Abstract

The ecological-edaphic and morphological features and the state of populations of the endemic species Moehringia hypanica Gryn & Klokov within the steppe zone of Ukraine were investigated. According to the results of laboratory studies, the humus content of the soil where M. hypanica grows is high, amounting to 7.35-8.23%. According to the results of our research, the availability of soil mobile nutrients showed that the concentrations of Mg, and P₂O₅ were very high, and 8.5-15.0 mg/kg, 129.6-164.5 mg/kg, respectively, and Ca concentration was high and very high, which corresponds to 12.5-27.5 mg/kg. The N concentration of the substrate increased in the samples (256.2-268.8 mg/kg), and the S concentration varied between very low and low (1.3-4.8 mg/kg). This indicated high concentrations of Mg, P₂O₅, and Ca in the substrate and as a limiting factor for the successful growth of the studied plants. The analysis of the cationic and anionic composition of the water extract showed that the soil was classified as non-saline (the sum of salts did not exceed 0.1%). The content of all salts did not exceed the toxicity thresholds. It has been established that in order to preserve the populations of this endemic plant, it is necessary to maintain a stable chemical composition of the substrate and prevent human intervention. During the expeditionary research, we noted that the populations are dominated by young generative and medium generative plants, with a small number of old generative and virgin individuals.