Individual Morphometric Characters and Productivity of Plantago maxima (Plantaginaceae) in the South Siberia (Republic of Khakassia)

Abstract

—Phytocoenotic and morphological features, as well as the productivity of the giant plantain (Plantago maxima Juss. ex Jacq.) in typical floodplain landscapes of southern Siberia were studied. The coenopopulations of P. maxima growing in natural and reclaimed areas of the Bely Iyus River valley in the Shirinsky and Ordzhonikidzevsky districts of the Republic of Khakassia were assessed. Under contrasting environmental conditions, in associations with significant share of P. maxima its productivity was 8.2 ± ± 0.58 kg × 10²∕ha of air-dry, and 7.7 ± 0.54 kg × 10²∕ha of oven dry aboveground phytomass. P. maxima share of the total phytomass varies from 5 to 15% in mesophytic associations with high species diversity on well-drained soils, and from 40 to 80% in xerophytic associations confined to mounds with sandy, sandy-gravelly or pebbly sandy soils. In P. maxima, the size and variability of vegetative organs increase in plants growing in more moist environments, while in drier habitats, the generative structures increase in the size and variability.