TOKHTAR, VALERI K. Donetsk Botanical Gardens, Ukr. Acad. Sci., Illich's Avenue, 110, Donetsk 340059 Ukraine. - The family Amaranthaceae Juss. in the south-east of Ukraine.
The data on specific composition of the Amaranthaceae family in the
south-east of Ukraine and also those of species chorology require a
critical analysis in the light of the latest taxonomical treatment of
the genus Amaranthus L. Besides this genus in our region the
family Amaranthaceae is presented by the species Celosia
cristata L. which sometimes runs wild in anthropogenic habitats.
Lately 4 new species have been found by us: A. powellii
S.Wats., A. rudis Sauer (the second locality in Ukraine). The
analysis of the herbarium specimens from different Herbariums (LE, KW,
DNZ) permitted establishing that in the south-east of Ukraine A.
blitoides S.Wats. has been observed in 48 habitats, A.
retroflexus L. - in 26, A. albus L. - in 22. The types of
areas, peculiar only to them, are characteristic of all these species.
practically they may be devided into two groups of species which have
been drifted earlier and recently. In the south-east of Ukraine A.
albus, A. blitoides, A.retroflexus occupy a complete area having
naturalized almost in all the ecotopes, including natural reserves.
The maps of spread of taxonomic units of different level from the
Amaranthaceae family have been made. A. paniculatus L. and
A. powellii have a progressing type of area. The intraspecific
variability of the herbarium specimens of A. retroflexus and
A. albus has been studied. Thus, a critical study of the
herbarium specimens and investigations of species under natural
conditions allowed to elucidate that 11 species from the Amaranthaceae
family grow in our region, 6 of them being unstable in the regional
flora and herbarium specimens of A. deflexus have not been
found which permits doubting its presence now in the flora of the
Ukrainian south-east.
Key words: Amaranthaceae, Amaranthus, Ukrainian flora