What plants are found only in the Carpathians. Alpine plants of the Carpathians are in danger. Ecological routes to the Carpathians

Flora of the Carpathians is richness, diversity and abundance of colors. Forests are a real pride and asset. Only on the territory of the Carpathian Mountains in Ukraine are forests of the Central European type common. Admire the bright oak and beech groves, feel the gloom spruce forests. No wonder the eastern part of the Carpathian Mountains is called Lesistaya, while in the southeast there is a historical region - Bukovina. No less beautiful are the local meadows, which literally paint the entire territory with colored lines.

The flora of the Ukrainian Carpathians is incredibly diverse. To date, there are about 2,000 plants in the Carpathian Mountains. They are represented primarily by forests of the Central European type with broad-leaved trees, which occupied 35% of the total vegetation. This includes beech, hornbeam, etc.

The second place is occupied by Euro-Siberian plants: various types of spruce, juniper, etc. Arcto-Alpine flora is also present: willow, dryad, etc. Among the rocks and cliffs, you can even see edelweiss. Steppe vegetation also occurs. In some places there are representatives of the Crimean-Caucasian vegetation.

Rare plants of the Carpathians are represented by about 2% of the total species diversity. This includes rhododendron, from the small flowers of which the Romanians make jam. Carpathian sorrel and spurge also grow only here.

The Red Book of the Carpathians includes unique relics that have managed to survive to this day from the prehistoric period. These are yew, European cedar and others.

Before we look at the main representatives of the Carpathian flora, we recommend taking a look at. affordable price and comfortable conditions: what else do you need to enjoy the beauty of the Carpathian Mountains?

Beech is the most common tree in the Carpathians. An entire historical region, Bukovina, was named after him. The tree has a dense crown, through which almost no light penetrates. Growth is slow: ideal conditions in 350 years, a tree can reach a height of 50 meters. The width of the trunk is about 120 centimeters. Beech loves mild climates. A feature of beech forests is a weak undergrowth (due to strong shade).

Common oak

Oak is a tree known to every Ukrainian, which reaches a height of 30 meters. Trunk girth - up to 9 meters. Some local oaks are over 1100 years old. This means that the trees still found the princely era. In the Carpathians you can find ordinary oak and rock oak. As a rule, it grows in mixed forests, but there are also whole oak forests.

Spruce forests reaching the horizon are one of the main treasures of the Carpathians. Carpathian forests are 40% spruce. This is a long-lived mighty tree that can grow up to 50 meters. The diameter of the trunk of the oldest trees is 1.5 meters, and the age is up to 400 years. A beautiful wide pyramidal crown makes spruce one of the most popular trees for urban gardening.

At an altitude of 1600 meters above sea level, a cold and humid climate reigns, which is why trees no longer grow here. Instead, less whimsical shrubs, moss and lichens grow.

Occupy most of the highlands of the Carpathians. It's about about thickets of shrubs with a monotonous species composition. Zherep pine covers almost the entire surface of the stone slopes. Due to the height of up to 2 meters, the plant makes the slopes impassable. Junipers and willows (dwarf type) grow on the slopes.

Finally, it is worth mentioning the alpine vegetation, represented by lichens, low shrubs and herbs. You can meet her on the tops of several arrays. Small flowers make the local landscapes more picturesque.

The main feature of the Carpathian Mountains is that their nature is practically untouched by man. Local residents try to live in harmony with nature and protect it. So if you are looking for a place where you can relax and forget about the city routine, you will not find anything better than the Carpathians.

Chervona rue, sleep-grass, fern, forest lily - these fabulous names actually lead to the fantastic world of the Carpathian Mountains for a visitor. Fantastic in its diversity, healing, charm. To get into it, rest in the Carpathians must be combined with at least minimal knowledge about the unusual vegetation of our mountains.

Chernogora decorated with flowers, or the Hutsul Alps

June is the time of mountain flowers. Here, for example, is the eastern rhododendron, also called scarlet rue (or scarlet, although scarlet monarda is also called scarlet rue). At the beginning of summer, this plant species from the Red Book densely covers the foothills of Pop Ivan of Marmara and the mountain itself, blooms on Pop Ivan of Chernogorsky, decorates Chernogora and the foot of Breskul with flowers.

Marmarosy is not in vain called the Hutsul Alps - they are completely different from other Carpathian peaks. Marmaros are characterized by a subalpine relief, and the paints of unique colors confirm this. In June, here, among the herbs, not only the rhododendron is hidden, but also the narrow-leaved narcissus (yes, the same one that is near the Transcarpathian Khust), alpine bells, mountain arnica, sleep-grass, powder puff, nechuy-wind ... And herb connoisseurs in this time can gather material for herbal tea. After all, real Carpathian tea, as you know, is brewed only on mountain water filled with clean air, and easily seasoned with the aroma of a fire somewhere high in the mountains...

A living carpet, woven from pink (and also purple-violet) rhododendron, also awaits in June in Gorgany, on Bliznets, Dzembronya and Chivchin. The rarity and beauty of this flowering plant is a challenge even for experienced travelers, because Marmaros is traditionally rainy in June. As you take on this challenge, prepare accordingly! And remember that traveling to Marmarosy requires special permits from the border guards and respect for plants - most of them belong to the Red Book. Therefore, they can be considered and felt in fact only at the place of flowering.

Ecological routes to the Carpathians

Special ecological routes have been developed in the Ukrainian Carpathians, which will open and present you the world of mountain biological diversity in spring and summer.

This is the path of conquering Hoverla, a journey to the pastures and to Lake Violent. This mystical lake is surrounded by flowers in summer, as well as entire fields of a fluffy miracle - alpine pines. The weather here is amazing: the sun can hide in just 15-20 minutes, and such bad weather begins that even experienced travelers get scared. But the violent beauty draws them here again and again.

Other ecological routes lead to Spits, Brebeneskul and Pop-Ivan. It is possible to travel from Bystrica to the Prut river valley. Ecological trails they lead from Topilcha - through Dzembronya - to Pop-Ivan, from Rakhiv - to Petros and Hoverla, from Kvasy - to Petros, etc.

Other flourishing areas at this time are Dragobrat, the Transcarpathian foothills and valleys (in particular, Khustshchyna, Rakhivshchyna and the vicinity of the village of Kolochava). And if you want to get to the peak of sakura and magnolia blossoms, then it often falls already in mid-April.

Carpathian healing herbs

If you don’t have a glorious Carpathian herbalist or an experienced herbalist among your acquaintances, then maps will become a hint about where you can admire mountain herbs in spring and summer. protected areas Carpathians. In particular, the Carpathian National natural park, National Natural Park "Synevyr", Carpathian biosphere reserve, Vyzhnitsky Park in Bukovina, Gorgany and St. Beskydy parks, as well as the world's first international biosphere reserve "Eastern Carpathians". Also pay attention to the Beech forest in the Carpathians and the young national natural Park"Enchanted Land" in the Irshavshchina (Transcarpathia).

In fact, the secrets of the Carpathian drink, which can give health even through a combination of flower aromas, are known only local residents. For example, the fact that an elegant orchid is a cute cuckoo, popular in the mountain traditional medicine. Mountain daisies are the helpers of those who are disturbed by sight and hearing. Thyme - its aroma has long meant here the comfort and warmth of a home, and blueberries - reconciliation. Blueberries are also sought after by everyone who has eye problems.

You will see somewhere a young yellow bathing suit - know that you can swim in mountain rivers and lakes. It blooms when the air and water are already warm enough. And lingonberries are not only tasty as a berry, but also useful as a flower. Cowberry color is brewed as a tea. Also traditionally among medicinal plants The Carpathians call melissa, mint, St. How? This is truly known only in the reserved Carpathians!

Even with a cursory acquaintance with not only the beauty of the green cover is striking, but, above all, its great variety and originality.

As we see, in Carpathian mountains concentrated more than half of the representatives of the entire flora of Ukraine. How to explain such a richness and diversity of the flora of the Carpathians? Before, their auspicious geographic location, a large variegated environment due to the complex relief and massiveness of the mountains, various types of soils and underlying rocks, moderate climatic conditions. Botanists call the Carpathians a green treasury for a reason Central Europe. For thousands of years, it has contributed to the enrichment of plant forms of near and distant plain landscapes.

Let us get acquainted, at least briefly, with the life of plants in a strict mountain environment. With an increase in altitude, the temperature decreases, and the growing season shortens. The daily temperature fluctuations in the mountains are much greater than on the plains, and therefore the heat is more intensely radiated from the soil, the nights are always cold. But temperature fluctuations between summer and winter months here it is less, as in the flat regions. Thanks to this, beech, fir, sycamore and other tree species of the mild Atlantic climate successfully grow in the Carpathians.

The higher the mountains, the lower the content of carbon dioxide in the air becomes, from which plants take carbon in the process of assimilation. At the same time, the amount of ultraviolet rays increases. Those who have been in the mountains could see how quickly you can get a tan even on winter days. Ultraviolet rays have a harmful effect on growth substances - auxins, destroy them and thereby inhibit cell division. Therefore, for most plants in the highlands, a characteristic dwarf growth. It is also due to the action low temperatures and constant winds.

On rocky slopes, it is difficult for plants to get moisture from the soil. Therefore, their root system widely branched. The thick integumentary tissue on the leaves provides economical use of moisture. Here is a rough juvenile that grows on limestones. Ripped off, it can remain alive for several months. To protect against evaporation, the leaves of mountain plants are densely covered with hairs.

And what will happen if these plants are planted on the plain? Alpine bilotka (edelweiss) can also be grown on the plains. But its stems were already lengthening, the leaves without the characteristic silk sheen, and this symbol of the highlands would lose its charm.
Traveling along the mountain trails, one cannot help but admire the bright yellow arnica, golden hawk breeze, sky blue gentians, fiery red carnations, and many other flowers. Not a single artist has yet been able to reproduce on his canvas the whole gamut of their colors. It is caused by a special coloring matter - anthocyanins, the accumulation of which in cells is promoted by low temperature.

There is a lot of snow in the mountains. It protects green seedlings from freezing. Its loose blanket warms evergreens - fern, spiked blechnum, lingonberries, cranberries, dropsy, dryad. Under it, creeping pine and alder are also hidden. The cell sap of mountain plants contains a lot of sugar. This also protects them from the harmful effects of low temperatures. Snow in the mountains lingers long enough. Some plants have adapted to this and vegetate even under its cover. These are species such as Heifel's saffron, white flint and others. And how do spruce, cedar and larch grow high in the mountains, the trunks of which are open to the winds both in summer and winter? How do they provide themselves with moisture in frozen ground?

These plants also have a number of adaptations to survive. Larch sheds its needles for the winter and thus protects itself from cold winds. The stomata in the needles of spruce and cedar are closed. This reduces evaporation, but does not always save. And often on the border of the forest you can see trees with great-shaped crowns. Severe winds dry out the windward part of the crown in winter.

Trees in the highlands have a branched root system, strong low trunks, their branches fall very low. At an altitude of 1400 - 1500 meters, century-old spruces barely reach 10-15 meters, at an altitude of 1600 meters - no more than three or four. Even higher, spruce can grow only under cover of snow.

Rare plants that live only in a limited area and are absent elsewhere are called endemics. The endems, of course, are rich isolated islands and mountainous countries. So, for example, 6683 plants are known in the Balkans, of which 1000 are endemic. In the Carpathian mountain system about 240 endemics are known, which is 6.5 percent of the entire Carpathian flora.

The richest endems are the southern Romanian Carpathians. In the Ukrainian Carpathians, 86 trans-Carpathian endemics are known, including 18 Eastern Carpathian ones. Lungwort Filyarsky is a resident of Chernogora, Svidovtsya and Gorgan, astragalus of Krajina is known from the peaks of the Twins, the East Carpathian dolphin grows on the rocks of the Chivchinsky mountains, and the Hungarian lilac is preserved in the upper reaches of the Latoritsa, Uzha, Riki and Stryi rivers. So, a meeting with a rare plant is an outstanding and joyful event.

It is difficult to overestimate the scientific and economic significance of the Carpathian endems, which are found nowhere else in the world. The extinction of this species is a great loss for the flora, because man will never be able to reproduce it. Therefore, it is quite clear that personal protection rare plants given constant attention. For this, nature reserves, reserves of nature are being created.

The mountainous regions are also marked by a greater saturation with relic plants, that is, those that have been preserved from past geological eras. If you are interested in the cost of a well for water, then contact us.

Chervona rue, sleep-grass, fern, forest lily - these fabulous names actually lead to the fantastic world of the Carpathian Mountains for a visitor. Fantastic in its diversity, healing, charm. To get into it, rest in the Carpathians must be combined with at least minimal knowledge about the unusual vegetation of our mountains.

Chernogora decorated with flowers, or the Hutsul Alps

June is the time of mountain flowers. Here, for example, is the eastern rhododendron, also called scarlet rue (or scarlet, although scarlet monarda is also called scarlet rue). At the beginning of summer, this plant species from the Red Book densely covers the foothills of Pop Ivan of Marmara and the mountain itself, blooms on Pop Ivan of Chernogorsky, decorates Chernogora and the foot of Breskul with flowers.

Marmarosy is not in vain called the Hutsul Alps - they are completely different from other Carpathian peaks. Marmaros are characterized by a subalpine relief, and the paints of unique colors confirm this. In June, here, among the herbs, not only the rhododendron is hidden, but also the narrow-leaved narcissus (yes, the same one that is near the Transcarpathian Khust), alpine bells, mountain arnica, sleep-grass, powder puff, nechuy-wind ... And herb connoisseurs in this time can gather material for herbal tea. After all, real Carpathian tea, as you know, is brewed only on mountain water filled with clean air, and easily seasoned with the aroma of a fire somewhere high in the mountains...

A living carpet, woven from pink (and also purple-violet) rhododendron, also awaits in June in Gorgany, on Bliznets, Dzembronya and Chivchin. The rarity and beauty of this flowering plant is a challenge even for experienced travelers, because Marmaros is traditionally rainy in June. As you take on this challenge, prepare accordingly! And remember that traveling to Marmarosy requires special permits from the border guards and respect for plants - most of them belong to the Red Book. Therefore, they can be considered and felt in fact only at the place of flowering.

Ecological routes to the Carpathians

Special ecological routes have been developed in the Ukrainian Carpathians, which will open and present you the world of mountain biological diversity in spring and summer.

This is the path of conquering Hoverla, a journey to the pastures and to Lake Violent. This mystical lake is surrounded by flowers in summer, as well as entire fields of a fluffy miracle - alpine pines. The weather here is amazing: the sun can hide in just 15-20 minutes, and such bad weather begins that even experienced travelers get scared. But the violent beauty draws them here again and again.

Other ecological routes lead to Spits, Brebeneskul and Pop-Ivan. It is possible to travel from Bystrica to the Prut river valley. Ecological trails lead from Topilche - through Dzembronya - to Pop Ivan, from Rakhiv - to Petros and Hoverla, from Kvasy - to Petros, etc.

Other flourishing areas at this time are Dragobrat, the Transcarpathian foothills and valleys (in particular, Khustshchyna, Rakhivshchyna and the vicinity of the village of Kolochava). And if you want to get to the peak of sakura and magnolia blossoms, then it often falls already in mid-April.

Carpathian healing herbs

If you don’t have a glorious Carpathian herbalist or an experienced herbalist among your acquaintances, then maps of the protected areas of the Carpathians will become a hint about where you can admire mountain herbs in spring and summer. In particular, the Carpathian National Nature Park, the Synevyr National Nature Park, the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve, the Vyzhnitsky Park in Bukovina, the Gorgany and St. Beskydy parks, as well as the world's first international biosphere reserve "Eastern Carpathians". Also pay attention to the Beech forest in the Carpathians and the young national natural park "Enchanted Land" in the Irshavshchina (Transcarpathia).

In fact, the secrets of the Carpathian drink, which can give health even through a combination of flower aromas, are known only to local residents. For example, the fact that an elegant orchid is a cute cuckoo, popular in mountain folk medicine. Mountain daisies are the helpers of those who are disturbed by sight and hearing. Thyme - its aroma has long meant here the comfort and warmth of a home, and blueberries - reconciliation. Blueberries are also sought after by everyone who has eye problems.

If you see a young yellow bathing suit somewhere - know that you can swim in mountain rivers and lakes. It blooms when the air and water are already warm enough. And lingonberries are not only tasty as a berry, but also useful as a flower. Cowberry color is brewed as a tea. Also, traditionally, among the medicinal plants of the Carpathians, lemon balm, mint, St. How? This is truly known only in the reserved Carpathians!

Remember! How they change natural areas on the plains? Which natural conditions characteristic of the Carpathians?

Consider a schematic drawing of a mountain. How does vegetation change from bottom to top? Think why.

1. Deciduous forests

2. Mixed forests

3. Coniferous forests.

4. Shrubs

5. Herbaceous plants (meadows)

Forests grow on a significant part of the Carpathian Mountains. They make up almost a fifth of all forests in Ukraine. This is the largest forest area in the state.

At the foot, on the slopes of the mountains, on more fertile soils deciduous forest grows. It is formed by oak, hornbeam, linden, maple, ash, beech, birch, alder and poplar.

Climbing higher into the mountains, you feel how it becomes colder. Appear coniferous trees. deciduous forest becomes mixed. In a mixed forest deciduous trees beech prevails, conifers - fir and European spruce, which is called spruce, in some places cedar.

deciduous forest mixed forest coniferous forest

Cuckoo's Tears Rhododendron Edelweiss Arnica

cordifolia Carpathian mountain

Raspberry bushes, hazel, blackberries, wild roses grow in the undergrowth of forests. On the edges and glades - herbaceous plants. Among them are those listed in the Red Book of Ukraine - snowdrop, forest lily, cuckoo's tears. There are many medicinal plants - St. John's wort, medicinal dandelion, celandine, common white, spring primrose.

Mushrooms grow in the forest under the trees: porcini, boletus, boletus, boletus, honey mushrooms.

Higher in the mountains, where it is colder and wetter, there are fewer and fewer deciduous trees. Coniferous forest prevails there. It is formed by spruce, fir and larch. Mosses grow on moist soil between trees, and lingonberry and blueberry bushes grow in clearings.

Closer to the mountain peaks, coniferous trees are replaced by shrubs of mountain pine, juniper and green alder, which spread near the surface of the earth, because it is warmer there and the wind is weaker. There are also evergreen bushes of Carpathian rhododendron.

High in the mountains it is very cold, so the warm period of the year during which plants can develop is short. There are mountain meadows - meadows. These are treeless flat tops of mountain ranges covered with herbaceous plants, among which there are many listed in the Red Book of Ukraine: yellow gentian, edelweiss (Alpine bilotka), mountain arnica, Carpathian bluebells, alpine aster. Mosses and lichens grow on the rocks.

Consider the map of Ukraine's natural zones (p. 170). What animals live in the Carpathians?

Insects and their larvae live in the forest floor, on trees, bushes and grasses. Of the reptiles, lizards live there - nimble and viviparous, already, an ordinary viper, a forest snake. From amphibians - spotted salamander, Carpathian newt, nimble frog and tree frog. Trout, perch, bream, pike and other fish are found in mountain rivers.

Many birds nest in the forests - woodpecker, eagle, golden eagle, spruce shishkarev, black stork, short-toed owl, hairy owl, capercaillie, black grouse, hazel grouse, titmouse. Of the animals there live a squirrel, a hare, a marten, an otter, a red deer, a fox, a wolf, wild pig, badger, brown bear, forest cat, lynx. Only in the Carpathians are found the Carpathian squirrel, the snow vole, the Carpathian capercaillie.

Think! Why in coniferous forest bushes and herbaceous plants do not grow? Why is there no forests for meat?

Discuss! Why animal world Are the Carpathians so diverse? In which of the forests of the Carpathian Mountains do the most animals live?

Polonina.

Test your knowledge

1. How it changes vegetable world in the Carpathians from the foot of the mountains to the peaks?

2. What Red Book plants growing in the Carpathians?

3. Help Dima name the animals that live in the Carpathians.

Make a summary

In the mountains, natural zones change with height - from the foot to the top. The flora and fauna of the Carpathians is diverse.