CIRSIUM HETEROPHYLLUM (L.) HILL (ASTERACEAE) IN THE CARPATHIAN MOUNTAINS OF UKRAINE

Coenotic peculiarities of the Cirsium heterophyllum (L.) Hill. population found in the Carpathian Mountains of Ukraine have been presented. The community of C. hetero- phyllum is located within the National Nature Park “Verkhovynskyi” on Mt. Gnetesa and occupies an area of about 40 sq. meters. It is distributed on the slope of south-eastern exposition with inclination of 15° and located on the altitude of 1,600 m above sea level. Total cover of community is 100 %, C. heterophyllum is dominant and its cover is 90? 95 %. There are 19 species growing in the studied community. The community with participation of the C. heterophyllum occupies a small area, borders with coenosis of the Hyperico alpigeni-Calamagrostietum villosae Pawł. et Wal. 1949 association of the Calamagrostion villosae Pawł. 1928 alliance, Calamagrostietalia villosae Pawł. 1928 order, Mulgedio-Aconitetea Hadač et Klika in Klika and Hadač 1944 class and is distrib- uted along the upper border of the forest. At present, this is the only known habitat of this species in the Carpathian Mountains of Ukraine. The revealed population of C. het- erophyllum belongs to the category of small isolated populations. Thus, the constant monitoring of its state and, possibly, active protective measures are required in case of negative dynamic tendencies caused by demutational changes in a vegetative cover at the habitat.