RARE DENDROEXOTIC PLANTS OF THE MAGNOLIOPHITA DIVISION IN THE KREMENETS BOTANICAL GARDEN

Abstract

This article describes rare dendroexotic species belonging to the Magnoliophyta division, focusing on their ecomorphology, biomorphology, geographical origin, and species composition. It also establishes their conservation status based on global Red Lists and the Red Data Book of Ukraine. The Kremenets Botanical Garden is home to 84 rare dendroexotic species of the Magnoliophyta division. These species represent 30 families and 48 genera within the same class, division, kingdom, and domain. In total, there are 166 taxa. Geographically, these rare species originate from the Holarctic kingdom, Boreal subkingdom. A significant portion (62 %) come from the Circumboreal and Atlantic-North American floristic regions, while 31 % are from the East Asian and Mediterranean regions. The smallest group, 7 %, originates from the Iranian-Turanian region. Analysis of ecological features reveals that the collection of dendrocotyledons is predominantly composed of heliophytes (62 %), mesophytes (49 %), and mesotrophs (56 %).
Biomorphological analysis shows the following distribution of life forms among the rare Magnoliophyta species in the Kremenets Botanical Garden: Deciduous trees: 54 species (64 %), Deciduous shrubs: 25 species (30 %), Evergreen shrubs: 5 species (6 %).
An ecomorphological analysis of the flora, based on Raunkiaer's system and adaptive plant features, indicates that meso- and microphanerophytes are the most represented (64 species, or 76 %). They are followed by megaphanerophytes (17 species, or 20 %), with chamaephytes being the least common (3 species, or 4 %).
According to the IUCN classification, several plants in the collection require special attention: Critically Endangered (CR): 2 species – Betula klokovii and Sorbus torminalis; Endangered (EN): 3 species – Magnolia stellata, Malus niedzwetzkyana, and Magnolia officinalis; Vulnerable (VU): 5 species – Daphne cneorum, Syringa josikaea, Pterocarya pterocarpa, Aesculus hippocastanum, and Euonymus nana; Near Threatened (NT): 4 species – Staphylea pinnata, Fraxinus excelsior, Fraxinus ornus, and Betula obscura. All other species fall under the Least Concern (LC) and Data Deficient (DD) categories, indicating they are currently at the lowest threat level.
This publication offers a comprehensive overview of the rare flora species found in the Kremenets Botanical Garden, highlighting their inclusion in regional, national, and international conservation lists due to their importance for the functioning of natural ecosystems.