COLLECTION OF SUBTROPICAL PLANTS IN THE LARGE PALM GREENHOUSE OF THE BOTANICAL GARDEN OF ODESA NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

Introduction. The Botanical Garden of Odesa National University has been part of the Nature Reserve Fund of Ukraine of national importance since 1963. It has a valuable collection of subtropical plants, which is stored in the oldest greenhouse of the botanical garden. However, the list of all species of the collection has not yet been provided and its analysis has not been considered separately. In addition, recently there have been particularly active changes in the nomenclature and systematics of plants, which must be taken into account in the activities of botanical gardens. Aim. The aim of the work was to analyze the specified species composition, taking into account the modern nomenclature of the collection of subtropical plants, stored in the Large Palm Greenhouse of the Botanical Garden of ONU. Methods. The species composition of plants was specified according to determinants and modern nomenclature and systematics. Traditional methods of floristic analysis were applied. The floristic zoning of the globe by A. Takhtadzhyan, Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Red Book of Ukraine were taken into consideration. Main results. It was found that, according to modern nomenclature, the Great Palm Greenhouse contains 115 species of vascular plants from 48 families and 88 genera. The leading family is Arecaceae (14 species), the leading genera being Brachychiton and Pittosporum (4 species each). 74.8% of the collection is represented by woody forms, including 54 species of trees and 24 species of shrubs. By natural habitats, in the system of floristic zoning of the globe of A. Takhtadzhyan, plants of the subtropical regions of the Holarctic kingdom prevail (52 species, 45.2%). In total, the collection contains 493 specimens of plants. The collection includes 68 species introduced from 1865 to 1941, 12 specimens over 160 years old and 7 sozophytes of global and state level. Conclusions. The collection presents plants of all six floristic kingdoms of the globe. The collection was replenished from 1865 to 2015 with different periodicity: by 1941, 56.2% of species and 60% of specimens were added to it, 44.8% of species and 40.0% of specimens were added to the collection from 1963 to 2015, most of them – in the period from 1990 to 1999. Seeds, cuttings, seedlings were obtained from 6 botanical gardens of Ukraine, 6 botanical gardens and arboretums of three countries of the near and more than 11 countries of the far abroad. The best results of introduction are observed in three species that produce self-seeding (Chamaerops humilis, Elaeagnus pungens, Sabal palmetto). 24.8% of the collection species undergo a full development cycle (with the formation of similar seeds); 15.8% of the plants of the collection form flowers, but do not set fruits. 34.2% of the species of the collection are in a vegetative state.