Caragana arborescens Lam. in the territory of the Prioksko-Terrasny Biosphere Reserve

The article provides data on one of the most aggressive alien species of vascular plants of the Prioksko-Terrasny State Nature Biosphere Reserve – Caragana arborescens Lam. Before the establishment of reservation conditions (1945) this species was used in forestry as an accompanying crop during pine planting. Currently, C. arborescens spreads independently being found in 7 % (347 hectares) of the reserve’s territory, mainly on the sands of the first Oka river terrace. In the «Doly» meadow the invasion occurs into relict steppe phytocenoses. Area monitoring has been established for plots of continuous distribution of C. arborescens in the undergrowth.