Veratrum nigrum L. – a rare species in artificial breeding

The paper presents the results of studying the biological features of Veratrum nigrum L. under cultural conditions. Veratrum nigrum is classified as a rare and endangered plant and is included in the Red Books of a number of regions of Russia. All parts of plant are poisonous, they contain steroid alkaloids, stilbene compounds, flavonoids and dipeptide compounds. The studies were conducted on the basis of the collection fund “Shadow Garden” in the South Ural Botanical Garden-Institute of the Ufa Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Ufa) during the vegetation periods of 2023-2024. The study of phenology, morphometry, and the success of introduction were carried out according to standard methods. The material for this study was V. nigrum individuals obtained in a middle-aged generative state with a closed root system from the Yoshkar-Ola Botanical Garden-Institute of the Volga State Technological University in 2019. It was found that V. nigrum goes through all stages of growth and development, enters the flowering phase and sets full seeds, is characterized by a stable phenorhythmotype, is classified as a group of long-vegetating plants with a period of winter dormancy and a long flowering period (more than a month). The individuals bloomed for the first time in 2023. The highest values for all parameters of the vegetative and generative spheres were noted in 2024 (a cooler and rainier summer from June to August and the fourth year of development), the lowest - in 2023. The results of the morphometric parameters of V. nigrum generally have a normal degree of variation (Cv = 5.0-15.1%), except for the length of the stem leaf, which is characterized by a small variation (Cv = 1.9-3.6%). In 2023, such traits as the length and width of the seed, flower diameter, and inflorescence length also had a small degree of variation (Cv = 1.4-4.6%). Due to the bright color of the inflorescences, abundant and long flowering, decorative large leaves, it is a highly ornamental plant and can be recommended for use with extreme caution due to the high toxicity of all parts of the plants in landscaping private gardens.