Home – Home – Jornals – Flora and Vegetation of Asian Russia 2024 number 2

The anthecology of the perennial herbaceous long-rhizome polycarpic plant, Galium odoratum (L.) Scop., in the Moscow region was studied. The observations were carried out in 2021-2023 according to generally accepted methods. At low illumination (less than 15 % of total sunlight) only perfect flowers are formed. With increasing illumination (to up to 60 % of full sunlight in clear weather), both perfect and staminate flowers are formed on individuals. The perfect flowers of G. odoratum are strictly protandrous. The life span of perfect flowers was 12-14 days, that of staminate flowers up to 2 days. The opening of flowers in synflorescence and in its structural units (dichasia) occurs in a clear sequence following to the order of branching of the shoot on which the flowers are formed. According to the ratio of the number of pollen grains and ovules in perfect flowers (from 1358 to 3010), G. odoratum represents a facultatively xenogamous plant. In habitats with a high degree of illumination, the perfect and staminate flowers of G. odoratum are characterized by a morning opening rhythm with a maximum at 8 a.m. In low illumination, the flowers open a few hours later.

The success of plant introduction (transfer to new environmental conditions) is largely determined by their various biological features. This article analyzes the results of the introduction of several hundred species of herbaceous plants into the southern taiga of the Middle Urals (Ekaterinburg) and Western Siberia (Tomsk), as well as into some other introduction points of the taiga zone. The influence of the specificity of geographical distribution of species (chorological and zonal groups), their life forms, the pattern of seasonal development and phenorhythmotypes on the success of introduction was studied. General biological features of the species have been identified that contribute to their successful introduction into the southern taiga subzone, which suggests the stability and reliability of the established patterns. It has been shown that species distributed throughout Europe (except Southern Europe) and in Northern Asia are promising for introduction into these conditions. The introduction of forest (boreal and nemoral) species is proceeding successfully. The result of the analysis of the life forms of introduced species showed that hemicryptophytes are the most promising (according to the classification of K. Raunkier), herbaceous long-rhizome and creeping plants (according to the classification of I.G. Serebryakov) characterized by a high intensity of vegetative propagation. Species that regrowth early and begin flowering early during the growing season are also promising. The least successful introduction into the southern taiga is typical for Mediterranean and South-West Asian species, as well as for those distributed in the subtropical zone. Species with the life form of chamephytes (according to the classification of K. Raunkier) and subshrubs (according to the classification of I.G. Serebryakov) are of little prospectivity, as well as species characterized by late times of spring regrowth and the beginning of flowering.

Comparative data of phytochemical evaluation of the content of biologically active substances, antiradical activity and antiviral properties in plant raw materials of Astragalus glycyphyllos L. from wild populations of the forest-steppe zone of Western Siberia are presented. During the vegetation period the dynamics of the content and the peculiarities of accumulation of the total content of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, tannins, phenolic acids, saponins, carotenoids, chlorophylls a and b, pectins and protopectins were investigated, changes in antiradical activity and antiviral action against human influenza virus - A/Aichi/2/68 (H3N2) and bird - A/chicken/Kurgan/05/2005 (H5N1) in extracts obtained from plant raw materials of above-ground and underground parts of A. glycyphyllos. It was found that the aboveground part of A. glycyphyllos is richer in BAS content than its underground part. In the aboveground part of A. glycyphyllos maximum amounts of most biologically active substances of the studied groups are accumulated in different phases of development, but mainly in the phase of fruiting termination. In the underground part, only protopectins were found in maximum amounts in the phases of the beginning of vegetation and fruiting. The antiradical activity of extracts from above-ground and underground parts of A. glycyphyllos was manifested during the whole vegetation period, but samples from raw materials of above-ground and underground parts at the end of vegetation were more effective. The study of toxicity and antiviral effect of extracts obtained from raw materials of both parts of Astragalus glycyphyllos in maximum tolerated concentrations showed that the IN of the extracts was within the range from 0 to 1.5 lg, depending on the subtype of influenza A virus, the growing season of A. glycyphyllos, its part in the study and the type of extract. Compared to the control, there was a significant decrease in the infectivity of human influenza virus and avian influenza virus under the influence of A. glycyphyllos extracts.

Data on four species of the genus Pleurotaenium Nägeli found by us in water bodies of the southern part of the Russian Far East have been published. Rare taxa P. subcoronulatum var. detum and P. caldense var. cristatum were recently discovered by us in the Bastak Nature Reserve (Jewish Autonomous Region). P. cylindricum var. stuhlmannii and P. verrucosum are recorded for the Russian Federation for the first time. The diagnoses of species based on our material, information about the location of species and their distribution are given. According to the available literature data, the species and varieties of the genus Pleurotaenium that we found are most often occur in South America (in particular, Brazil) and East Asian countries. Apparently, the presence of the species of the genus that we discovered indicates the proximity of the flora of desmid algae in the southern regions of the Russian Far East to the East Asian region. The data obtained make it possible to supplement and expand information on the distribution of desmids and representatives of the genus Pleurotaenium in Asia.

Five species new to the adventive flora of the Republic of Altai are reported: Colchicum speciosum Steven, Cuscuta campestris Yunck., Lamium maculatum (L.) L., Phalaroides japonica Steud., Prunus cerasus L. New locations of 11 species were discovered: Amaranthus blitum L., Astragalus falcatus Lam., Callistephus chinensis (L.) Nees, Carduus acanthoides L., Euphorbia marginata Pursh, Ipomoea purpurea (L.) Roth., Picris hieracioides L., Reynoutria japonica Houtt., R. sachalinensis (F. Schmidt) Nakai, Rudbeckia hirta L. and Stachys annua (L.) L., rare in the region. For 10 alien species, penetration into new areas was noted, among them Arctium minus (Hill) Bernh, Galinsoga parviflora Cav. and Lepidium ruderale L., which are invasive species in the Republic of Altai. Features of the settlement in the republic of Amaranthus blitum L., Carduus acanthoides L., Portulaca oleracea L., Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) Planch., Reynoutria japonica Houtt., Rudbeckia laciniata L., Rumex obtusifolius L., Thladiantha dubia Bunge allow them to be classified as potentially invasive species in the region. Most of the species discussed are xenophytes, accidentally introduced species.

As a result of the studies conducted in 2020-2022, seven species and subspecies of alien vascular plants were identified on the territory of Omsk Region. Four of them have not been previously recorded for this territory (Inula helenium L., Prunus pumila L. var. pumila и Prunus pumila var. besseyi (L.H. Bailey) Waugh., Rosa spinosissima L.). For three species (Astragalus cicer L., Aquilegia vulgaris L. and Centaurea jacea L.) new localities were found. For each species (subspecies) a list of locations is provided with an indication of the geographical coordinates of the collection or observation sites. The detected findings of alien species are mainly confined mainly to settlements and areas under intensive economic turnover. The path of introduction and the degree of naturalization of alien species were assessed. By mode of introduction Centaurea jacea and Inula helenium are xenoergasiophygophytes, while Astragalus cicer, Aquilegia vulgaris, Prunus pumila var. besseyi, P. pumila var. pumila and Rosa spinosissima are ergasiophygophytes. The appearance of Prunus pumila var. pumila in the region is probably connected with creation of forest windbreaks in steppe areas of the region in 1970-1990s, appearance of other species is connected with their cultivation in homestead plots. Centaurea jacea is an autochthonous species in the southern subtaiga of Omsk Region, while in the forest-steppe zone it is an alien species. According to the degree of naturalisation, most of the detected plants are colonophytes, while Centaurea jacea is an epecophyte in the forest-steppe and Aquilegia vulgaris is an ephemerophyte. Findings were confirmed by herbarium specimens or geo-referenced photographic observations.

Distribution of two species of the type section of the genus Saussurea DC. was clarified. S. controversa DC. is reported here for the first time for the flora of China, S. stubendorffii Herd. is new for the Tomsk Region of Russia. For the first time, gynodioecy-gynomonoecy sexual system was described for these species, and it was found that in natural populations of S. controversa and S. stubendorffii female, hermaphroditic and gynomonoecious plants, bearing both types of flowers, are present.

Two new associations representing desert steppes of the south-east of European Russia have been described in the alliance Tanaceto achilleifolii-Stipion lessingianae (Festuco-Brometea). Асс. Carici stenophyllae-Poetum bulbosae Korolyuk ass. nov. (Suppl., Table 1, rel. 1-22) represents desert steppes dominated by semischrubs and bunchgrasses common in the Volga and Don basins on plains and river terraces. Diagnostic species (D. s.): Anisantha tectorum, Carex stenophylla, Erophila verna, Gagea bulbifera, Lappula patula, Leymus ramosus, Limonium sareptanum, Veronica verna.

On January 3, 2024, Vladimir Ivanovich Ermolaev, a famous hydrobiologist, algologist of Siberian algae, candidate of biological sciences, a devotee of science and a man of great soul, passed away. All scientific activities of V.I. Ermolaev is associated with the Central Siberian Botanical Garden of the SB RAS. He studied the species composition of phytoplankton algae in large fishing lakes in the south of Western Siberia: Chany, Ubinskoye, Sartlan. He established the patterns of seasonal dynamics of algae, a certain distribution of algae throughout the water area of reservoirs. He is the author and co-author of three monographs. For a long time he headed the laboratory of lower plants of the CSBG SB RAS.