Protected Areas of Armenia

The Erebuni Reserve

The Erebuni Reserve of grain is situated near Yerevan on tertiary red lay soil. This precious and ancient collection of wild cereals has existed here for millions of years. Approximately 300 sorts of plants grow here on the area of 90 hectares. These collection consist generally of year-old wild cereals - Araratian, Urartu, and Beotiān (Triricum araraticum, T.urartu, T.boeticum) wheats, numerous sorts of Aegilops and Secale vavilovii. The most dense, pure and fluffy cereals 70-75cm tall found in the reserve give the impression of a densely sowed wheat field. Here one can see rich material for scientific, practical and selection activity - over 100 kinds of wheat. Some interesting endemic kinds such as Amblyopyrum muticum, Actinolema macrolema, Szovitsia callicarpa and Cichorium glandulosum can be found only here. Some of them - unique umbellate Hohenackeria excapa and small (1-2cm tall) Rhizocephalus orientalis - are disappearing kinds and are included in the Red Book of Armenia and the former Soviet Union.

There are also plant associations with Iris reticulata and Iris elegantissima that grows on the southern slopes of the Erebuni Reserve.

The avifauna is quite diverse and is represented by Quail, Chukar, Grey Partridge , Turtle Dove, Common Kestrel, Little Owl, Nightjar, European Rollers and others. The common species of mammals in the reserve are fox, vair and field mouse. Sometimes one can see marten, wolf, badger and Persian and Vinogradov's launces.

Near the reserve live many rare species of beetles, reptiles as well as 9 species of snakes and lizards such as marsh frog, green toad, hyla, mountain and slender racers, Gluss-lizard and five-streaked lizard, Pleskes and Strauch's racerunners, golden grass skink and others.