Rare plants and lichens in the Unya River basin (Northern Urals)

A groundbreaking study identifies 15 newly recorded rare taxa of vascular plants, mosses, and lichens in the Unya River basin, Northern Urals, including Astragalus karelinianus and Alyssum lenense, marking their first documentation in the European North-East of Russia. The research, conducted through field studies in 2022 and analysis of herbarium collections, expands the known flora and lichenobiota of the region, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site 'Virgin Komi Forests.' A total of 94 taxa were documented, with 18 requiring biological supervision. Notably, several species, such as Bryoria fremontii and Leptogium burnetiae, hold significant conservation status in Russia. The study underscores the Unya River basin's pivotal role in preserving regional biodiversity, highlighting its unique ecological significance.

Тетерюк, Людмила Владимировна, Дулин, Михаил Владимирович, Железнова, Галина Виссарионовна, Пыстина, Татьяна Николаевна, Teteryuk, L., Dulin, M., Zheleznova, G., & Pystina, T. (2024). Rare plants and lichens in the Unya River basin (Northern Urals). Proceedings of the Karelian Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, (1), 98. https://doi.org/10.17076/bg1836