Salvia austriaca Jacq. (Lamiaceae) in Chernivtsi Region

Abstract

Ecological-cenotical features of the only population of Salvia austriaca Jacq. in Chernivtsi region are elucidated. It was found that the population of S. austriaca in Hertsa is small in area and is characterized by low performance of density and abundance. Part of the species’s population is exposed to anthropogenic pressure associated with uncontrolled grazing and recreational load. On the positive side, there is no process of silvatization, which probably contributes to vegetative and generative regeneration in the population. The population of S. austriaca is a component of mesophytic meadow communities, wich are special biodiversity center for the region and need monitoring and conservation. In the studied region in relation to the main edaphic-hydrological factors S. austriaca is a mesophyte, hemihydrocontrastophile, subaerophobic, neutrophil, semiotrophic, acarbonatophile, geminitrophil. Taking into account the chorological and population features of S. austriaca, we propose to include this species in the regional list of rare and endangered plants of Chernivtsi region. The results of ecological-coenotic and population studies of the species will serve as a basis for further monitoring.