Revised checklist of endemic vascular plants of Kazakhstan.

We compiled a checklist of endemic vascular plants occurring in Kazakhstan, employing an exhaustive examination of literature sources, herbarium collections, databases and field observations. Our study reveals that 451 taxa can be considered endemic to Kazakhstan, constituting 7.97% of the total vascular plant diversity in the country. These endemic taxa, originating from 139 genera and 34 families, predominantly thrive in the southern regions of Kazakhstan, specifically in the mountain ridges of the Kazakh part of the Tian Shan, including Karatau (123 taxa), Dzungarian Alatau (80 taxa) and Trans-Ili and Kungey Alatau (50 taxa). Notably, 107 endemic species are granted legal protection. Detailed information regarding life form, life cycle, conservation status and geographical distribution across floristic regions was meticulously compiled for each endemic taxon. Of the six groups of life forms, herbs include the highest part of endemic taxa (367 taxa), followed by dwarf semishrubs (25 taxa), shrubs (23 taxa), subshrubs (20 taxa), undershrubs (13 taxa) and trees (3 taxa). The observed life cycles are perennials (408 taxa), annuals (33 taxa) and biennials (10 taxa). This paper serves as a fundamental groundwork for prospective investigations aimed at assessing population sizes and hotspots of plant endemism throughout Kazakhstan, crucial for determining conservation status of endemic plants.

Review of Orchidaceae of the northern part of Kazakhstan.

We present a review of Orchidaceae Juss. of the northern part of Kazakhstan, within the steppe, forest-steppe and semi-desert habitats of the country (Pavlodar, northern Kazakhstan, Kostanay, Akmola, Aktobe, West Kazakhstan, partially Karaganda and East Kazakhstan regions). The investigation is based on herbarium materials, literature data and field observations. We examined material from the following herbarium collections: LE, MW, TK, MHA, SVER, KUZ, ALTB, AA, NUR, KG, KSPI, NS, NSK, MOSP, ORIS, PPIU, totalling 288 herbarium specimens. The paper presents data in the form of revision, focusing on orchids of the northern part of Kazakhstan. It is accompanied by maps indicating localities, notes on habitat preferences, phenology and conservation status. A total of 25 species of 16 genera were recorded, of which eight are included in the Red Book of Kazakhstan (2014). According to our data, we propose to enlarge the number of protected orchids by adding the following nine species: Corallorhizatrifida, Epipactisatrorubens, Gymnadeniaconopsea, Hammarbyapaludosa, Herminiummonorchis, Liparisloeselii, Malaxismonophyllos, Neottiacamtschatea and Spiranthesaustralis. The most widespread species in the studied region are Dactylorhizaincarnata, D.umbrosa and Epipactispalustris. The rarest species (single locality only) are Epipactisatrorubens, E.helleborine, Epipogiumaphyllum, Hammarbyapaludosa and Herminiummonorchis.

Current state of populations of Rhodiola rosea L. (Crassulaceae) in East Kazakhstan.

BACKGROUND: Based on world experience, first, a modern assessment of the flora is needed to develop strategies for the conservation of ecosystems of rare and endangered plant species. A regional and global biodiversity strategy should focus on assessing the current state of bioresources. To preserve the biodiversity of the species and its habitat, we evaluated botanical features, ontogenetic phases, the ecological and phytocenotic structure of the rare and endangered of Rhodiola rosea L. (golden rose root) populations from the highlands of Eastern Kazakhstan. RESULTS: R. rosea in the study region lives on damp mossy rocks, rocky slopes, overgrown moraines and along the banks of mountain rivers in the upper limit of cedar-larch forests, subalpine and alpine belts, in the altitude limit of 1700-2400 m. In the studied region, R. rosea begins to vegetate in May-June, blooms in June-July, the fruits ripen in August. The species is encountered in the high mountain ranges of the Kazakh Altai and Saur-Tarabagatai. Unfavorable habitat conditions for the species are overgrown by sedge-grass and birch-moss communities. The most common species at sites with R. rosea are: Schulzia crinita, Achillea ledebourii, Doronicum altaicum, Macropodium nivale, Hylotelephium telephium, Rhodiola algida, Carex capillaris, C. aterrima. Ontogenetic study revealed that all age-related phases were present, with the exception of the senile states. Individual life expectancy shown to be 50-55 years. The analysis of the species composition in the communities with R. rosea showed that the leading families in terms of the number of accompanying species are Poaceae, Ranunculaceae, Asteraceae, Rosaceae and Caryophyllaceae, Apiaceae, Fabaceae; while the most dominant genera are: Carex, Aconitum, Dracocephalum, Festuca, Pedicularis, Poa, Salix; the ecological groups are dominated by psychrophytes, mesophytes mesopsychrophytes; the Asian, Eurasian, and Holarctic groups are the most represented groups. Dominant life forms according to Serebyakov were rod-rooted, brush-rooted, short-rooted and long-rooted grasses, while based on Raunkiaer's groups the overwhelming majority consisted of Hemincryptophytes (74%). CONCLUSIONS: The R. rosea populations of Kazakhstan represent an important gene stock of the species. Our study provides new insights into the species' biology thus contributes to the conservation of biodiversity on a wide spatial scale.