Flora accompanying Prunus ledebouriana (Schltdl.) Y.Y.Yao in the Tarbagatai State National Park in Kazakhstan

Abstract

The current state of the Prunus ledebouriana (Schltdl.) Y.Y. Yao population growing at various altitudes on the shrub and steppe belts of the Tarbagatai ridge and its species composition were studied. The methods of floristic composition analysis were applied for the first time. The complete composition of accompanying species including Prunus ledebouriana was studied on the territory of Tarbagatai State National Park. The originality of this work was in creation of a distribution map for the Prunus ledebouriana population.  Samples collected in the park from various sources were used as material.  The results are presented in the form of a list including 511 species (52 families) that grow together with Prunus ledebouriana in this area.  The leading families in terms of species number: Asteraceae Dumort. (75 species/ 35.2%), Fabaceae Lindl. (56 species/ 40.8%), Poaceae Barnhart. (52 species/ 32.5%), Rosaceae Juss. (43 species/ 44.3%), and Ranunculaceae Juss (39 species/ 50%).  Species diversity of the families: Asteraceae Dumort. 22%, Fabaceae Lindl. 17%, Poaceae Barnhart. 16%, Rosaceae Juss. 13%, Ranunculaceae Juss. 12%, Brassicaceae Burnett. 7%, Apiaceae Lindl. 7%, and Scrophulariaceae Juss. 6% of all species growing with Prunus ledebouriana. The results of research can be used for species identification and organization of conservation activities for the rare plant species Prunus ledebouriana. The studied herbarium samples of Prunus ledebouriana (Institute of plant biology and biotechnology, Almaty, Kazakhstan) were transferred to the herbarium fund of the Institute of Botany and Phytointroduction (Almaty, Kazakhstan).