Polish Botanical Journal 46(2): 241–250, 2001 PEDICULARIS OEDERI (SCROPHULARIACEAE) IN THE CHORNOHORA MTS (UKRAINIAN CARPATHIANS): DISTRIBUTION, BIOLOGY, ECOLOGY AND THREAT YURIY KOBIV & YURIY NESTERUK Abstract: Ten localities of Pedicularis oederi Vahl from the Chornohora Mts (Ukrainian Carpathians) are described and mapped. They represent the only remaining metapopulation of the species in the region. The life history and population parameters of the species are depicted, and habitat characteristics are given. Grazing is regarded as the main threat to the species. It should be con- sidered endangered. The most effective way to protect P. o e d e r i and a number of other endangered species is to incorporate the Brebeneskul Mt. massif into the core zones of two reserves which share that area. Key words: Pedicularis oederi, population, life history, endangered species, conservation, Carpathians Yuriy Kobiv & Yuriy Nesteruk, Department of Population Ecology, Institute of Ecology of the Carpathians, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kozelnytska Str. 4, Lviv, 79026, Ukraine; e-mail: [email protected] INTRODUCTION Information on the current situation of threatened (Meusel et al. 1978). It also penetrates southward and rare plant species in the Ukrainian Carpa- along the Ural Mts. In northwestern Europe the thians is obviously insufficient (Kobiv 1997), species occurs in Fennoscandia. Another part of hindering proper designation of their status and the area is restricted to high-mountain regions of implementation of effective conservation mea- Asia and Europe. Most probably P. o e d e r i is of sures. North Asian origin, and the concentration of some This article is intended to help fill that gap in closely related species in that region backs up that regard to one species – Pedicularis oederi Va hl suggestion (Kulczyn´ski 1927; Pawłowska 1977). (= P. versicolor Wahlenb.). The aim of the study In Central and Eastern Europe it may be regarded was to obtain primary data concerning its present as a relict of the glacial age (Pawłowska 1977). distribution, ecological requirements, population In the temperate zone of Europe P. oederi is re- parameters, recruitment, and threat factors in the stricted to oligothermic conditions, mostly in highest part of the Ukrainian Carpathians – the high-mountain regions. It occurs in the Alps with- Chornohora Mts. Another goal was to provide in the altitudinal range of 1600–2400 m (Hegi a basis for further monitoring in order to prevent 1918; Meusel et al. 1978), in the Carpathians the extinction of the species. within 1000–2550 m (Jasiewicz 1963; Holub & Kmet’ová 1997), and in the Balkans within 2000– 2800 m (Peev 1995). European localities are iso- GENERAL DISTRIBUTION lated. For example, in the Carpathians the species is scattered in the following mountain ranges: the Pedicularis oederi is a typical arctic-alpine Tatra, Chocz (Jasiewicz 1963; Holub & Kmet’ová species with a disjunctive area. The largest, am- 1997), Rodna, Bistrits, Ciucash, Fagarash, Iezer- phiarctic part of its area covers the whole tundra Papusha (Pauca & Nyárády 1960), Marmarosh zone of arctic and subarctic Asia, extending some- (Stoyko & Tasenkievich 1996) and Chornohora what into Northern Europe and North America Mts (Kotov 1960). 242 POLISH BOTANICAL JOURNAL 46(2). 2001. DISTRIBUTION IN UKRAINE a Selmi C-115 M1 apparatus. The samples were pre- treated consecutively with HF and a 3:1 mixture of HCl In Ukraine, P. oederi occurs mainly in the Chorno- and HNO3 (Geletiuk & Zolotariova 1978). hora Mts. Zapałowicz (1889) was the first to re- Nomenclature for vascular plants is according to Mirek et al. (1995), and Corley et al. (1981) for port stations of the species in the vicinity of Bre- bryophytes. beneskul Mt., giving their location and elevation. Later on, Raciborski (1911) mentioned that the species occurs near the summit of Pip Ivan Mt. RESULTS The latter locality was also confirmed by Slobo- dian (unpublished) and by some herbarium speci- mens. Domin (1929) described the location of one LIFE HISTORY AND PHENOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT more station on Petros Mt. Malinovskiy (1980) re- Leaves begin to develop in the middle of June, ported a station on Hoverla Mt. about a week after snow melt. Flowering usually Recently Pedicularis oederi was reported from takes place from July 1 to 15, and dissemination in the Marmarosh massif (Stoyko & Tasenkievich the first decade of August. Fertile shoots die off in 1996). August but remain erect. Development of leaves in vegetative rosettes slows down but they con- tinue to function till September. METHODS First-year plants (Fig. 1). Seedlings appear in June. They have ovate or elliptic shiny cotyledons The results presented were obtained during field re- about 5 × 3 mm in size. Later the first leaves de- search in 1996–1998. We used meander search (Given velop, having only 8–10 rows of segments with 1994), looking for species localities in areas where even margins. A primary root grows vigorously at Pedicularis oederi had been reported by the above-men- the same time, reaching about 2 mm in diameter tioned authors or confirmed by herbarium specimens. till the end of June. It is much thicker than the hy- The description of the life history, especially its be- ginnings, is based on observations of marked individ- pocotyl. Branch roots appear as well. uals in situ (Rabotnov 1950; Harper 1977). Thirty plants In August the young plants have a rosette of belonging to different age groups were used for that 3–4 leaves, which are 3.5–7.0 cm long. Their purpose. Examination of subterranean organs also pro- laminae resemble those of adult plants – the seg- vided much information on the life history (Sere- ments have distinct incisions. A rhizome begins to bryakov 1952; Rabotnov 1960; Harper 1977; Bell develop then; it is about as thick as the proximal & Tomlinson 1980), because it reveals year-by-year rhi- part of the main root (ca 3 mm). zomatous increments and traces from former stems. As Second-year individuals have a much better the species is not numerous, we could dig up only a developed rosettous shoot. A rosette consists of limited number of individuals (5–15 for each age group) to study their subterranean organs, take photographs, 4–7 leaves. They are 6–14 cm long. Lateral buds weigh and herbarize them. Accordingly, ‘typical’ indi- appear on the rhizome in the middle of summer. viduals were collected only from the most numerous lo- They may initiate branching later. The direction of calities: I, II, IX and X. All the measurements presented rhizomatous growth may be either orthotropic or in Table 3 were obtained from live plants. All the weight plagiotropic. The rhizome reaches 4.0–5.5 mm in data are given as dry values. diameter. It grows monopodially at this stage; the Species abundance in Table 1 is presented according annual increment is 5–12 mm during that year. to Braun-Blanquet’s (1951) scale. The main root still dominates, though branch roots The density and age structure of populations were es- grow intensively. timated on transects for larger localities or on square plots for smaller ones (Rabotnov 1964; Harper 1977; Third-year plants have one flowering shoot, Given 1994). which develops from the terminal bud. One to six The overall calcium content in the soil was evaluated (2–4 typically) vegetative rosettous shoots usually by means of atomic absorption spectroscopy using form at the base of the stem as well. They origin- Y. KOBIV & Y. NESTERUK: PEDICULARIS OEDERI IN THE CHORNOHORA MTS. 243 Table 1. Floristic composition of vascular plants in examined localities (I–X) of Pedicularis oederi Vahl in the Chornohora Mts. Locality number I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X Pedicularis oederi 11++++++++ Alchemilla obtusa .+........ Allium sibiricum +1...1.... Anthoxanthum alpinum 11.......+ Caltha palustris subsp. laeta +1...2.... Cardamine pratensis +. .+. .+. Carex flava 21........ Carex nigra 21+....... Carex rostrata 2......... Carex sempervirens .+. .2.1122 Cerastium fontanum ...+...... Dactylorhiza cordigera +......... Deschampsia caespitosa 1321. 12.33 Equisetum palustre 21........ Eriophorum vaginatum 11........ Festuca picta +.......+. Juncus trifidus ........+. Juncus triglumis +......+.. Leontodon croceus ++ . 1 . +++ . Ligusticum mutellina 21. 12.11++ Luzula sudetica ++........ Parnassia palustris ++.+.+. Polygonum bistorta ...+...... Polygonum viviparum +........+ Primula minima ....+..... Ranunculus strigulosus +11 . 11+. Salix bicolor +......... Sesleria bielzii ....1...++ Soldanella hungarica .+.......+ Swertia punctata +11 . 1+1. Vaccinium uliginosum ...1...... Viola biflora . .+. .+. .+ ate from the previous year’s lateral buds. Such becomes hardly distinguishable now. They may be shoots are smaller than in second-year plants. horizontal, descending or ascending, and also Commonly they have only 2–4 leaves, which are have a contractile function. Their diameter may 5–10 cm long. The rhizome is 9–14 mm in reach 9 mm. diameter; its annual length increment is 7–16 mm. Fourth-year plants have up to four (mostly 2) A number (5–10) of lateral buds usually form on growth axes. Each such module bears a flowering it. Fleshy branch roots exceed the main one, which shoot, which develops from a previous-year lat- 244 POLISH BOTANICAL JOURNAL 46(2). 2001. cm m cm 26 24 8 20 6 16 12 4 8 2 4 m m m 1st year 2nd year 3rd year 4th year 5th year Fig.1. Life history of Pedicularis oederi Vahl. m – death of individuals. eral vegetative shoot. Thus each monocarpic current-year increments. Their roots present only growth axis is dicyclic (Serebriakov 1952), that is, the remains of the former root system, most of it has to undergo a one-year vegetative stage be- which has become rotten by that stage. All the fore flowering. The length of current rhizomatous post-flowering individuals we registered belonged increments is about the same as in the previous to the 4th-year group, that is, they had undergone year. A distinct mark from the last-year flower only one flowering period.