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Isolation of species Elymus pendulinus, E. brachypodioides and E. vernicosus is prejudiced by results of analyses of herbaria and a live material in connection with their eсological and geographical specifi city. On the basis of the revealed variation of the basic diagnostic characters the conclusion has been drawn that splitting of the complex E. pendulinus s.l. on independent species is not to be proved.

Th e fl ora of steppes of the Baikal Siberia (BS) is rich enough (666 species of high vascular plants), that is a consequence of features of a climate, orography, and also its buff er position between Northern and the Central Asia. In a variety of steppe relicts BS are in some measure refl ected palaeogeographic events in open spaces of Northern Asia throughout last 3-5 million years, from tertiary savannas and deserts to tundra-steppe landscapes of Pleistocene. Besides in an exchange and transformation of fl ora the great value had as median position of territory BS in a trans-Asiatic mountain belt, and climatic influence of Megaberingia, and also influence of glacial epoch, connected with cryoaridisation. All it has formed a basis of high uniqueness of fl ora of steppes BS. It not only the most ancient relicts of paleogen-neogen age (Peganum nigellastrum, Caryopteris mongolica, Craniospermum subvillosum), but also pleistocene periglacial (Chamaerhodos altaica, Oxytropis eriocarpa, Patrinia sibirica, Gentiana decumbens, Artemisia depauperata). Its perfect model for knowledge fl orogenesis not only in mountains of Siberia, but also the north of the Central Asia.

Species composition of the obligate fraction of psammophytic fl ora of Siberia and adjacent areas was identifi ed by the
results of fi eld study and literature data. Centers of its diversity in Siberia were singled out. Links with adjacent
regions were analyzed with the help of inclusion measures, which allowed to assess originality of the psammophytic
element of fl oras for Siberian regions. Baikal Siberia may be considered as an independent center of psammophytic
diversity of North Asia.

Th is article describes new plant association of small-leaved forests with well-developed herbaceous layer from western
part of Kuznetskaya depression. Ecology, genesis and geographical distribution of association communities are
shortly described.

Classifi cation of watershed meadow communities of Arrhenatheretalia order occurring on Tobol-Irtish and Ob- Irtish watersheds (subtaiga subzone) was made according to the Braun-Blanquet approach. 3 associations and 4 subassociations of alliance Festucion pratensis were described. In this area meadow communities on abandoned arable lands predominate. Meadow communities on zonal soils belong to the association Cirsio setosi-Phleetum pratensis. It is represented with 3 subassociations. In the western part of studied area (Tobol-Irtish watershed) on sandy weakly-acidic soils meadow communities of Loto corniculati-Agrostietum tenuis dianthetosum deltoidis subassociation with Agrostis tenuis as dominate are common. Th e meadows of Aegopodio podagrariae-Phleetum pratensis association occur in the eastern part of studied area (Vasyugan plane of Ob-Irtish watershed). Th ey are situated in small depressions and at forest edges. Under anthropogenic pressure (haying) they replace forest meadow (Geranio bifolii-Brachypodietum pinnati) association.

Th e description of the association Carici aquatilis-Juncetum brachyspathi Taran et Tyurin ass. nov. (Phragmito- Magnocaricetea Klika in Klika et Novak 1941, Magnocaricetalia Pignatti 1953, Magnocaricion elatae W. Koch 1926) is given. Th is association occurs in mouth sors of the Ob River tributaries within the limits of the middle taiga subzone.

Th e characteristic of suburban communities containing brakes in the grass stand is given. Transformation of their
species composition under anthropogenic infl uence and response of brakes to diff erent degrees of load are shown.

Mooseberry (Viburnum edule (Michx.) Rafi n.) is cultivated at Botanic garden of the Komarov Botanical Institute RAS (Saint-Petersburg) since 1999, it is winterhardy and produces fruits. Th is threatened arboreal species is recommended to be included into the forthcoming edition of the Red Data Book of Russia as vulnerable species. Taking in mind its value and promising qualities for gardening and horticulture it is recommended into wider cultivation which will promote its ex situ conservation.

Intensive use of the rare species Hedysarum theinum habitats in the Altai Republic for cutting, overharvesting of red root for medicinal raw material and slow rate renewal may lead this species to extinction. Creation of artifi cial populations of this voluable plant will help obtaining raw material for medicinal preparations, as well as reintroduction of the plant to natural localities.

Th e gardener of Imperial Forest Institute Egbert Wolf (1917) tested the largest amount of woody species at Saint-
Petersburg, with 46 species which now are included into the Red Data Book of Russian Federation. Till recently the
main ideas on winterhardiness of woody exotic plants have been based on Wolf s data. In conditions of the warming
of the climate which has strenthened since the end of the 1980s, the amount of non-hardy species has diminished, at
the the same time the amount of hardy species has enlarged. Th ere are more species which reach its reproductive
state, and 4 of them produce the self-sowing.