Geographical distribution, habitats and modern state of Carlina cirsioides (Asteraceae) populations

The study of the current state and habitats of rare and threatened species of plants is a relevant task of ecological research. The paper presents the results of the study of systematic position, habitats and modern state of populations of a rare species included in the Red DataBook of Ukraine Carlina cirsioides Klokov (=C. acaulis L.). Carlina cirsioides is well-known to European phytosozologists as an endemic and relic species of the Flora of Ukraine. At the same time, the species independence of this taxon is not recognized by the authors of monographs on the Carlina genus and by the authors of “Flora Europaea”. Comparative morphological, chorological and ecological-coenotic analyses do not give sufficient reasons to consider C. cirsioides described by Klokov as a separate species, endemic and relic species of the Flora of Ukraine. According to the morphological traits, the specimens from the lowland part of Ukraine belong to the C. acaulis caulescens subspecies, which is distributed mostly in the lowlaand regions of Europe. Ecological-coenotic conditions of habitats of C. acaulis in the plains of Ukraine are different from those in the mountain regions and are close to the plains habitats of this species in Central Europe. Steppe communities of class Festuco-Brometea, of which C. acaulis is component in the plains part of Ukraine, are close to xerothermic herbaceous communities of Central Europe; forest communities of Erico-Pinetea with C. cirsioides in Ukrainian Polissia and the North-East Poland are very сlose by floristic composition. The removal of separate species status of the plains populations of C. acaulis near the eastern border of the range does not at all downplay its sozological significance. Taking into account the low number of C. acaulis in the Volhynian-Podolian Upland and in the Polesian Lowland, all localities of this species in the lowland part of the range in Ukraine must be taken under protection in situ

Aconitum lasiocarpum and A. variegatum (Ranunculaceae) populations near the eastern limits of their ranges in the lowlands of Ukraine

The study of the ranges, habitats and current state of rare and threatened species of plants is a relevant task of ecological research. The paper presents the results of the study of habitats and current state of populations of two rare species of Ukrainian flora Aconitum lasiocarpum (Rchb.) Gáyer and A. variegatum L. (Ranunculaceae) in the lowlands of Ukraine. These species are members of the mountain element of the flora of lowlands of Ukraine and glacial relics, which descended from the Carpathians Mountains to the lowlands of Ukraine during glaciation. Aconitum lasiocarpum is a rare species of European flora, included to the Red Data Books of the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Poland and Ukraine. Unlike the well studied A. lasiocarpum populations in the main part of the range in the Carpathian Mountains, local populations of this species near the eastern limit of the range in the lowlands of Ukraine remain undescribed. In these exclaves of the range in the lowlands of Ukraine A. lasiocarpum is a glacial relic. Here it grows in alder forests Ribo nigri-Alnetum ordo Alnion glutinosa alliance. Lowland A. lasiocarpum populations consist of 1000–10000 adults with a significant number of young individuals. In the past lowland A. lasiocarpum populations occupied a much large area. Deforestation and drainage melioration led to reduction of the populations. Taking into account the low number of glacial relic populations at the eastern limit of the range of A. lasiocarpum, all localities of this species in the lowland part of the range in Ukraine must be taken under protection in situ. Aconitum variegatum L. grows in wet alder and oak forest and in areas with hazel shrubs. The populations of this species in lowlands of Ukraine occupy a very small area and are characterized by low numbers of individuals. In the past populations of this species in the lowlands of Ukraine occupied a larger area. As a rare species of the Ukrainian flora A. variegatum deserves to be included to the Red Data Book of Ukraine. We propose to protect the unique population of A. variegatum near Susk village in Rivne region as a botanical reserve