The paper presents the results of the research of local population of Anacamptis morio (L.) R. M. Bateman on the territory of the Left-Bank Ukraine. The size of this population was estimated at about 250-300 thousand individuals. The average density of individuals per 1 m2 is 12, while in terms of age structure, dominate individuals in the generative stage (70-75%). A. morio inhabits fresh, forest-meadow biotopes. Its populations are found in fresh eutrophic and moist mesotrophic meadows and in coastal floodplain forests. This species is a part of vegetation of the Koelerio-Corynephoretea and Molinio-Arrhenatheretea classes. Considering the characteristics of the investigated A. morio population and its habitat we assert that the studied territory is unique, valuable and perspective for the creation of a nature reserve.

Nikitchuk O.V., Shevchyk T.V., Solomakha V.A. A new record of Crataegus ucrainica (Rosaceae) in the Ros river estuary.Ukr. Bot. J., 2016, 73(2): 158-162. Educational Abstract. Based on the results of field research, a new locality of Crataegus ucrainica A. Pojark. in the center of this species range, in the Middle Dnipro area, is reported. Cenotic and ecological features of a new habitat of this species at the confluence of the Dnipro and the Ros rivers near Kaniv town (Cherkasy Region) are presented. The studied locality of Crataegus ucrainica has confirmed significant ecological uniqueness and specificity of this species. Therefore, a comparative morphological analysis of existing herbarium collection for reliable identification of the species and further study of its geographic, ecological and coenotic features are needed. Protection measures for the new localities of this rare species included in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species are urgently needed.

Due to rapid spread and naturalization of Amorpha fruticosa in natural plant communities in the Middle Dnipro region, the phytocoenotic range of this invasive species was studied. This is necessary in order to predict its behavior, to identify the most vulnerable biotopes in relation to possible invasions of this species, and to prevent their negative consequences, in particular, transformation of the regionally important natural biotopes. Analysis of 120 geobotanical relevés of plants associations from the studied region that include Amorpha fruticosa was performed. These cenopopulations belong to 4 classes, 5 orders, 7 unions, 7 associations, and a single community of unidentified syntaxonomical status within Dicrano-Pinion union. Phragmition communis + Magnocaricion elatae + Molinatealia-Rubo caesi-Amorphion fruticosae-Salicion albae form the central part in the vegetation of this area. The outermost zone of the phytocoenotic range for Amorpha fruticosa in the floodplain is a xeromezophilous demutational succession series represented by the following syntaxonomical aggregations: Galietalia veri-Artemisio dniproicae-Salicion acutifoliae-Dicrano-Pinion. In these floodplain phytocenoses, Amorpha fruticosa is capable of regular reproduction of populations due to the presence of individuals of the juvenile age group in the herbaceous layer. Occurrence of Amorpha fruticosa in the communities of the classes Robinietea and Carpino-Fagetea can be regarded mostly as a residual effect of the use of this shrub in forestry. In these populations of Amorpha fruticosa almost no individuals of the juvenile age exist and therefore there is no prospect of an extended recovery in such biotopes.

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Physical and geographical characteristics of the Orzhytsia River valley with Hnyla Ornitsa tributary are presented. Variety of habitats included in the list of the Resolution 4 of the Bern Convention enables considering this territory as a promising object of the Ukraine Emerald Network. This is facilitated by availability of a number of objects of the Nature Reserve Fund of Ukraine («Orzhitskyi» and «Timkivskyi» hydrological reserves, «Plysiv Yar» botanical reserve, «Zagat» protected ecosite etc.) in the studied territory. 17 Emerald habitats have been established for the Orzhytisa River valley, their ecological and coenotical characteristics and features of territorial distribution are given. General evaluation of botanical component of the vegetation types has been carried out, as well as location of rare plant species on this territory, included in the Sozological Lists of different ranks (regional (9 species), national (the Red Book of Ukraine-5) and international (in particular, Bern Convention-3). It is necessary to preserve and protect the rare species populations of Iris hungarica, Jurinea cyanoides, Ostericum palustre, which, having other sozological statuses, are included in the Annex I of the Resolution 6 of the Bern Convention (1998). Some measures of ecological management of this territory are suggested, in particular it is expedient to prohibit further plowing of the terrain, drainage of floodplain areas, afforestation of meadow-steppe slopes, burning of dry grass and stimulation of grass mowing of grasses and their grazing by running type.