A critically endangered flowering perennial herb, found in only one location in Armenia, is being sold on the streets of Yerevan for less than one dollar a bunch.

The Ministry of the Environment says that it has received numerous complaints on the matter.

Those found guilty of harvesting the plantface a 25,000 dram fine for each stalk.

Sternbergia fischeriana, commonly called the “yellow snowdrop” is only found in the Zangezur region of Armenia, near the village of Nerkin Vachakan. The flower is listed in Armenia’s Red Book of Endangered Species.

It grows in the lower mountain belt, at the altitudes of 600–800 meters above sea level, in dry stony forest slopes. It is also found in Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria.