Geographical distribution of Scutellaria altissima (Lamiaceae) in Ukraine

Abstract

Geographical distribution and habitats of Scutellaria altissima (Lamiaceae), a regionally rare species of the Ukrainian flora, were studied. Its localities within the plain areas in the Forest-Steppe, Steppe (mainly on the Donetsk Ridge) Zones and in the Central Polissya are a part of the large European population of this species. In the Crimean Mountains, a separate exclave of its range within the country is located. In Ukraine, habitats of S. altissima are associated with deciduous forests, mainly with broadleaved forests. In the Forest-Steppe and Steppe Zones, S. altissima is a component of forest communities Scutellario altissimae-Quercion roboris confined to sub-floodplain river terraces and to ravines, respectively. In the Ukrainian Polissya, habitats of S. altissima represent the ecotones between deciduous forests and petrophytic communities. A contiguity of the habitats of S. altissima to river valleys and ravines determines linear (striped) structure of their populations. The impact of anthropogenic pressure leads to transformation of the linear populations into locally isolated ones.