Inventory of vascular spore plants and gymnosperms of the Kabardino-Balkar State Highland Reserve

Abstract

The Kabardino-Balkar State Highland Reserve (KBGWZ) was established in 1976 to protect the alpinefloristic and faunal complexes of the Central Caucasus. The flora of the reserve includes about 1000 species of vascularplants. The inventory showed the presence in its flora of 40 species of vascular spore plants belonging to the divisionsLycopodiophyta (5 species, 2 families), Polypodiophyta (35 species, 12 families). Gymnosperms are represented by thedivisions Pinophyta, containing 3 families and 7 taxa of the species rank and below, as well as the division Gnetophytawith one representative of the genus Ephedra. Among the protected plants in the Red Book of the Russian Federation(2008), Taxus baccata is included. Asplenium scolopendrium (sub nom. Phyllitis scolopendrium), Ceterach officinarum andPolystichum lonchitis are in the Red Data Book of Kabardino-Balkar (2018). Among gymnosperms, Abies nordmannianaand Picea orientalis are also regionally protected species.