Search

The floristic composition of Spiraea hypericifolia shrubberies distributed in Georgia is studied for first time. 256 species of vascular plants, which belong to 172 genera and 49 families, were recorded. Leading families by content number of species are: Poaceae - 28 species (10.9%), Asteraceae – 27 (10.5%), Fabaceae – 20 (7.8%), Rosaceae – 18 (7%), Brassicaceae – 16 (6.3%), Lamiaceae – 16 (6.3%), Apiaceae – 11 (4.3%), Caryophyllaceae – 11 (4.3%), Asparagaceae – 7 (2.7%). Spectrum of life forms is as follows: phanerophytes – 37 species (14.4%), chamaephytes – 8 (3.1%), hemicryptophytes – 109 (42.6%), geophytes – 33 (12.9%), therophytes – 69 (27%). Based on the analysis of the systematic structure of the flora, the composition and ratio of chorotypes and the composition of life forms, 4 main directions of florogenetic connections were identified: Mediterranea, South-West Asia, Europe and Eurasian steppe. It can be concluded that the formation of the Spiraea hypericifolia shrubberies in Georgia took place under the influence both of the Ancient Mediterranean and Boreal floristic centers. Nevertheless, the Ancient Mediterranean connections are more expressed. The dominance of local (Caucasian) species in the spectrum of chorotypes (14%) emphasizes the originality of the studied shrubberies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]