CR

Zangezurian Pennycress

Noccaea zangezuricum

Unknown

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Noccaea zangezuricum faces severe threats from mining activities and infrastructure development in its restricted Armenian mountain range. The species' extremely limited distribution makes it highly vulnerable to habitat destruction, while climate change poses additional risks to its specialized alpine environment. Overgrazing by livestock further degrades the fragile mountain ecosystems where this endemic plant survives.

Threat summary

Habitat

This endemic Armenian species inhabits specialized alpine and subalpine rocky habitats in the Zangezur Mountains. It grows on limestone cliffs, rocky slopes, and crevices at high elevations, requiring specific geological and climatic conditions found only in this restricted mountain range.

Rocky areas· major

Conservation measures underway

Species recovery

Other threatened species in BRASSICACEAE

CR

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Erysimum deflexum

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Erysimum verrucosum

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Aethionema orbiculatum

Unknown

Threatened in Armenia

Scarce BlackneckCR

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Blind SnailVU

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Cecilioides acicula

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Zangezurian Cornflower

Psephellus zangezuri

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Zangezurian Pennycress classified as Critically Endangered?
Zangezurian Pennycress is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Noccaea zangezuricum faces severe threats from mining activities and infrastructure development in its restricted Armenian mountain range. The species' extremely limited distribution makes it highly vulnerable to habitat destruction, while climate change poses additional risks to its specialized alpine environment. Overgrazing by livestock further degrades the fragile mountain ecosystems where this endemic plant survives.
Where does Zangezurian Pennycress live?
Zangezurian Pennycress occurs in Armenia. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Zangezurian Pennycress?
The main threats to Zangezurian Pennycress are 2.3, ai-1, ai-2, and ai-3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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