Morphological variability in coenopopulations of the rare species Adonis villosa Ledeb. (Ranunculaceae) in the North Altai

This paper examines the morphological variability in coenopopulations of the rare species Adonis villosa Ledeb., which grows in the North Altai. We have described the features of the places where this rare species grows – in the Maiminsky (on the right bank of the Maima river, in the vicinity of the villages of Maima, Kyzyl-Ozek, Kutash) and Choysky Districts (in the vicinity of the villages of Choya, Karasuk, Paspaul, Levinka). The studies of intra- and inter-population variability in dynamics over the years were conducted. It is established that the degree of variability of morphological features in similar ecological and geographical conditions is influenced by weather conditions. Based on the analysis of the state of the studied coenopopulations, the limiting factors for the growth and development of plants and the most favorable conditions for the introduction of this rare species into the culture were identified. The limiting factors should be considered – insufficient moisture in the winter-spring period, a higher altitude location, the presence of low grassy cover and the absence of woody and shrubby vegetation. All the A. villosa specimens we studied were confined to well-warmed, open slopes, mainly in the southern exposure. In the most favorable conditions, up to 7 lateral shoots can form on the axial shoot. In most cases, individuals of A. villosa form 2–3 lateral shoots. It was found that the parameters of the length of generative shoots were characterized by higher variability than the number of enrichment shoots. During the three-year observation period, individuals growing on the edge of the forest canopy were significantly higher. The shortest individuals were recorded (the height did not exceed 20 cm) in the coenopopulation located on an open, uncultivated area with low grass cover.