Evaluation of the current state of Erythronium caucasicum woronow in nature and culture

Monitoring of Erythronium caucasicum Woronow (Caucasian kandyk), family Liliaceae on the territory of the Stavropol upland has been carried out since 2010. The Caucasian Kandyk is a glacial relic, listed in the Red Books of the Russian Federation, Stavropol Territory and other regions. In our region, this is an endangered species, status 1 (E), having point ranges (protection category III). The research work was carried out on the dynamics of the Russkiy Les Protected Area and Stavropol Botanical Garden: in artificially created forest formations and on the exposition site Rare and Endangered Species. Observation points for the condition of the Caucasian kandyk are located in one (III) natural-climatic zone of insufficient moisture. The aim of the research work is to determine the current state of the Caucasian kandyk under different ecological and biological conditions. The research work was carried out on stationary sites (1 m²) and during the route survey. The age structure, the renewal index, and the main morphological parameters of plants (height, leaf length and width, flower diameter, etc.) were used to evaluate the state of populations. As a result of the observations carried out in 2010–2022, the population with of 10 ha was found to be growing in natural habitats. The exception was 2021: we assume that unfavorable weather conditions of previous years (drought 2018–2020) and terrain (slope of Stavropol Mountain) affected the absence of plants throughout the territory. In 2022, the population has recovered. In the lower part of the Russkiy Les, on an area of four hectares, the population is stable; on an area of three hectares, it is declining. On the territory of the Stavropol Botanical Garden in the oak-hornbeam-ash forest, the area occupied by kandyk has increased in comparison with 2013, the plants are blooming and fruiting, the advantage of young, pregenerative individuals was noted. In the ornamental group, where the composition of tree and shrub species does not correspond to that of broad-leaved forests, there are no juveniles in its natural habitats, and a low renewal index is noted. On small plot beds, the species is insufficiently stable, there is no fruiting, the plants are in a depressed state. 

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