Botanical-geographical profile of Samegrelo limestone massifs (Okhachkue, Kvira, Gucha, Tsulishi, Migaria, Askhi), ectopology, diversity of autochthonous calciferous flora (Western Georgia, Samegrelo)

Abstract

By utilization of field botanical route methods throughout different years, we have studied the diversity of rare and endemic species of calcephylous flora of Samegrelo limestone massif. The Askhi massif in Samegrelo together with limestone massifs of Migaria, Kvira, Okhachkue and Lebarde represents a significant area for genesis and formation of an autochthonous flora. Existing botanical and botanical-geographic research findings about the flora of Samegrelo can only confirm this (Альбов, 1893, 1896b, 1896b; Альпер, 1960; Колаковский, 1958, 1961; Сохадзе E, 1968).The following geographic elements of the Colchic flora together with different geographic elements (Cauc-As.Min., West Asian, Mediterranean, etc) are represented more or less quantity in each vertical belt of Samegrelo: 1.Buxus colchica, Rhamnus imeretina occur in the mixed deciduous forests; 2.Abies nordmanniana, Rhododendron ponticum, Quercus ponticum can be found in the beech and dark coniferous forest belt; large subalpine herbaceous plants are distinguished by endemic species like Inula magnifica, Cirsium oblogifolium, Heracleum mantegazzianum, Lilium kesselringinum as well as other species of high-elevation herbaceous plants, 50%of which are common endemics and sub-endemics of the Caucasus and the Greater Caucasus mountain range. 3.Betula megrelica, B.medwedewii grow in the broad-leaf forest belt; 4.Sorbus migarica, Arctostaphylos caucasica, Rhododendron sochadzeae are characteristic for the subalpine belt; 5.Chymsydia agasilloides,Kemulariella colchca, Potentilla kemulariae, Astrantia colchica and many more can be found in alpine belt. We have made a list of endemic and sub-endemic calcephytes of different habitats of study area: 1. Limestone cliffs where most representatives of the flora are chasmophytes or plants growing on rock crevices: Omphalodes lojkae, Campanulla dzaaku, C.fonderwisii, Seseli saxicolum, Potentilla kemulariae, Ranunculus helenae, Kemulariella colchica, Astrantia colchica, Umbeliccus oppositifolius and others. 2.Limestone loose-rocky habitats: Alboviodoxa elegans, Heracleum egrissicum, H.calcareum, Cyclamen colchicum, Daphne pseudosericea, Lupinaster polyphyllus, Scutellaria helenae, Digitalis ciliate, etc. 3.Limestone meadows: Gentiana kolakovskyi, Chymydia agasylloides, Polylophium paniutinii and many more. 4.Tall-herbaceous plants: Lilium kesselringianum, Heracleum mantegazzianum, Inula magnifica, Cirsium oblogifolium and others. Some calcephytes species (Lupinaster polyphyllus, Polylophium paniutinii, Campanula spp., Cyclamen colchicum, Ranunculus helenae, Astrantia colchica) may occur in all the above-mentioned habitats and that can be explained by the plants’ adaptation capacity which was generated for a very long time. The amplitude of height distribution of calcephylous flora has a peculiar characteristic. This is caused by the following circumstances: sums of annual precipitation of karst high mountain terrain is quite high and is equal to 1600-2100 mm. Here the snow cover is accumulated in karst cases for a long time and ensures permanent dampening of different habitants. Due to this, the Colchian dendroflora and calcephylous flora in general can be characterized by high amplitude of hypsometer distribution.