian, Janna, 2024, Taxonomic synopsis of the genus Rubus (Rosaceae) in Armenia, Phytotaxa 677 (2), pp. 125-143 : 133-135

9. Rubus takhtadjanii Mulkidzhanyan (1957: 125) . Syntype:— ARMENIA. Zangezur, Kafan district, village Tsav, above the bridge, on the right bank of the river, scree, sample 5, 8 September 1955. Ya. Mulkidzhanyan 64768 (ERE). ( Fig. 4 E, F )

Distribution in Armenia: Zangezur floristic region. Endemic to Armenia. Grows on the slopes of mountain river gorges, at forest edges, in shrubberies, on stony slopes and rocks, loamy screes, along roadsides, at an altitude of 800–1400 m above sea level.

Phenology: Flowering June–July; fruiting July–September.

Conservation status. It is included in the Red Book of Plants of the Republic of Armenia under the category Endangered species ( Tamanyan et al., 2010) and in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as Critically Endangered species (URL: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/200440/2660035). Limiting factors are restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy. Conservation actions: grows in the area of “Shikahogh” State Reserve of the Republic of Armenia.

Selected specimens. ARMENIA: Zangezur, Kafan region, Tsav river, near the bridge, right bank of the river, rocky slope, 12 October 1954, Mulkidzhanyan (ERE 66873, barcode ERE0001001); Kafan district, Tsav village, above the bridge, on the right side of the river, scree, sample N5, 8 October 1955, Mulkidzhanyan (ERE 64768, barcode ERE0000929); Kafan district, Tsav village, right bank of the Tsav river, rocky scree, 7 August 1955, Mulkidzhanyan 58844 (barcode ERE0000930), 58845 (barcode ERE0000931); Kafan region, Tsav village, above the bridge, on the right side of the river, scree, sample N5, 8 August 1955, Mulkidzhanyan 135969 (barcode ERE0001002); Kafan district, Srashen village, beech copse, 1200-1400 m above sea level, north-eastern slope, 24 July 1959, Mulkidzhanyan 64509 (barcode ERE0013928), 64767 (barcode ERE0013929); Zangezur, Kafan district, plane tree grove, along the river. Tsav, 7 June 1967, Mulkidzhanyan, Manakyan 85202 (barcode ERE0013932); Zangezur, Kafan region, Shikahokh reserve, beech forest, 25 July 1959, Grigoryan 98405 (barcode ERE0013931), 98404 (barcode ERE0013930); Syunik province, pr. Nerkin Hand vil., 660 m a.s.l., 39 o 03'47''N, 46 o 31'58''E, 26 June 2005, Gonzalo et al. 202291 (ERE); Syunik marz, Kapan region, vicinity of Kapan town, Khustup reservation, Quercus and Taxus forest, 1863 m a.s.l., N 39 o 09'59.64'', E 46 o 20'26.33'', 7 August 2023, Gabrielyan, Aghatelyan, Karapetyan 202330a, 202330b, 202330c (ERE).

Section 3. Tomentosi Focke (1877: 225)

Annual shoots erect, partly prostrate, grooved, with almost uniform prickles, sometimes with bristles and glands; leaves 3–5-foliolate, with grooved petioles, leaflets above with stellate hairs, less often glabrous, white-felt below.

Inflorescence dense, elongated, almost cylindrical; sepals recurved down at fruits, felt-pubescent; drupelets dryish, with ellipsoid stones.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Leaves and fragments of stems of Rubus cartalinicus (Ijevan× Berd, forest road, 1100 m a.s.l., 15August 1954, Mulkidzhanyan 58311, ERE)—A, B; R. peruncinatus (Dzoraget gorge, near the hydroelectric station, folia 1, 10 August 1955, Mulkidzhanyan 58324, ERE)—C, D; R. takhtadjanii (Zangezur, Kafan region, Shikahokh reserve, beech forest, 25 July 1959, Grigoryan 98405, ERE)—E, F.