BLYSMUS COMPRESSUS (CYPERACEAE) IN THE VOLOGDA REGION, RUSSIA

Abstract

The article presents data on the distribution, biomorphology, ecological and phytocenotic features of Blysmus compressus in the Vologda Region, as well as issues of the species conservation. The choice of this species as a research object was determined by its rarity in the region and its indicator properties of the presence of pressurized groundwater outlets. Analysis of herbarium collections, archived and published data showed that from 1856 to 2020, B. compressus was recorded in 65 localities within 20 (out of 26) administrative districts and was confined mainly to the valleys of large rivers. Species records fall within the boundaries of 30 squares of the grid system adopted in the Atlas Florae Europaeae. As a result of a detailed biomorphological analysis of the species, its life form was determined as a secondary rhizome non-turfy perennial polycarpic herb with an iterative growth of the shoot axis. This type of biomorph, in its structural basis, is characteristic of the whole Cyperaceae family and the iteration seems to correspond to the ecological conditions of the ecotope. B. compressus prefers lowland (wet and often paludified) meadows, eutrophic (most often, spring) mires, banks of water bodies and watercourses. The habitats of the broad blysmus are always associated with pressurized groundwater outlets and, as a rule, rich in carbonates. B. compressus is a hemi-eurybiontic species. The species realizes its ecological potential with reasonable efficiency (Zhukova s coefficient for most of the traits was not lesser than 0.5), although, judging by the entire complex of traits, in none of the studied ecotopes is was in optimal conditions. B. compressus is listed in the Red Data Book of the Vologda Region by the 3/LC category. It was recorded within the boundaries of only four specially protected natural areas. The necessary protection measures include the organization of new nature reserves at the sites where B. compressus is found, population monitoring, and searching for new places of its occurrence.