Rosaceae in the mountain-xerophyte and steppe vegetation of Shahbuz district, current status of the woody species

Бюллетень науки и практики / Bulletin of Science and Practice

UDC 582.71                                        

Due to its rich flora, Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic has always attracted interest by being different from other botanical-geographical regions of Azerbaijan and the Caucasus. As a result of the fact that the Autonomous Republic is a typical mountainous country, vegetation is divided into distinct zones. One such zone is the territory of Shahbuz district, which differs from other places due to its vegetation and fertile soil. There are many studies on the composition, structure and dynamics of the vegetation of Shahbuz district. However, little attention has been paid to the characteristics of mountain-xerophyte and steppe vegetation in the region. The research conducted by allows us to determine the important features characteristic of the woody species of the Rosaceae family of the mountain-xerophyte and steppe zone flora of Shahbuz district. In the structure of the mountain-xerophyte and steppe complex, shrubs, especially woody species of the Rosaceae family, occupy an important place.

Material and research methods

Research has been carried out since 2019. The mountain-xerophyte-steppe zone of the flora of the Shahbuz district of Nakhchivan MR was chosen as the study area, and tree species belonging to the Rosaceae family were chosen as the object of study. To clarify the species, we used the books by A. M. Askerov “Flora of Azerbaijan” [1], A. Sh. Ibragimov, M. Z. Piriev, D. Sh. Ganbarov “Trees and shrubs of the Rosaceae family on the territory of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic” [15] and M. Seidov, S. Ibadullaeva, Kh. Gasymova “Flora and vegetation of the Shahbuz State Nature Reserve” [9].

Discussion and conclusions of the study

Rosaceae family is one of the main families spread in the flora of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. The trees and shrub plants of the season were represented by 116 species belonging to 23 genera. As a result of the conducted research, it was found that the woody species of the Rosaceae family of the region are characterized by 79 species belonging to 12 genera of the family. As a result of the processing of personal field research materials, it was determined that the woody species of the Rosaceae family of the mountain-xerophyte and steppe zone of Shahbuz district flora comprise 56 species belonging to 10 genera of the family. The systematic composition and floristic analysis of the woody species of the Rosaceae family spreading in the mountain-xerophytic and steppe vegetation of the studied area is given in Table 1 [3, 4, 6, 8, 10-14].

Table 1

SYSTEMATIC COMPOSITION AND FLORISTIC ANALYSIS OF WOODY SPECIES OF THE Rosaceae FAMILY SPREADING IN THE STUDIED AREA

№	Species name	Life forms	Ecological groups	Geographical area Classes
1.	Cotoneaster integerrimus	nanophanerophytes	xerophytes	Europe
2.	C. melanocarpus	nanophanerophytes	xerophytes	Palearctic
3.	C. multiflorus	nanophanerophytes	xerophytes	Central Asia
4.	C. suavis	nanophanerophytes	xerophytes	Central Asia
5.	Crataegus caucasica	microphanerophytes	xeromesophytes	Atropatene
6.	C. cinovskisii	microphanerophytes	mesophytes	Atropatene
7.	C. meyeri	microphanerophytes	mesoxerophytes	Front Asia
8.	C. orientalis	microphanerophytes	mesoxerophytes	Eastern Mediterranean
9.	C. pontica	microphanerophytes	mesoxerophytes	Northern Iran
10.	C. pseudoheterophylla	microphanerophytes	mesoxerophytes	Front Asia
11.	C. szovitsii	microphanerophytes	xerophytes	Caucasus
12.	Malus orientalis	microphanerophytes	mesophytes	Caucasus
13.	Prunus communis	microphanerophytes	mesophytes	Front Asia
14.	P. divaricata	mesophanerophytes	mesophytes	Eastern Mediterranean

Бюллетень науки и практики / Bulletin of Science and Practice Т. 10. №11 2024 № Species name Life forms Ecological groups Geographical area Classes 15. P. fenzliana microphanerophytes xerophytes Front Asia 16. P. incana nanophanerophytes xerophytes Iran 17. P. mahaleb microphanerophytes mesophytes Mediterranean Sea 18. P. nairica nanophanerophytes xerophytes Atropatene 19. Pyracantha coccinea nanophanerophytes mesophytes Eastern Mediterranean 20. Pyrus medvedevii mesophanerophytes xerophytes Atropatene 21. P. oxyprion mesophanerophytes xerophytes Atropatene 22. P. raddeana microphanerophytes mesoxerophytes Atropatene 23. P. salicifolia mesophanerophytes mesophytes Iran 24. P. syriaca mesophanerophytes mesophytes Eastern Mediterranean 25. P. voronovii mesophanerophytes mesophytes Atropatene 26. P. georgica mesophanerophytes xerophytes Iberia 27. Rosa buschiana nanophanerophytes mesophytes Caucasus 28. R. boissieri nanophanerophytes mesophytes Asia Minor 29. R. canina nanophanerophytes mesophytes Western Palearctic 30. R. corymbifera microphanerophytes mesophytes Europe 31. R. floribunda nanophanerophytes mesoxerophytes Asia Minor 32. R. hemisphaerica nanophanerophytes xeromesophytes Front Asia 33. R. hracziana nanophanerophytes xerophytes Atropatene 34. R. iberica nanophanerophytes xerophytes Asia Minor 35. R. karjaginii nanophanerophytes mesoxerophytes Atropatene 36. R. marschalliana nanophanerophytes mesophytes Caucasus 37. R. nisami nanophanerophytes mesophytes Atropatene 38. R. orientalis nanophanerophytes xerophytes Atropatene 39. R. sachokiana nanophanerophytes xerophytes Albania 40. R. sosnovskyana nanophanerophytes mesophytes Caucasus 41. R. rapinii nanophanerophytes xerophytes Front Asia 42. R. spinosissima nanophanerophytes mesoxerophytes Southern Palearctic 43. R. pulverulenta nanophanerophytes xerophytes Atropatene 44. R. teberdensis nanophanerophytes mesophytes Caucasus 45. R. tomentosa nanophanerophytes mesophytes Europe 46. R. tuschetica nanophanerophytes xeromesophytes Caucasus 47. R. zangezura nanophanerophytes mesophytes Atropatene 48. Rubus caesius nanophanerophytes mesophytes Western Palearctic 49. R. ibericus nanophanerophytes mesophytes Caucasus 50. Spiraea crenata nanophanerophytes mesoxerophytes Pontic Sarmatian 51. S. hypericifolia nanophanerophytes mesoxerophytes Pontic Sarmatian 52. Sorbus graeca microphanerophytes mesoxerophytes Eastern Mediterranean 53. S. persica microphanerophytes mesoxerophytes Iran 54. S. luristanica microphanerophytes xeromesophytes Iran 55. S. roopiana microphanerophytes mesophytes Iran 56. S. turcica microphanerophytes xerophytes Atropatene

Life forms, as types of adaptation structures, demonstrate on one hand the ways in which different types of plants adapt to the same conditions, and on the other hand, the possibilities of similarity of these ways in unrelated plants belonging to different species, genera and families. Therefore, the classification of life forms cannot be compatible with the usual classification of systematics based on the structure of reproductive organs and reflecting the common origin of plants. The classification of life forms is based on the structure of vegetative organs.

Taking into account the above, the life forms of the woody species of the mountain-xerophyte and steppe zone of the Shahbuz district flora, which are included in the Rosaceae family, are grouped into 3 subtypes of phanerophytes. Mesophanerophytes are trees up to 8-30 m tall, microphanerophytes are trees and shrubs up to 2-8 m tall, and nanophanerophytes are shrubs less than 2 m tall. Of the woody species of the mountain-xerophyte and steppe zone of the Shahbuz district flora, 31 are nanophanerophytes, 18 are microphanerophytes, and 7 are mesophanerophytes (Figure 1), [5].

Figure 1. Life forms of woody species belonging to the Rosaceae family of the mountain-xerophyte and steppe zone of Shahbuz district flora

Water is important as an ecological factor in spreading plants over wide areas under different climatic conditions, spreading them in different areas and forming different groups. Plants are divided into different ecological groups. Spreading of woody species of the Rosaceae family of Nakhchivan MR by ecological groups was carried out according to Shennikov’s classification system.

Mesophytes occupy an intermediate position between hydrophytes and xerophytes in their relation to moisture and their requirements. Mesophytic plants are mainly forest, shrub, subalpine, alpine plants. Xerophytic species are plants that spread mainly in dry areas and have acquired various adaptations to moisture deficiency. This group of plants includes desert, dry steppe, thorn sparse forest, rocky, etc. refers to the plants common in the areas. There are also plants that are mesophytic in origin and lead a relatively xerophytic lifestyle by adapting to their ecological environment. These plants are mesoxerophytic plants. Xeromesophytes occupy an intermediate position between xerophytes and mesoxerophytes. They are mostly found in forest clearings and sparse bush areas, and especially in the north-west and south-west of the mountain slopes [2].

Figure 2. Ecological groups of woody species belonging to the Rosaceae family of the mountainxerophyte and steppe zone of Shahbuz district flora

From image 2, it is known that in the studied area there are 22 mesophytes, 18 xerophytes, 12 mesoxerophytes, and 4 xeromesophytes (Figure 2).

Areal types of species reflect the relationship between the flora of the studied region and the flora of large areas surrounding this region, leading to the study of species' migration routes from a historical point of view. Based on available literature sources and our personal field research, it was determined that the woody species of the Rosaceae family of the mountain-xerophytic and steppe zone of Shahbuz district belong to different areal types and classes, which allows us to determine the migration routes of the species to the area.

Based on zonal and regional principles, the woody species of the family spreading in the studied area were analyzed in 4 types of geographical areas and 15 areal classes [7].

Figure 3. Areal types of woody species belonging to the Rosaceae family of the mountain-xerophyte and steppe zone of Shahbuz district flora

As can be seen from the given diagram, the Xerophilic areal type includes 37 species, the Caucasian areal type — 10, the Boreal areal type — 7, and the Desert areal type 2 species (Figure 3).

Thus, as a result of the conducted research, the taxonomic composition of 56 woody species of the mountain-xerophytic and steppe zone of the Shahbuz district flora included in the Rosaceae family was determined and grouped according to their life form, ecological group and areal classes.

The result of the research was considered an important scientific base for studying the flora of the mountain-xerophyte and steppe zone of Shahbuz district flora.

Conclusions

• 1.    As a result of the conducted research, it was determined that the flora of Shahbuz district is characterized by 56 species belonging to 10 genera of woody plants belonging to the Rosaceae family of the mountain-xerophyte and steppe zone.

• 2.    When the woody species of the Rosaceae family of the studied area were characterized by genera, it was found that Rosa — 21 (37.5%), Crataegus — 7 (12.5%), Pyrus — 7 (12.5%), Prunus — 6 (10.71%), Sorbus — 5 (8.92%), Cotoneaster — 4 (7.14%), Rubus and Spiraea — 2 (3.57%), Malus and Pyracantha — 1 (1.78 %) type is found.

• 3.    The analysis of life forms shows that woody species belonging to the Rosaceae family of the mountain-xerophyte and steppe zone of Shahbuz district flora are grouped into 3 subtypes of phanerophytes. It was found that mesophanerophytes are represented — 7 (13%), microphanerophytes — 18 (32%), and nanophanerophytes — 31 (55%) species. According to their ecological groups, mesophytes are represented — 22 (39.28%), xerophytes — 18 (32.14%), mesoxerophytes — 12 (21.41%), xeromesophytes — 4 (7.14%) species.

• 4.    Among the woody plants belonging to Rosaceae family of mountain-xerophyte and steppe zone of Shahbuz district flora, Xerophyll areal type — 37, Caucasian areal type — 10, Boreal areal type — 7, and Sahara areal type include 2 species.

Acknowledgments: I express my gratitude to Babayeva Safura for identifying the studied species and preparing the herbariums.

Financing: The research is financed and supported on the basis of the “Herbarium Fund of Biology Department of Nakhchivan State University” project.