Hedysarum grandiflorum (Fabaceae) in Ukraine: distribution, phytocoenotic and population specifics, conservation

Abstract

The geographical distribution, ecological and coenotic conditions of habitats, and the current state of populations of Hedysarum grandiflorum Pall. (Fabaceae), a rare, relict and endemic species of the European flora, was studied. In Ukraine, this species occurs mainly in the Central Russian Upland, Azov Upland, Donets Ridge, and the Black Sea Lowland. In the Dnieper Upland and Dnieper Lowland, only single localities of the species were found. In total, H. grandiflorum is known in Ukraine from 83 localities, including 19 in protected areas. In Ukraine, H. grandiflorum occupies specific ecotopes on chalk and marl slopes. forming agglomerations with Thymus calcare-us Klokov & Des.-Shost. In the past, H. grandiflorum was a component of pine forests in Ukraine. Nowadays such habitats remained in Greece and the Russian Federation. Comparative investigation of H. grandiflorum habitats within its entire range confirms the view of D. Litvinov (1891) that the species is a tertiary pine forest relict. The modern habitats in chalk and marl slopes were formed due to canopy degradation influenced by both natural and anthropogenic factors. Grazing in habitats of H. grandiflorum leads to degradation and elimination of the species’ populations. As a rare, endan-gered, endemic, and relict species of the European flora, H. grandiflorum is included to the Red Data Book of Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, and the Russian Federation. Including the species into the new edition of the Red Data Book of Ukraine is also necessary for statewide conservation of the species’ populations.

Keywords

• hedysarum grandiflorum
• distribution
• habitat
• populations
• conservation
• ukraine