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.