WILD PEARS OF ARMENIA

DIVERSITY, ENDEMICS AND CONSERVATION

Abstract

The paper presents the wild pear diversity and distribution in Armenia with focus on endemism. As result of the fieldwork, literature and herbarium studies six main “hotspots” for pear diversity are identified within the country. The list of pear species for each site are given. The questions and challenges in research and conservation of Pyrus L. in Armenia are discussed - the main difficulties are linked with the proper evaluation of the morphological polymorphism in populations and ongoing hybridization processes within the genus. It is mentioned, that there is strong need for critical taxonomic review of Pyrus sp. in Armenia and so the taxonomic status of some endemic pear species need to be clarified