Comparative analysis of the local flora of Penza region

Abstract

Background. The analysis of local floras reveals floristic diversity in most detail. This component of biodiversity is basic for its study and is important for solving scientific and practical problems. Materials and methods. In Penza region, three floras of the physiographic region and seven local floras are considered. Each local flora has been described from an area of 400 km2 and includes 589–804 species. The initial lists of species for all floras were compiled during a number of field seasons for 2010–2022; literature data were also used. Results. The flora of Penza region is characterized by the Rosaceae type, which is also preserved in each of the districts, both in the complete flora and in the native fraction. The difference between the proportions of the Rosaceae and Fabaceae families is most noticeable in the flora of the Zasursky district, which is the most forested and is located in the northeastern part of the region. In the spectra of families of adventitious fractions of the considered floras, the leading four are: Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Poaceae, and Fabaceae. For the considered floras of all three regions, the genus Vicia is the most numerous in the composition of legumes. The generic spectrum of the Rosaceae family in relation to the leading genera has differences: in the southern regions, the genus Potentilla is in the lead. The genus Alchemilla holds the first place in the composition of the flora of the Zasursky region. In the aboriginal fractions of local floras, the third place in the spectra of families is occupied by Rosaceae, and the genus Vicia dominates in the generic spectrum of the family Fabaceae. Five local floras include the genus Alchemilla, which is one of the leaders in the Rosaceae family. Two local floras located in the southern part have no representatives of Alchemilla and Potentilla dominates in Rosaceae. The local floras differ in the proportions of the Cyperaceae family. Conclusions. The considered floras of the physiographic regions, as well as the local floras, belong to the Rosaceae type. At the same time, Potentilla or Alchemilla can dominate in the Rosaceae family.

Keywords

• local flora
• taxonomic spectra
• leading families
• leading genera
• penza region