THE STATUS OF PEONY AND SEDGE RARE SPECIES ON THE NOVOMARYEVSKAYA GLADE

Abstract

Biodiversity preservation is a global problem. In 1992, the Convention on Biological Diversity was adopted at the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro in connection with the acute problem of considerable  reduction in the diversity of genetic resources. Disappearance  of species is associated with both natural factors (the general climatic changes) and the constant increase in anthropogenic loading. The article presents the current state of rare peony species (Paeonia tenuifolia L., Paeonia biberschtieniana Bieb) and sedges (Carex humilis Leys., Carex michelii Host., Carex tomentosa L.) on the Novomaryevskaya Glade. It’s the regional botanical reserve of 144,8 hectares in area, which is located 15 km from the city of Stavropol. This is аn array  of natural meadow vegetation, steppes with rare virgin herbs: Anacamptis morio ssp. picta (Loisel.) Jacquet & Scappat., Adonis vernalis L., Bellevalia sarmatica (Georgi) Woronow., Paeonia tenuifolia L., etc. The projective  cover is dense: from 81 to 98%.

The age spectrum of populations, the species composition and characteristics of the steppe phytocenosis, the occurrence, abundance in the cenosis, and the phenophase in which the plants are located were explored, and height was also determined. The coordinates, approximate areas were determined and populations of sedges and peonies were described. It was found that the populations Paeonia tenuifolia L. and Carex michelii, C. humilis Leys., С. tomentosa L. are stable, vital, without the presence of prussic  plants, their renewal occurs annually, as plants of all age groups were observed on the studied plots with no signs of aging.