Biological features of herbaceous representatives of the flora of the botanical- geographical plot “Steppes of Ukraine” at the M. M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the NAS of Ukraine in winter

Abstract

Aims. To find out which herbaceous plants in the botanical-geographical plot “Steppes of Ukraine” at the M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the NAS of Ukraine (NBG) exhibit development of above-ground organs in winter, to compile an annotated list of these plants, and to analyze and statistically process the research results. Methods. The research was conducted in the winter of 2020–2025 in the plot “Steppes of Ukraine” of the NBG. To determine phenology, the general principles of the BBCH scale were applied (Meier, 2018). The nomenclature of taxa is given according to POWO (2025). For statistical processing, standard concepts were used (Illowsky & Dean, 2020). Results. An annotated list of herbaceous representatives of the flora of the plot “Steppes of Ukraine”, in which the development of above-ground organs occurs in winter, has been compiled, containing 35 species and subspecies from 27 genera and 18 families. The largest share in the spectrum of families is occupied by Asteraceae — 17.14 %. Of the 35 species and subspecies, 48.57 % are native plants, 37.14 % are introduced plants, and 14.29 % are alien plants; by life form: perennials — 82.86 %, annuals — 11.43 %, and biennials — 5.71 %. In 68.58 % of species and subspecies, leaf development was observed in winter (in particular, in Crocus reticulatus); in 17.14 %, leaf and shoot development. In Crambe tataria and Paeonia tenuifolia, the development of renewal buds occurred; in Ornithogalum boucheanum, the development of renewal buds and leaves occurred. In Lamium purpureum and Stellaria media, leafs, shoots, buds development, and flowering occurred. The greatest phytosozological value is represented by four introduced species listed in the Red Book of Ukraine: Crambe tataria, Crocus reticulatus, Ornithogalum boucheanum, Paeonia tenuifolia. With an alternative grouping of herbaceous representatives of the flora of the plot “Steppes of Ukraine” (these are species and subspecies in which the development of aboveground organs occurred in winter, and the remaining representatives), the standard deviation of the shares of the alternatives is 0.32. Conclusions. It was established that in the plot “Steppes of Ukraine”, in winter, 35 species and subspecies of herbaceous plants develop above-ground organs: in most, leaves develop, in some, shoots or buds of renewal, and flowering was detected in two species. The features of the winter development of introduced rare species were clarified: Crambe tataria, Crocus reticulatus, Ornithogalum boucheanum, and Paeonia tenuifolia.