DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY OF CORYNEPHORUS CANESCENS (L.) P. BEAUV. (POACEAE) IN THE LEFT BANK FOREST-STEPPE OF UKRAINE

Abstract

The article summarizes data about the distribution of Corynephorus canescens (L.) P. Beauv. in the Left Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. This species which is native for Europe and North Africa was firstly found on the research territory. Currently nine localities of this vascular plant species are known within Kyiv (seven locations) and Poltava (two locations) administrative regions. Based on the analysis of geobotanical relevés made by authors on psammophytic vegetation plots with the participation of Corynephorus canescens it was found that studied sand areas within Kyiv region belong to the association Corniculario aculeatae-Corynephoretum canescentis Steffen 1931 from the class Koelerio glaucae-Corynephoretea canescentis Klika in Klika & Novak 1941 (alliance Corynephorion canescentis Klika 1931, order Corynephoretalia canescentis Klika 1934); they have clear two-layered structure with the substantive complicity of moss and lichen species. On the other hand, similar psammophytic communities within Poltava region have the simplified one-layered composition with the tenuous herb cover and the absence of moss and lichen layers; they are treated by authors as a separate community – comm. Corynephorus canescens within the class Koelerio glaucae-Corynephoretea canescentis. Based on these ecological data, Corynephorus canescens is considered as a species with dissimilar status in different parts of the research territory. Found localities of this species within Poltava region are to be treated as alien and associated with human activity, but in the southern part of Kyiv region, the autochthonous (or at least simultaneously mixed indigenous and antropogenic) dispersal of its diaspors by anemochory is quite reliable. The phytosociological tables of geobotanical relevés made by authors in Kyiv and Poltava administrative regions in 2017–2020 are presented. The status of Corynephorus canescens on other territories near the eastern border of the area of its distribution is discussed.