For the first time, a complete inventory and analysis of the taxonomic composition of the flora of the phytogeographic plot “Central Asia” in the M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the NAS of Ukraine were conducted. The plot “Central Asia” was established in 1953 for the directed introduction and naturalization of plants from Central Asia. Over 1,000 plant species have been tested here during all this time, which indicates a large amount of experimental work. The structure of the flora on the study plot has certain features of the flora of Central Asia. According to the inventory results, 308 valid taxa (species and subspecies) of higher vascular plants from 168 genera and 66 families have been recorded on the plot. Of these, 183 taxa belong to the natural flora of Central Asia. The structure of the flora of plants on the study plot has certain features of the flora of Central Asia. However, in the conditions of Kyiv, the plants of Central Asian flora requiring more temperate habitats (e.g., plants originated from northern steppes, valley and lowland forests) have taken root best. The geographical structure of the flora of the plot is dominated by ergasiophytes with Central Asian (25.0 %), Eurasian and Paleoarctic (together 34.2 %), and sub-Mediterranean (10.9 %) types of ranges. From this number, 42 species of ergasiophytes are endemic to Central Asia. The biomorphological structure of the flora of the plot is dominated by perennials (47.3 %), and the share of woody plants is 26.4 %. According to Raunkiaer’s classification of life forms, hemicryptophytes (28.4 %), phanerophytes and cryptophytes (25.1 % each) predominate on the plot. In the conditions of Kyiv, phanerophytes from mountainous regions appeared to be the most resistant plants. While among ergasiophytes of Central Asian origin, plants growing in forests, steppes, shrubs, and edges appeared the most represented. Among the ergasiophytes growing on the plot “Central Asia”, 24 species are listed in the red books of Central Asian countries. Currently, there are some problems related to the state of phytocoenoses on the phytogeographical plot “Central Asia” and its flora in general (e.g., death of many ergasiophytes of Central Asian origin due to inconsistency of climatic conditions, expansion of invasive organisms, growing anthropogenic load, etc.) However, thanks to the large-scale introductory work, the collection of plants on the plot has a unique composition and remains one of the most attractive decorations of the M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden.

Objective – to study the current distribution of Sedum pallidum in Ukraine, to analyze its state in the alien flora of Ukraine. Material and methods. The studies were conducted in 2008–2019 in the plain part of Ukraine and in the Mountain Crimea. Literature information, several national herbarium collections and other sources were analyzed. Special attention was paid to the delimitation of synantropic locations of S. pallidum from cultural ones. Results. S. pallidum is a sub-euxine species, which range occupies the Mountain Crimea. It is widely cultivated throughout Ukraine and is prone to naturalization, thanks to its vegetative and generative reproduction. In general, about 30 synantropic locations of S. pallidum have been recorded, mainly in the Middle Prydniprovia and Western Ukraine. Urban lawns and roadsides on light substrates are favorable ecological niches for S. pallidum. Соnclusions. S. pallidum is the alien species in the flora of the plain part of Ukraine and ergasiophyte in its origin. A potential secondary synanthropic range of this species occupies the whole country except the Carpathian highlands. It has been established that S. pallidum in the culture of the Forest-Steppe is a perennial herb. Two races identified in its composition (var. pallidum and var. bithynicum) are probably ecads, and have no systematic importance. In the culture, S. pallidum is characterized by successful vegetative and generative reproduction, which contributes to its naturalization. S. pallidum is often confused with other species of the genus, what does not contribute to its study in adventive floras. A key for S. pallidum determination has been proposed.

For the first time, information on the flora of the Siverskyi Donets basin in the vicinity of Balakliya town (Kharkiv region of Ukraine) was summarized based on the comprehensive analysis of published data, herbarium material, and own field examinations. Field surveys were conducted during September 2015 and March-July 2016. The surveyed areas were located mainly in the valleys of the Sіverskyi Donets river and some of its tributaries within the former Balakliуa district. The conspectus of flora comprising 933 taxa of vascular plants (including 798 recorded during field surveys) has been prepared. In particular, 739 taxa of native and 194 taxa of alien plants were recorded. The habitats of 14 species from the Red Book of Ukraine were found. The locations of other protected, uncommon and new for the flora of the region plant species were also identified. Several taxa (i.e., some of the calciphytes like Astragalus albicaulis, Linum czernjajevii, Odontarrhena tortuosa subsp. cretacea, Scutellaria supina, and Silene supina) were found out of their previously known ranges. Newly established locations of some other species (e.g., Ephedra distachya, Onosma simplicissima, and Ornithogalum boucheanum) significantly complement previously known chorological data. Finally, information about new findings of such alien taxa actively expanding new areas as Cornus sanguinea subsp. australis, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Sedum sexangulare, Ulmus pumila, and Vitis vulpina is provided.It has been established that the flora of the Siverskyi Donets basin in the vicinity of Balakliya town is a rich natural center of phytodiversity being under active adventisation. Forest reclamation plantations play a significant role in spreading the alien plants. Railway and the pine terrace of the Siverskyi Donets also serve the migration corridors for many of such alien plants.

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Taxonomic composition of native and alien plants of the genus Corydalis s. l. in the flora of Ukraine has been analyzed. Based on literature, herbarium, inventory and other information, it was established for the first time that 3 native taxa (outside natural ranges) and 16 alien taxa of the genus Corydalis were recorded among ergasiophytes in botanical gardens and dendrological parks of Ukraine. The majority of these ergasiophytes (73.7 %) have not been preserved in the collections of living plants, indicating a low level of naturalization. The leading scientific center for the plant cultivation, where 82.4 % of alien taxa of the genus Corydalis have been cultivated, is the M. M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (Kyiv). Additionally, 4 alien taxa at different stages of naturalization were noted in the spontaneous flora of Ukraine. These include the ephemerophyte C. bracteata, colonophyte C. lutea, epecophyte C. cava subsp. marschalliana (outside the natural range) and hemiagryophyte C. caucasica. In the conditions of M. M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden and Syretsky Dendrological Park (Kyiv) ontogenetic structure of native coenopopulations of C. solida and introduced coenopopulations of naturalized alien taxa C. cava subsp. marschalliana and C. caucasica have been found. It was found that the coenopopulations of C. solida belong to the mature or aging types; C. cava subsp. marshalliana – to the young type; C. caucasica – young with a bias towards an invasive type. The highest density and a high seed germination in various coenotic conditions, which emphasizes the invasive nature of this species, distinguish coenopopulations of C. caucasica. Its expansion in the conditions of the M. M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden corresponds to the existing trend of the invasive spread of alien species from the southern regions, which is intensified by Global Climate Change. Due to the invasive activity of C. caucasica, this alien taxon, according to existing recommendations, should be considered as an invasive plant at the initial stage of expansion, so it should not be recommended for introduction to other countries and should be prevented from spreading in Ukraine.