Potentilla erecta (L.) Raeusch. (Rosaceae) at the eastern border of its range

Potentilla erecta (L.) Raeusch. (Rosaceae) is a perennial herbaceous polycarpic plant with a short woody rhizome, widely used in both scientific and folk medicine (See Fig. 1). It is a Euro-West Siberian species, predominantly found in European boreal-montane regions. The eastern boundary of its range passes through Tomsk Oblast, with occurrences in the southern areas starting from the latitude of Tomsk. In Siberia, the species is protected in Tomsk, Omsk, and Kemerovo Oblasts. Field studies of four local coenopopulations (CP) of P. erecta were conducted in the Ob-Tomsk interfluve and among forest plantations in Tomsk. The distribution of P. erecta in Tomsk Oblast is closely associated with pine, birch, and mixed forests, which are widely represented in the interfluve areas of the southern region. In the Ob-Tomsk interfluve, P. erecta grows in grassy-shrub pine forests developing on sandy deposits of ancient runoff valleys (CP 1, 2). On the right bank of the Tom River, P. erecta is found in birch and mixed forests, which are part of the forest park green belt of Tomsk (CP 3, 4). In the studied habitats, P. erecta occurs sporadically, as single plants or small clusters, and does not form thickets. Analysis of the age structure showed that the majority of individuals in P. erecta cenopopulations are in the generative phase (65.3-2.1%). The ontogenetic spectra of the cenopopulations are centered (CP 1, 2, 3) and right-skewed (CP 4). The cenopopulations are classified as normal, complete, or incomplete; CP 1 is maturing, CP 2 is mature, and CP 3 and CP 4 are transitional (See Table 1). Observations of the seasonal development rhythm in the TSU Siberian Botanical Garden showed that P. erecta is a spring-summer-autumn green species, partially retaining viable shoots until the following spring. The total growing season lasts on average about 176-198 days. Under natural conditions, flowering occurs over a shorter period, from mid-June to the end of August. Comparison of morphological parameters between natural and cultivated samples of P. erecta revealed that, under the conditions of the Siberian Botanical Garden of TSU, plants produce a significantly larger number of generative shoots (an average of 75.2 shoots per individual). The shoots of cultivated plants are also more branched and foliated but develop smaller flowers and leaves, distinguishing them from natural samples with high statistical confidence (See Table 2). In natural conditions, P. erecta reproduces exclusively by seed. The highest seed productivity per shoot was observed in plants growing in pine forests (CP 1), with 128.7 ovules and 98.6 seeds. The lowest seed production occurred in overgrown clearings (CP 2), with only 18.9 seeds per shoot. The productivity coefficient of generative shoots (Cpr) ranges from 53.3% (CP 3) to 76.4% (CP 1). The reproductive potential of the species is most effectively realized in CP 1, which also exhibits the highest reproductive success parameters (RSP). On the eastern boundary of the range, P. erecta individuals exhibit reproductive indices comparable to those of plants growing in the central part of the range. Under the conditions of the introduction experiment, P. erecta individuals most fully realize their reproductive potential (Cpr = 84.5%) and significantly outperform plants from natural cenopopulations (See Table 2). Cenopopulation studies have shown that CP 1 and CP 3 can be characterized as stable, while CP 2 and CP 4 are in an unstable state. Continued monitoring of the identified P. erecta coenopopulations in the southern part of Tomsk Oblast is necessary. We consider it unacceptable to harvest this rare species for medicinal raw materials. An alternative source of raw materials in the studied region could be the cultivation of P. erecta under controlled conditions, where most morphological and reproductive indicators of the species are significantly enhanced. The article contains 3 Figures, 2 Tables, 65 References. The Authors declare no conflict of interest.

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