Peculiarities of distribution and invasive potential of the genus Oenothera L. species (subsect. Oenothera, Onagraceae) in Europe

The study of herbarium material of the genus Oenother a L. (subsect. Oenothera, Onagraceae ) in the herbarium of the Western (FR, B, PRA, IB PAN KTU) and Eastern (LE, MW, MHA, MOSP, BSU, RV, KW, DNZ) Europe, field researches conducted in Germany, France, Holland, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine and Russia, as well as analysis of key publications on the topic of research allowed to reveal the characteristics of the spread of evening primrose. It is established that a group of evening primrose species with large-, medium- and small flowers occupy different habitats. Their areas are being are formed depending on climatic factors. Among them, the most important differentiating streams of migratory species are temperature and rainfall. Species with middle size of flowers are the most suited to the climatic differences in Western and Eastern Europe, have a wide ecological amplitude and, therefore, are the most common species in Europe. Based on the study of herbarium specimens, evening primrose collected in Eastern Europe species are divided into groups according to their degree of invasiveness, defined limiting values of climatic factors and the main characteristics of climatic areas of species.