A. armenum Boiss. & Huet. in Boiss., Diagn. ser. 2(4):64(1859). Figure 15. Map 63.
Rather densely pulvinate glaucous to glaucous-green shrublet. Leaves linear-lanceolate to linear-triquetrous, 20-40 x 1-3 mm, margins scabrid. Scape shorter than, equalling or slightly exceeding leaves. Spikes laxly distichous. Spikelets 6-12; rachis ± flexuous. Outer bract usually longer than inner bracts, sometimes bracts subequal or outer bract slightly shorter than inner bracts; outer bract triangular-lanceolate; inner bracts oblong-lanceolate, with broad hyaline margin, shortly cuspidate. Calyx tube pilose, limb white or brownish off-white (in dry state), obscurely 5- or 10-lobed; veins bright purple, rarely concolorous with limb. Petals pink. Fl. 6-9. Stony slopes, 500-2740 m.
1. Leaves 2-3 mm broad; outer bract usually longer than inner bracts var. armenum
1. Leaves to 1.5 mm broad; outer bract usually equalling (rarely shorter or longer than) inner bracts var. balansae
var. balansae Boiss. & Huet in Boiss., Diagn. ser. 2(4):64 (1859). Syn: A. balansae (Boiss. & Huet) Bunge in Mém. Acad. Sci. Pétersb. ser. 7, 18(2):36 (1872); A. haussknechtii Bunge, op. cit. 37 (1872)!
Type: [Turkey B5 Kayseri] in jugo Aslan dach (Aslantaş) Antitauri 12 leucis (48 km) ad orientem Caesareae in Cappadocia, 1856, Balansa (holo. G). S. & E. Anatolia. B6 Sivas: d. Kangal, 3 km from Böğrüdelik on Behramcali, 1750 m, Hub.-Mor. 14466! B7 Erzincan: Ak Da., 1370 m, Balls 1508! C6 Maraş: Ahir Da. above Maraş, 900 m, vii 1865, Hausskn. (type of A. hauss-knechtuy. Hatay: N. of Belen, G. Post. Adiyaman: Ak Da., Malatya to Adiyaman, 2745 m, vii 1865, Hausskn.!
Soviet Armenia? Ir.-Tur. element.