Conservation status of endemic species Paeonia wendelboi Ruksans & Zetterl.

The conservation status of Paeonia wendelboi was defined according to the categories and criteria of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This species is restricted to Gilan province and the borderline of ​​Gilan and Ardabil provinces. Paeonia wendelboi grows on dry, scree/talus, relatively steep slopes in the mountain region above the Hyrcanian forest tree-line. This plant is characterized by its small size and deep yellow flowers from other Iranian Peonies. In this study, the number of habitats, Extent of Occurrence (EOO), Area of Occupancy (AOO), number of populations, and adult individuals in the population were evaluated. This plant with four isolated populations and about 124 adult plants and an EOO and AOO of 1550 km2 and one km2, respectively, is assigned as a critically endangered (CR) species. Habitat destruction and harvesting are the main threatening factors of this ornamental plant. To protect P. wendelboi, it is suggested to introduce this rare species as a national and natural heritage.