TOTAL PHENOLIC AND FLAVONOID CONTENT, ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF FICARIA VERNA

The objective of the present study was to determine the total content of phenolics and flavonoids in ethanol extracts of a plant from the family of Ranunculaceae – Ficaria verna. Harvesting of medicinal plant was carried out in ecologically clean regions of west Ukraine in spring 2020. The extracts were obtained by maceration of grass, leaves,and flowers to compare the content of active substances in different types of raw materials. The total phenolic content was estimated spectrophotometrically using Folin Ciocalteu method. The total flavonoid content was measured by aluminium chloride colorimetric assay. The maximum content of phenolic and flavonoids compounds was observed in the grass Ficaria verna. The antioxidant effects of the extracts were investigated. The Ficaria verna can be regarded as a promising natural plant source of antioxidant effects with a high potential for phytopreparations.

Die Ranunculaceae der Flora von Zentraleuropa: Ficaria

Schon sehr früh wurde die Verwandtschaft um Ficaria verna [Ranunculus ficaria] wegen einer Reihe morphologischer Besonderheiten (ein einzelnes, apikal gekerbtes Keimblatt, meist nur 3 äußere, aber vermehrte innere Blütenhüllblätter, Wurzelknollen) als Satellitengattung von der formenreichen Gattung Ranunculus abgetrennt, bei einer Vereinigung mit ihr aber zumindest als eigene Sektion hervorgehoben. Jüngste, auf molekular-genetischen Analysen von Kern- und Chloroplasten-Gensequenzen beruhende, phylogenetische Untersuchungen bekräftigen die Separierung als eigene, monophyletische Gattung, die am engsten mit Coptidium (mit ebenfalls 3-zähligem Kelch) als eher basaler Gattung der Ranunculeae und nicht unmittelbar mit Ranunculus verwandt ist.

НОВИЙ ЛОКАЛІТЕТ ORNITHOGALUM BOUCHEANUM (KUNTH) ASCH. В МЕЖАХ МІСТА ХАРКОВА

Наведено результати дослідження багаточисельної популяції червонокнижного виду Ornithothogalum boucheanum, виявленої вперше на території міста Харків у 2016 році. Для території міста Харків – це єдине відоме авторам природнє місцезростання виду, хоча він культивується в окремих ботанічних закладах Харкова. Дана популяція знаходиться на північній межі ареалу зростання O. boucheanum в Україні. На единій площі близько 7 га поблизу р. Немишля O. boucheanum масово зростає переважно на трьох основних ділянках загальною чисельністю у кілька тисяч квітучих особин, займаючи від 5 до 15% у загальному проективному покритті. Рястка Буше зростає у складі напівприродних рослинних угруповань з елементами антропогенної трансформації і домінуванням лучних (Ranunculus pedatus, Carex praecox, Poa angustifolia, P. pratensis, P. bulbosa , Elymus repens), лісових (Ficaria verna, Alliaria petiolata, Poa nemoralis) та рудеральних (Urtica dioica, Taraxacum campylodes, Cirsium arvense тощо) видів. Одна досліджена ділянка наразі зайнята лучною рослинністю, дві інші розташовані серед дерев з середньою (0,7) або невеликою (0,3) зімкненістю крон. Територія зростання дослідженої популяції знаходиться під впливом антропогенної діяльності (сінокосіння, косіння трави електричними засобами, випас тварин), але швидкий розвиток рослин O. boucheanum навесні і відмирання листків вже під час цвітіння призводять до того, що косіння і незначний випас не впливають на чисельність рослин дослідженого виду. Присутня велика кількість молодих рослин від вегетативного та насінного розмноження. Велика площа, на якій знайдені квітучі рослини O. boucheanum, практична відсутність на обстежених ділянках штучного озеленення та велика кількість знайдених рослин свідчать про те, що досліджена популяція є автохтонною. Авторські фотографії O. boucheanum з дослідженої території занесені до міжнародних баз даних iNaturalist та UkrBIN. Територія дослідження має важливе значення як місце зростання рослини занесеної до Червоної книги України, тому має отримати природоохоронний статус.

Distribution, population status and protection of rare ephemeroids in the Komi Republic

Here, we report the data on modern state and protection prospects of plant species Anemone altaica Fisch. ex C.A.Mey., Anemone nemorosa L., Anemone ranunculoides L., Ficaria verna Huds. (Ranunculaceae), Corydalis solida (L.) Clairv. (Papaveraceae) and Gagea samojedorum Grossh. (Liliaceae) in the taiga zone of the Komi Republic. These ephemeroid species require a special research due to their biological features (short periods of vegetation in the spring and subtle presence in communities at later dates) and geographic localization. One of the species, Gagea samojedorum is an endemic of the Urals, other species are presented by populations on the border of their distribution areas. Until recently, studies of early-flowering ephemeroids in the north-east Russia have not been performed. However, such studies become more and more important due to an active industrial development of the North. To assess the prospects for the conservation of rare early-flowering ephemeroids, we carried out work to clarify the number of locations of species on the territory of the Komi Republic, compiled maps of their distribution (See Fig. 1), collected and summarized information about the area, the number and the structure of 44 coenopopulations (See Tables 1 and 2), as well as identified limiting factors. It is shown that at the edge of the distribution area, ephemeroid species often have fragmented habitat range due to ecological and phytocoenotical preferences. They occur sporadically in the river and stream floodplains (sometimes at limestones) where soils are moist and fertile. In the floodplain meadows and forests, ephemeroids can form one-two species ecotopical assemblages. The populations of ephemeroids are linear, often with a high number of individuals. Self-recovering of short-root Anemone altaica, A. nemorosa, A. ranunculoides and root-tuber Ficaria verna is made, mainly, by vegetative reproduction. Tuber species Corydalis solida is propagated only by seeds. The ontogenetic structure of populations indicates a decline in seed and vegetative reproduction rate in these species at the edges of distribution areas (See Fig. 2 and 3). The Ural endemic Gagea samojedorum occurs in herbal habitats and sparse forests in foothill and mountain areas of the Ural Mountains, where it forms abundant populations with the prevalence of young individuals. A high reproduction rate of Gagea samojedorum is due to the variability of vegetative reproduction. In the Komi Republic, the anthropogenic impact on the ephemeroid species is low due to a low level of industrial development and population. Natural abiotic and biotic factors are more significant here and may weaken species positions in plant communities, as well as limit the growth, development and self-recovering of the populations. By now, Anemone altaica, A. nemorosa, A. ranunculoides, Corydalis solida, Ficaria verna and Gagea samojedorum have been included in regional Red Books of plants with the protection category 3 (rare). The main reasons for their inclusion are the edge location, small number, isolation of the local populations and often relic origin. Gagea samojedorum is also an endemic species. The object of the UNESCO World Heritage List “Virgin Komi Forests” and the number of regional reserves are important for the preservation of ephemeroid plants in the North.

The history and distribution of the bulbil-bearing Ficaria verna subsp. verna (Ranunculaceae) in Britain

The distributions of the subspecies of Ficaria verna Huds. are under-recorded in Britain, but published county Floras indicate that subsp. verna is an introduction in some areas and is increasing in many areas. This evidence is examined and a hypothesis to account for the observed patterns is tested against an analogy with Allium paradoxum (M. Bieb.) G. Don in Berwickshire where the author has personally observed colonisation over forty years. The results suggest a link between the recent increase in Ficaria verna subsp. verna and the nineteenth century expansion of the horticultural trade. Earlier waves of colonisation are suspected but not substantiated.

Seasonal dynamics of shoot biomass of dominant clonal herb species in an oak–hornbeam forest herb layer

Seasonal fluctuations of light availability, nutrient concentrations, and moisture affect plant population traits like density, standing biomass, and flowering. We analyzed seasonal changes of density and shoot biomass of the four most frequent herb species growing in an oak–hornbeam forest community, i.e., Anemone nemorosa, Ficaria verna, Galeobdolon luteum, and Galium odoratum. In 2010 and 2011 plant biomass was harvested from 7 to 10 randomly situated square sample plots (0.36 m2) in the homogenous oak–hornbeam forest community every week in the spring and every two weeks in the summer and autumn. The highest abundance of Anemone nemorosa reached over 1000 shoots per m2, of Ficaria verna 459.5 shoots per m2, of Galium odoratum 83.6 shoots per m2, and of Galeobdolon luteum 98.4 shoots per m2 (means for 2010 and 2011, based on all sample plots). We did not observe negative correlation between density and shoot biomass. Growth rates of vegetative shoot biomass amounted to 0.857 mg day−1 for Anemone nemorosa, 0.467 mg day−1 for Ficaria verna, 0.722 mg day−1 for Galium odoratum, and 0.448 mg day−1 for Galeobdolon luteum (means for 2010 and 2011). Spring ephemerals had much higher densities of shoots than summer-greens. Summer-greens reached higher biomass of individual shoots than spring ephemerals. Flowering shoots constituted only 4, 2, and 11% of all shoots for A. nemorosa, F. verna, and G. odoratum, respectively. More resource availability resulting in high shoot biomass did not translate to higher share of flowering shoots.

Typifications, a new synonym and new distribution data in Ficaria (Ranunculaceae)

Lectotypes for five infraspecific names of Ranunculus ficaria (currently known as Ficaria verna s.str.) (Ranunculaceae) described by Hugo Zapałowicz are proposed. Four of these names are established synonyms of Ficaria verna s.str. Ranunculus ficaria var. bessarabicus is considered to be a new synonym of F. grandiflora, which is newly recorded for Moldova. Revised syntypes represent three species of Ficaria: F. verna s.str., F. grandiflora, and F. calthifolia. The exact dates of publication for parts 12 and 13 of Zapałowicz’s work entitled Conspectus florae Galiciae criticus published in the journal Rozprawy Wydziału Matematyczno-Przyrodniczego Akademii Umiejętności, Seria III, Dział B. Nauki Biologiczne are corrected based on the publisher’s catalogue.

Soil characteristics drive Ficaria verna abundance and reproductive output

Lesser celandine (Ficaria verna Huds.), an invasive plant from Europe, is becoming widespread in river valleys throughout the northeastern United States and the Pacific Northwest. Its high rate of asexual bulbil and tuber production creates dense infestations threatening native spring ephemerals. Ficaria verna abundance and reproductive output (seeds, bulbils, and tubers) were examined in invaded transects spanning a disturbance gradient away from a river. Site characteristics (photosynthetically active radiation [PAR], soil pH, moisture, texture, and nutrients) were quantified to examine their roles in plant abundance and reproduction. A larger-scale study examined random transects not specifically chosen based on F. verna infestations. Soil characteristics and slope were hypothesized to drive F. verna abundance and reproduction; we also hypothesized that reproductive output and biomass would be highest at intermediate distances from rivers, where disturbances are infrequent. Ficaria verna abundance and reproductive output varied considerably by site; soil characteristics, rather than landscape placement, appeared to drive plant abundance and reproduction. Lower percent sand was associated with significantly higher F. verna stem density and bulbil and tuber production. CEC was significantly negatively related to F. verna biomass and tuber counts. In the larger-scale survey, slope and PAR were significantly negatively related to F. verna presence and percent cover, respectively. Overall, these findings suggest that soil texture and slope can help explain higher abundance and reproductive outputs. However, reproductive output and biomass were not significantly greater at intermediate distances, contrary to expectations. We did not observe any seed production in any of the plots, although we did see a few plants with seeds outside our study area in the second year, demonstrating a near-complete reliance on asexual reproduction in these populations. This study expands on the current limited understanding of F. verna and can help management by identifying areas likely to support dense infestations.