Scientific publications

In June 2024, field work for a new inventory of the flora of the Utrish Strict Nature Reserve started in 2021 was continued. This year proved to be specific in terms of phenological rhythms: blooming in a majority of late-flowering species started as early as in June. This explains the discovery of a number of annual species previously known only from the vicinity of the reserve (Atriplex sagittata Borkh., Chenopodium vulvaria L., Euphorbia chamaesyce L., Heliotropium ellipticum Ledeb., Mentha pulegium L.), as well as two mountain-forest species (Cardamine bulbifera (L.) Crantz and Vincetoxicum rehmannii Boiss.). The most notable records were: Chenopodium zerovii Iljin, previously not known for the flora of the Caucasus, and Aegilops geniculata Roth., found on the Caucasian Black Sea coast for the second time. The occurrences of three species (Filago germanica (L.) Huds., Lythrum hyssopifolia L., and Vincetoxicum rehmannii) confirm the records made more than a century ago. According to our preliminary assessment of literary sources and the new data of 2024, the vascular flora of the Utrish Reserve within the new boundaries comprises 1 009 species.