Sona V. Galstyan

Author information: KMa, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7658-0844; JK, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9983-7630; RGA, https://orcid.org/0009-0000-0176-7252; JČ, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2370-2051; AHE, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7930-5696; SVG, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7678-9648; AGG, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4580-2061; AVH, https://orcid.org/0009-0009-4791-3919; IH, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9905-381X; ZHH, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8880-2144; IJ, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2105-5310; TK, –; EK, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9641-5750; FK, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8793-7992; CL, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2450-5455; TM, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6485-0563; KMa, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7658-0844; LYuM, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9385-6462; LM, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4478-5930; LAM, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1283-3865; KMu, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1585-6226; YMN, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4749-0839; AAN, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4380-7715; MN, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1594-2418; AP, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3620-6695; AVP, https://orcid.org/0009-0004-3522-5936; PP, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8500-442X; BŠ, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6487-6373; KS, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1452-5428; MŠ, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5919-890X; SŠ, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4809-4379; GŠ, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7439-2911; EZ, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2992-2941; JZ‐L, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8950-6643

This article provides information about the discovery of new and rare plant species in the Caspian region and Southwest Asia. In total, the article presents new findings for 19 species of vascular plants from 5 countries, registered during field research, as well as during the revision of herbarium materials. For the first time, Lycium ruthenicum is reported for the flora of Armenia. A new record for the flora of Russia is Valeriana plagiostephana collected from the territory of Dagestan, and Gelasia tuberosa is for the first time reported for the flora of Turkmenistan. The remaining 16 findings, while not new to the countries, significantly expand the understanding of the distribution of these species. Thus, for the flora of Armenia, new locations of some rare and alien species are given that complement existing information (Foeniculum vulgare, Tripidium ravennae, Eleusine indica, Bothriochloa bladhii, Cleistogenes serotina, Adiantum capillus-veneris, Dianthus transcaucasicus). In Iran, three species (Chaerophyllum aureum, Heliotropium circinatum, and Bryonia monoica) are reported for the first time for Kurdistan (Western Iran) and one species (Haplophyllum canaliculatum) for Sistan and Baluchistan (Southeastern Iran). For the first time, Crassula vaillantii and Marsilea strigosa are indicated for the Atyrau Region of Kazakhstan. Bupleurum tenuissimum is given for the first time for the flora of Dagestan (Russian Federation). In Turkmenistan, a new location of the rare species Jurinea transhyrcanica was discovered for the first time in the western part of the Central Karakum, and a population of Crataegus germanica, which was considered extinct, was discovered in the South-Western Kopet Dag. For each species information on location, general distribution, occupied habitats and population status is provided.

Societal Impact Statement: Ecosystem services are underpinned by biodiversity, which is rapidly eroding globally, threatening rural livelihoods and culture. Examining the uses of wild edible plants (WEPs) that are important to rural communities gives insight into the value of a biodiverse landscape to local communities. Here, the importance of considering age groups in future ethnobotanical and conservation studies is highlighted, as this can enhance our understanding on the dependence of use within a landscape, informing more inclusive conservation actions.Summary: Wild edible plants (WEP) remain an important aspect of many rural communities across the world, yet the decline in the diversity and knowledge of WEP use is becoming a global concern. In the Biodiversity Hotspot of the Caucasus, there is few cross‐cultural and multigenerational comparisons of plant uses, limiting our knowledge of resource use and dependence within biodiverse landscapes. Here, we investigate the patterns of use for wild edible fruits and nuts in the South Caucasus, focusing on multigenerational differences in harvesting patterns, diversity and use through semi‐structured interviews in Armenia and Georgia. We calculated use values (UV) for each genera harvested and compared the diversity of genera used between age groups. Pearson chi‐square was used to explore the relationship between age‐groups and genera harvested. We found 53% of rural population (n = 220) actively harvest from wild populations, with older age groups harvesting the highest diversity of plants. Twenty‐four species from 16 genera are harvested, withBerberis vulgarisL. andRosa caninaL. shared between both communities. The association between age and diversity of harvested genera was significant (χ²_{[48,N= 506]}= 114.75,p < .01), mainly driven by a strong positive association withBerberisspp. L.,Crataegusspp. L. andRibesspp. L. with the under 18s andPrunusspp. L. with under 35s. Young harvesters used WEP for income generation, while medicinal use increases across older age groups. Foraging activities within South Caucasus' communities remains active; however, the use of WEP is not uniform within and across different communities.