During floristic surveys conducted in the southern part of Volyn Polissia (Rivne Region) in July 2021, a rare and relict species, Botrychium virginianum (Ophioglossaceae), was discovered for the first time in this area. According to the Ukrainian sozological data, the species is included in the category Endangered; using the IUCN categorization, it is considered as a Critically Endangered (CR) species of the flora of Ukraine. In Ukraine, where the southern border of the species range is located, 30 localities have been recorded until present, most of them prior to the first half of the 20^th century. The reported location of B. virginianum is associated with the carbonate uplift of the first floodplain terrace of the right bank of the Horyn River within the boundaries of the Kostopil-Berezniv physiographic district of Volyn Polissia. A small local population consists of at least five individuals with high vitality. The ecological and phytocenotic conditions of the reported species habitat have been studied and its limiting factors have been clarified. It is recommended to include this site with a cluster of rare species of the flora in the Suskyi Botanical Reserve of national importance, which is located nearby.

Keywords: distribution, ecotope, fern, rare species, Red Data Book of Ukraine, Rivne Region

Full text: PDF (Ukr) 626K

1. Balkrishna A., Joshi B., Srivastava A., Shankar R., Shukla B.K. 2019. Classification of extant Pteridophytes: a new approach. Indian Fern Journal, 36: 311–341.
2. Bento E.R., Christenhusz M.J.M., Dyer R.A., García C.M., Ivanenko Y., Ivanova D., Lansdown R.V., Molina J.A., Nieto A., Rouhan G., Rumsey F., Troia A., Väre H., Vrba J. 2017. European Red List of Lycopods and Ferns. Brussels, Belgium: IUCN. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.CH.2017.ERL.1.en
3. Bezsmertna O.O., Babitsky A.I. 2019. Botrychium virginianum (L.) Sw. finds recorded in the Ukrainian territory. Finds of plants and fungi of the Red Book and the Bern Convention (Resolution 6). Vol. 1. (Series: "Conservation Biology in Ukraine". Issue 11). Kyiv-Chernivtsi: Druk Art, pp. 40–44.
4. Bezusko L.G., Mosyakin S.L., Bezusko A.G. 2011. Patterns and trends of development of the plant cover of Ukraine in the Late Pleistocene and Holocene. Kyiv: Alterpress, 442 pp.
5. Chervona knyha Ukrainy. Roslynnyi svit. (Red Data Book of Ukraine. Plant Kingdom). 2009. Ed. Ya.P. Didukh. Kyiv: Globalconsulting, 912 pp.
6. Christenhusz M.J.M., Byng J.W. 2016. The number of known plants species in the world and its annual increase. Phytotaxa, 261(3): 201–217. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.261.3.1
7. Didukh Ya.P. 1974. A pine forest with the presence of wolfberries (Daphne cneorum L.) in the south of Volynske Polissia. Ukrainian Botanical Journal, 31(2): 242–245.
8. Didukh Ya.P. 2010. The "Red Data Book of Ukraine. Plant Kingdom". An afterword. Ukrainian Botanical Journal, 67(4): 481–503.
9. Didukh Ya.P., Protopopova V.V. 2000. Botrychium virginianum (L.) Sw. In: Ecoflora of Ukraine. Vol. 1. Kyiv: Phytosociocentre, pp. 116–117.
10. Didukh Ya.P., Shelyag-Sosonko Yu.R. 2003. Geobotanical zoning of Ukraine and adjacent territories. Ukrainian Botanical Journal, 60(1): 6–17.
11. Geobotanical zoning of the Ukrainian SSR. 1977. Eds T.L. Andrienko, G.I. Bilyk, E.M. Bradys et al. Kyiv: Naukova Dumka, 301 pp.
12. Hassler M. 2019. World Ferns: Checklist of Ferns and Lycophytes of the World (version Nov 2018). In: Roskov Y., Ower G., Orrell T., Nicolson D., Bailly N., Kirk P.M., Bourgoin T., DeWalt R.E., Decock W., Nieukerken E. van, Zarucchi J., Penev L. (eds.). Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life, 2019 Annual Checklist. Available at: www.catalogueoflife.org/annual-checklist/2019.
13. List of species of plants and fungi listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine (Plant Kingdom). 2021. Available at: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/z0370-21#Texth (Accessed 14 May 2022).
14. Lukash O.V., Andrienko T.L. 2011. Rare and protected plants of Polissya (Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, Russia). Kyiv: Phytosociocentre, 168 pp.
15. Melnik V.I. 2000. Rare species of the flora of plain forests of Ukraine. Kyiv: Phytosociocentre, 212 pp.
16. Melnik V.I. 2009. Species of genus Botrychium Sw. (Botrychiceae) recommended for inclusion in the Red Data Book of Ukraine: geographical distribution and population status. Proceedings NaUKMA, 93: 45–53.
17. Motyka J. 1947. Distribution and ecology of vascular plants on the northern edge of Podolia. Lublin, 400 pp. [Motyka J. 1947. Rozmieczenie i ekologia roślin naczyniowych na pólnocznej krawedzi Podola. Lublin, 400 pp.].
18. National Atlas of Ukraine. 2007. Eds O.M. Marynych, H.O. Parkhomenko, V.N. Pashchenko, O.M. Petrenko, P.H. Shyshchenko. Kyiv: DNVP Cartography, 404 pp.
19. Nature reserve fund of Rivne Region. 2008. Ed. Yu.M. Hryshchenko. Rivne: Volyns'ki oberehy, 216 pp.
20. Onyshchenko V.A., Mosyakin S.L., Korotchenko I.A., Danylyk I.M., Burlaka M.D., Fedoronchuk M.M., Chorney I.I., Kish R.Ya., Olshanskyi I.H., Shiyan N.M., Zhygalova S.L., Tymchenko I.A., Kolomiychuk V.P., Novikov A.V., Boiko G.V., Shevera M.V., Protopopova V.V. 2022. IUCN Red List categories of vascular plant species of the Ukrainian flora. Ed. V.A. Onyshchenko. Kyiv: FOP Huliaeva V.M., 198 pp.
21. Parnikoza I., Chernyshenko M., Celka Z. 2017. Ophioglossaceae (Psilotopsida) in Ukraine. Biodiversity Research and Conservation, 48: 25–47. https://doi.org/10.1515/biorc-2017-0009
22. Parnikoza I., Chernyshenko M., Celka Z. 2018. Ophioglossaceae (Psilotopsida) in Ukraine (26.10.2018). Available at: https://www.myslenedrevo.com.ua/uk/Sci/Nature/archive-ophioglossaceae-ukraine/botrychium-virginianum.html (Accessed 16 May 2022).
23. POWO. 2023–onward. Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Available from: http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org (Accessed 05 May 2023).
24. PPG I. The Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group. 2016. A community-derived classification for extant lycophytes and ferns. Journal of Systematics and Evolution, 54(6): 563–603. https://doi.org/10.1111/jse.12229
25. Vasheka O.V., Bezsmertna O.O. 2012. Atlas of ferns of the flora of Ukraine: monograph. Kyiv: PALYVODA A.V., 160 pp.
26. Volodymyrets V.O., South O.M., Hladovs'ka T.M. 2012. Herbarium collection of J.F. Paneka in the Regional Local History Museum of Rivne. In: The life and work of Josef Panek (to the 130^th anniversary of the birth). Rivne: Volyns'ki oberehy, pp. 10–72.