Diversity of early flowering plants of the Ulytau mountains (Central Kazakhstan)

Abstract

Early flowering plants (ephemers and ephemeroids) are an important component of the biosystem of steppes and deserts. These species form perennial pasture communities, for early grazing. The present work was conducted to evaluate the floristic checklist and ecological uniqueness of early flowering plants of Central Kazakhstan, in the forest-steppe regions of Em-Bulak region and Edige mountains, during 2021 and 2022. A total of 26 species of ephemers and ephemeroids were recorded, which belong to 16 families: Liliaceae – 3 species, Asteraceae – 3 species, Ranunculaceae – 3 species, Rosaceae – 3 species, Brassicaceae – 2 species, Boraginaceae – 2 species, the other families are represented by one species. According to ecomorphological characteristics: 8 species (31%) belong to the xerophyte group, 6 (23%) to the xeromesophyte group, 7 (27%) to the mesoxerophyte group and 5 (19%) to the mesophyte group. Also, as a result of our research we found two species of plants which are included in the Red Book of the Republic of Kazakhstan – Pulsatilla patens (L.) Mill. and Tulipa patens Agardh. ex Schult. f. The data obtained can be used for environmental monitoring and issues of rational nature management of wild plants of Central Kazakhstan.