History of investigations of rare plant species in the Ukrainian Carpathians. I. Period before Word War II

History of research on the rare plant species of the Ukrainian Carpathians is described during the period from XIX century till the Word War II. Achievements of the representatives of different scientific schools, which worked in the region, are characterized. Their studies advanced from determining the specific composition of the flora, defining its rare components and revealing their localities, to explanation of the main patterns in distribution of a considerable number of rare species described mainly by H. Zapałowicz (1889) and B. Pawłowski (1948). In addition to the publications, vast herbarium materials also contain significant information on occurrence of the rare species. Analysis of the old data in comparison with current distribution and the state of populations of the threatened species enables to figure out their long-term dynamics. Contemporary knowledge of chorology and the level of threat to the rare species is based on numerous accomplishments of the predecessors that allowed to develop the contemporary network of protected areas.