NEW PAEONIA ANOMALA POPULATIONS FOUND IN SURGUTSKY DISTRICT OF KHANTY-MANSIYSK AUTONOMOUS AREA - YUGRA

Abstract

The article describes two new localities of Paeonia anomala L., a rare species listedin the Red Data Book of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Area - Yugra, that were discovered in Surgutsky District. Phytocenotic, topographic and ecologic growth conditions were studied, and quantitative data on abundance, density and age composition of the populations were collected. The first population is characterized by rather high density and abundance in comparison with other populations examined earlier;the number of generative shoots is also significantly larger. Other biometric parameters (average number of shoots per plant, average number of generative and vegetative shoots, height and number of leaves on generative and vegetative shoots) are similar to those of populations that developed in the optimal ecological conditions of the forest steppe.The second population is inferior to the first one in many respects (abundance, density, height and quantity of leavesof generative and vegetative shoots); most of the plants are in the vegetative state; and the average number of shoots per plant are also small. The obtained data expand our understanding of the size and structure of the populations of this rare and endangered species in the region.