Study of Trollius dschungaricus Regel (Ranunculaceae Juss.) in the flora of the Saty Gorge

Abstract

The article presents the results of an analysis of herbarium and contemporary data on the distribution of Trollius dschungaricus within the Saty Gorge, located in the eastern part of the Kungey Alatau range. The study is primarily based on herbarium specimen collections, supplemented by data from the online platforms GBIF and iNaturalist, as well as materials gathered during field expeditions to natural populations.

A floristic list has been compiled, including 157 species of higher vascular plants belonging to 113 genera and 37 families. The greatest species diversity is concentrated in the following families: Poaceae, Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae, Amaranthaceae, and Rosaceae. Twelve species dominate the plant cover.

Out of the total number of species, 152 (95.0%) have forage value, with 18 of them also possessing medicinal properties. Eight species are classified as poisonous. The life forms of the flora are predominantly represented by perennial plants - 136 species, including 100 with prolonged vegetative growth, 18 shrubs, 5 subshrubs and semishrubs each, 2 dwarf subshrubs, as well as 6 tree species.

Perennials play an edificatory role in the plant communities of the surveyed area, whereas annuals (14 species) mainly form modification-type herbaceous layers. Biennial plants are represented by 8 species.

An ecological analysis of the flora indicates a predominance of xerophytic species in the conditions of the mid-mountain belt, as well as the presence of mesophytes and halophytes associated with river valleys and temporary watercourses.

Keywords: Trollius dschungaricus, Saty Gorge, eastern part of the Kungey Alatau Range, population, floristic composition.