Rare and protected vascular plants of projected steppe reserves "Berezovyy yar" and "Gerasimov yar" (Voronezh region)

Projected steppe reserves "Berezovyy Yar" and "Gerasimov Yar" are located in the southeast of Voronezh Oblast, in the steppe natural zone of Northern Eurasia. On their territory, calciphyte and halophyte variants of the steppe are preserved, the flora of which, despite significant anthropogenic transformation of both natural objects, is rich in rare plant species, including those listed in the Red Book of Russia Bulbocodium versicolor (Ker-Gawler) Spreng, Hyssopus cretaceus Dubj., Stipa zalesskii Wilensky and Tulipa suaveolens Roth. The phytodiversity of the Berezovyy Yar exceeds 300 plant species, the Gerasimov Yar has 350 plant species. The sustainable existence of both reserves is hampered by diverse negative anthropogenic activities that affect both the steppe communities of the reserves as a whole and their individual components.