Rare and endangered vegetation and vascular plants in canyon “Gorodskaya shchel' (Town Crack)" (Town Crack)" in southern part of Khibiny Mountains (Murmansk Region, Russia)

Abstract

Rare and endangered habitat types and vascular plant species were studied in the canyon associated with slope cirque “Gorodskaya shchel' (Town Crack)" in the southern part of Khibiny Mountains (Murmansk Region). Habitat types are interpreted based on a phytosociological approach (Braun-Blanquet classification). Habitat type “D4.2. Basic mountain flushes and streamsides, with a rich arctic-montane flora" of the Emerald Network (partly coincides with type 3220 “Alpine rivers and the herbaceous vegetation along their banks" of Council Directive 92/43/EEC) includes two associations:Mniobryo–Epilobietum hornemanniiNordhagen 1943 of allianceMniobryo–Epilobion hornemanniiNordhagen 1943, сlassMontio–CardamineteaBr.-Bl. et Tx. ex Klika et Hadač 1944, andOxyrietum digynaeGjaerevoll 1956 of allianceSaxifrago stellaris–Oxyrion digynaeGjaerevoll 1956, classSalicetea herbaceaeBr.-Bl. 1948. Habitat type “H2.6 Ultra-basic screes of warm exposures" of the Emerald Network is represented by community typeRacomitriumspp.–Ranunculus glacialis(classThlaspietea rotundifolii). These habitats harbor a number of Red Data Book species: 16 rare vascular plants including two species of the Red Data Book of Russia, four species of Red Data Book of Murmansk Region and ten species which need special attention to their state in the natural environment if the Murmansk Region occurred in the studied canyon, cirque and nearest surroundings. As the area is out of the borders of National Park “Khibiny" and has high conservation value, it is necessary to establish here the botanical nature monument.