..................
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DENDROFLORA OF ADJARA (Ajara floristic region)
Z.K. Manvelidze*, N.V. Memiadze*, D.Sh. Kharazishvili*, N. I.Varshanidze**
* Batumi Botanical Garden
Batumi,6015, Makhindjauri, Georgia;
zurab58@yahoo.com; ninovaja @gmail.com; kharazishvili@mail.ru
** Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University
Batumi, 6010, Ninoshvili str.13,Georgia; natela.varshanidze@gmail.com
Received:.............; accepted:...............
In the area under review, 185 taxa belonging to 104 genera and 58 families were identified. Spermatophytes contained 11 Gymnospermae and 174 Angiospermae taxa. The richest families are
Rosaceae with 39 taxa, Leguminosae and Ericaceae with 9 taxa; Fagaceae with 8 taxa;
Aceraceae, Oleaceae and Corylaceae with 6 taxa; Salicaceae and Betulacaeae with 5 taxa. The
richest genera are Rubus (12 taxa); Sorbus (7 taxa); Acer, Quercus, Rosa and Rhododendron (6
taxa). The rates of taxa included in certain phytogeographical regions were as follows: Euxinian
element- 49 taxa – 26,5%; Asian element-31 taxa- 16,8 %; Euro-Siberian 28 taxa-15,0%; Mediterranean 17 taxa - 9,4%; European element-12 taxa - 6,5 %; N. America -6 taxa - 3,1 % and 42
taxa - 22,7% multiregional or of unknown phytogeographic origin. The life form spectrum of the
taxa was as follows: Trees-65 taxa-33%; Shrubs-120 (with 6 lianas-67%. The alian flora is presented by 35 taxa - 19 % (adventive-3, invasive-3, subspontaneous-22, naturalized-7). The endemic
flora is presented by 25 taxa - 13,5 % (Caucasian-6, Georgian -4, Colchetian -8, Adjara-Lazetian6, Ajarian-1) 23 taxa included in Red List of Georgia; 3 taxa included in IUCN Red List.
INTRODUCTION
The floristic region of Adjara is located within the administrative borders of the Autonomous
Republic of Adjara, in the south-western part of Georgia, and covers an area of 3,000 km2, with
altitudes ranging from 0 to 2993 m above sea level [1,2].
In view of its topography, the territory of Adjara can be divided into four parts: lowlands, hilly
zone, mountain gorges and high mountains [3]. Considerably dissected terrain, widely ranging
altitudes and deep ravines are characteristic for the mountainous part of Ajara. Over 80% of the
area is slopes inclined at ≥ 20 degrees. Further towards the tops of the ridfes, the topography is
simpler. Geological structure is mainly formed by volcanic sediments of the Tertiary age.
Adjara is distinguished by special vertical distribution of Forest vegetation types conforming to
the following pattern [4]:
Littoral and lowland vegetation (0-25 m.a.s.l.)
Forests (from 0- 25 m to 2100-2200 m a.s.l.)
- Hygrophilous, thermophilous mixed deciduous forest belt (from 0- 25 m to 400-500 m
a.s.l.)
- Sub-belt of broad-leaved – chestnut forests (Castanea sativa) (from 400-500m – to 10001100 (1200) m a.s.l.) covers northern and western slopes of the hilly coastal part of Ajara.
- Sub-belt of broad-leaved - oak forests (Quercus dshorochensis; Q. hartwissiana) (300-800
m a.s.l.)
- Sub-belt of mixed forests (polydominant communities of dark coniferous species: Picea
orientalis, Pinus sosnovskyi; deciduous species: Fagus orientalis, Carpinus caucasica, Acer
campestre, A. platanoides, etc. ) covers the intermountain part of Ajara ( from 300 to 1500-1600
m a.s.l. on north-facing slopes and from 800 to 1500-1600 m a.s.l. on south-facing slopes ).
- Sub-belt of beech forests (Fagus orientalis) covers hilly zone of the Adjara’s coast (from 1100
to 1900-1950 m above sea level).
- Sub-belt of spruce and abies forests (Picea orientalis, Abies nordmanniana) (from 15001600 to 2100-2200 m a.s.l.) - Subalpine forest-meadow vegetation belt (from 2000-2100 to
2350-2370 m a.s.l.)
- Alpine vegetation belt (from 2350 (2400) to 2993 m a.s.l.)
Several climate types are distinguished in Ajara that correspond to the vertical
arrangement of the vegetation belts [5]:
- Climate of the coastal plain and hygrophilous-thermophilous mixed deciduous forest zone:
average annual temperature is12°C; average temperature of the coldest month (January) is
over2°C. Absolute minimum temperature rarely drops below 10°C, and accumulated
temperatures above 10°C amount to 3900-4700°C.
- Climate of the chestnut forest zone of coastal region of Adjara is distinguished by
moderately cold winter with deep but unsteady snow cover; warm, long-lasting summer with
abundant precipitation (> 2500 mm); average annual temperature is 10-11°C; absolute minimum
temperature drops to –10-12°C (rarely to –16°C ); duration of the growing season is 6,5-7,5
months.
- Climate of the beech forest zone of coastal region of Adjara is characterized by high annual
air humidity (80-81%) and abundant precipitation – 3500-3800 mm; average annual temperature
is 8,5-9°C; average temperature of the warmest month (August) – 15-15,5°C; average
temperature of the coldest month (January) – 0,5°C; absolute minimum rarely drops below –1617°C.
- Climate of the oak forest zone of intermountain region of Adjara is distinguished by
moderately humid and cold winter; average annual precipitation is 720-900 mm; average
temperature of the warmest month (August) – 19,2-20,3°C, and highest temperature is 38-39°C;
average temperature of the coldest month (January) – 0,8-1,2°C; average minimum temperature
is 1,5-2,5°C, absolute minimum –14-16°C; duration of the growing season is 6-7 months.
- Climate of the beech forest zone of intermountain region of Adjara is characterized by
moderately humid and comparatively cold winter, thick and steady snow cover, cool summer;
duration of a growing season – 5-6,5 months.
- Climate of the spruce and abies forest zone is distinguished by humid, comparatively cold
winter and deeper and steadier snow cover than the previous climate types;, and cool and short
summer; maximum temperature is 28°C; average temperature of the coldest month (January) –
2
6,4°C; absolute minimum temperature is –20°C; duration of the growing season is 4,5-5,5
months.
- Climate of the subalpine forest zone includes climatic characteristics of spruce and pine forest
zone and reaches to 2400 m a.s.l.); the zone is characterized by cold winter and steady snow
cover, cold and short summer; duration of the growing season is3,5-4,5 months.
T. Urushadze and other authors suggest the following scheme of vertical distribution of soil zones
on the territory of Ajara (FAO legend [6,7]):
- Littoral vegetation zone soils: litoral and riparian detritus rubbish (Haplic Arenosols) and
alluvial meadow soils (Distric Fluvisols);
- Hygrophilous-thermophilous mixed deciduous forest zone soils: characterized by two kinds
of red soils: red shallow (Haplic Ferralsols) and red true or podzolic (Haplic Histosols or Rodic
Acrisols).
- Beech forest zone soils: represented by Brown forest true (Umbric Cambisols) and rusty brown
soil - brown forest shallow (Distric Cambisols).
- Chestnut forest zone soils: mainly represented by yellow-brown forest soils (Ocsic
Cambisols).
- Spruce-abies forest zone soils: characterized by brown forest podzolic soils (Gleic Cambisols).
- Soils subalpine and alpine zone of Adjara represented by mountain-meadow sward soils
(District Regosols) and mountain-meadow sward-peat soils (Folists Histosols).
Based on specific composition of floristic complexes, history and taxonomic structure of the
flora, Ajara (Ajara floristic region) is considered as a province (Colchic or Eastern Euxinian) of
the ancient Mediterranean region. Indigenous flora that originated from the Tertiary
Mediterranean flora is basis of the region’s floristic diversity [8].
Certain scientific data on Ajara’s dendroflora can be found in works dated by the beginning of the
XX century; many Georgian and foreign researchers have visited and collected plant specimens
from Ajara [9,10, et all.].
Recent data about species of dendroflora and diversity of eco-systems are also provided in teh
further publications [11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18].
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A major method of investigation is a traditional route expedition-excursion method. Plant
specimens for herbarium and cameral processing between 1990 and 2008 collected by us were
used to create the species list, as well as samples enumerated in Batumi Botanical Garden (BAT)
and N. Ketskhoveli Tbilisi Institute of Botany Herbarium Fund in 1960-1990; some samples of
herbarium and digital pictures are kept as well as at M. Lomonosow State University.
We identified plants according to the plant indexes of Georgia and Turkey; Variety taxonomy is
specified according to the temporary nomenclature [13,14,19,20,21,22,23].
3
In the Table 1 of everyone wood taxa Adjara (Ajara floristic region) the version is presented with
following details: endemism, life forms and phytogeographical areas have been estimated
according to Davis 1965-1982; Ketskhoveli, Kharadze, Gagnidze 1971-2007 [23,24].
Conservation status are given according Red List of Georgia and IUCN Red list [25,26]. The
terminology of alien status presented below hes been adapted from Weber (1999), Richardson et
al. (2000) and Kikodze et al (2009) [27,28,29].
The abbreviations used in the text and in the floristic list are as follows: Euro-Sib: Euro-Siberian
element; Eux: Euxine element; Hyrc-Eux: Hyrcano-Euxine element; Ir-Tur: Irano-Turanian
element; Medit: Mediterranean element; E: East; mt: mountain; Endemism: K- Caucasian; GGeorgian; COLH- Colchetian; A-L-Adjara-Lazetian, A-Ajarian.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The dendroflora of the floristic region of Adjara is represented 185 taxa belonging to 104 genera
and 58 families were identified. Spermatophytes contained 11 Gymnospermae and 174
Angiospermae taxa.The list of the woody taxa that were defined in the study area is shown in
Table 1.
The richest families are Rosaceae with 39 taxa, Leguminosae and Ericaceae with 9 taxa;
Fagaceae with 8 taxa; Aceraceae, Oleaceae and Corylaceae with 6 taxa; Salicaceae and
Betulacaeae with 5 taxa. The richest genera are Rubus (12 taxa); Sorbus (7 taxa); Acer, Quercus,
Rosa and Rhododendron (6 taxa).
The life form spectrum of the taxa was as follows: Trees-65 taxa-33%; Shrubs-120 (with 6 lianas67%.
The area is a very important relictual refuge for many plant species that are remnants of an
ancient Mediterranean flora such as Periploca graeca L. var. graeca (Asclepidaceae), Cistus
creticus L., C. salviifolius L. (Cistaceae), Jasminum officinale L. (Oleaceae) and Rhus coriaria L.
(Anacardiaceae) [16].
The uniqueness of the presence of many relict plant species in the region is largely due to the fact
that the Caucasus was spared from the severe effects glacial retreats during the last Ice Age. The
region is also unique with respect to the fact that one of the characteristic features of the south
Colchic is endemic endemism. The main kernel of mesophilic dendroflora formation of which is
conditioned with positive balance of warm and humid atmosphere is mainly presented by relict
endems that form peculiar “Shkeriani”. The following species belong to this group first: Betula
medwediewii Regel (Betulaceae), Quercus pontica C.Koch (Fagaceae), Epigaea gaultherioides
(Boiss. & Ball) Takht., Rhododendron ungernii Trautv., R. smirnovii Trautv. (Ericaceae) and
Osmanthus decorus (Boiss. & Ball) Kasaplıgil (Oleaceae).The main factor of existance of these
spacies is high precipitation the least annual amount of that is not less than 1300 mm. [30].
The rates of taxa included in certain phytogeographical regions were as follows: Euxinian
element- 49 taxa – 26,5%; Asien element-31 taxa- 16,8 %; Euro-Siberian 28 taxa-15,0%;
Mediterranean 17 taxa-9,4%; European element-12 taxa- 6,5 %; N. America -6 taxa- 3,1 % and
42 taxa-22,7% multiregional or of unknown phytogeographic origin.
4
Table 1. The list of the woody taxa Adjara floristic region
GENUS
SPECIES
FAMILY
1
2
3
Abies
Acacia
Acer
Acer
Acer
Acer
Acer
Acer
Ailanthus
Akebia
Alnus
Alnus
Alnus
Amorpha
Arbutus
Astragalus
Baccharis
Berberis
Betula
Betula
Buddleja
Buxus
Caluna
Carpinus
Carpinus
Castanea
Catalpa
Celtis
Cerasus
Cercis
Chamaecytisus
Cinnamomum
nordmanniana
dealbata
campestre
laetum
palmatum
platanoides
pseudoplatanus
trautveterii
altissima
quinata
barbata
glutinosa
incana
fruticosa
andrachne
sommieri .
halimifolia
vulgaris
litwinowii
medwedewii
davidii
colchica
vulgaris
caucasicus
orientalis
sativa
speciosa
australis
avium
siliquastrum
hirsutissimus
glanduliferum
Pinaceae
Leguminosae
Aceraceae
Aceraceae
Aceraceae
Aceraceae
Aceraceae
Aceraceae
Simaroubaceae
Lardizabalaceae
Betulaceae
Betulaceae
Betulaceae
Leguminosae
Ericaceae
Leguminosae
Compositae
Berberidaceae
Betulaceae
Betulaceae
Buddlejaceae
Buxaceae
Ericaceae
Corylaceae
Corylaceae
Fagaceae
Bignoniaceae
Celtidaceae
Rosaceae
Leguminosae
Fabaceae
Lauraceae
LIFE FORM
ORIGIN
4
Tree
Tree
Tree
Tree
Tree
Tree
Tree
Tree
Tree
Shrub
Tree
Tree
Tree
Shrub
Tree
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Tree
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Tree
Shrub
Tree
Tree
Tree
Tree
Tree
Tree
Tree
5
Eux.
Australia
Euro-Sib.
Eux.-Hyrc.
East Asia
Central Europe
Europe
Eux.
East Asia
East Asia
Eux.
Eux.
Europe
North America
No identificed
Eux.
North America
Eux.
Eux.
Eux.
East Asia
Eux.
Euro-Sib.
Euro-Sib.
Medit.
Euro-Sib.
North America
unknown
Europe
West Asia
unknown
East Asia
ALTITUDE(m)
6
800 - 1950
0-1600
150 - 550
50-1800
50-70
50-1600
50
1950 - 2550
450-700
20-50
0-800
400 - 1800
50-100
20-50
420-480
350-600
20-50
1970 -2000
1950 - 2200
1300 - 1900
20-50
50-1000
50
50-1200
150-400
50-1100
0-600
50
50-800
20-100
350-600
20-100
ENDEMISM
7
IUCN
STATUS
8
ALIEN
STATUS
9
Subspontaneus
adventive
K
adventive
subspontaneous
naturalized
A-L
EN
VU
naturalized
COLH
VU
subspontaneous
VU
VU
subspontaneous
VU
subspontaneous
subspontaneous
Cont. Table 1
1
Cistus
Cistus
Clematis
Corylus
Corylus
Corylus
Cotoneaster
Crataegus
Crataegus
Crataegus
Cryptomeria
Cupressus
Cydonia
Daphne
Daphne
Cryptomeria
Daphne
Daphne
Deutzia
Diospyros
Empetrum
Epigaea
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus
Euonymus
Euonymus
Euonymus
Fagus
Ficus
Frangula
Fraxinus
Fraxinus
2
creticus
salviifolius
vitalba
avellana
maxima
pontica
integerrimus
microphylla
pentagyna
curvisepala
japonica
lusitanica
oblonga
albowiana
glomerata
japonica
mezereum
pontica
scabra
lotus
caucasicum
gaultherioides
cinerea
viminalis
europaea
latifolia
leiophloea
orientalis
carica
alnus
oxycarpa
excelsior
3
Cistaceae
Cistaceae
Ranunculaceae
Corylaceae
Corylaceae
Corylaceae
Rosaceae
Rosaceae
Rosaceae
Rosaceae
Taxaceae
Cupressaceae
Rosaceae
Thymelaeaceae
Thymelaeaceae
Taxaceae
Thymelaeaceae
Thymelaeaceae
Hydrangeaceae
Ebenaceae
Empetraceae
Ericaceae
Myrtaceae
Myrtaceae
Celastraceae
Celastraceae
Celastraceae
Fagaceae
Moraceae
Rhamnaceae
Oleaceae
Oleaceae
4
Shrub
Shrub
Liana
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Tree
Tree
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Tree
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Tree
Shrub
Shrub
Tree
Tree
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Tree
Tree
Shrub
Tree
Tree
5
Medit.
Medit.
Medit.
Euro-Sib.
unknown
Eux.
Europe
Hyrc-Eux.
Euro-Sib.
Central Europe
East Asia
North America
Asia
Eux.
Eux.
East Asia
Euro-Sib.
Medit.
East Asia
Eux.
Eux.
Eux.
Australia
Australia
Euro-Sib.
Euro-Sib.
Eux.
Euro-Sib.
Eux.
Euro-Sib.
Euro-Sib.
Euro-Sib.
6
70-700
150-500
350-600
50-2000
50-350
50-600
2000-2400
400-800
400-800
1800-2000
20-500
20-50
450-550
2000-2400
2000-2400
20-500
1800-2400
50-1000
20-250
50-1500
2000-2400
800-900
10-300
10-300
50-1300
50-2000
50-500
50-2000
10-600
10-1800
7
8
9
VU
VU
subspontaneous
subspontaneous
EN
subspontaneous
subspontaneous
A-L
VU
naturalized
naturalized
K
COLH
900 - 1650
50-1400
6
Cont. Table 1
1
Gomphocarpus
Hedera
Hedera
Hibiscus
Hippophae
Hydrangea
Hypericum
Hypericum
Ilex
Jasminum
Juglans
Juniperus
Juniperus
Juniperus
Laurocerasus
Laurus
Lespedeza
Lespedeza
Lespedeza
Ligustrum
Ligustrum
Lonicera
Lonicera
Lonicera
Lycium
Mallotus
Malus
Mespilus
Morus
Morus
Myricaria
Osmanthus
2
fruticosus
helix
colchica
syriacus
rhamnoides
macrophylla
androsaemum
xylosteifolium
colchica
officinale
regia
oxycedrus
pygmaea
sabina
officinalis
nobilis
bicolor
juncea
sericea
japonicum
vulgare
caprifolium
caucasica
japonica
barbarum
japonicus
orientalis
germanica
alba
nigra
bracteata
decorus
3
Asclepiadaceae
Araceae
Araceae
Malvaceae
Elaeagnaceae
Hydrangeaceae
Hypericaceae
Hypericaceae
Aquifoliaceae
Oleaceae
Juglandaceae
Cupressaceae
Cupressaceae
Cupressaceae
Rosaceae
Lauraceae
Leguminosae
Leguminosae
Leguminosae
Oleaceae
Oleaceae
Caprifoliaceae
Caprifoliaceae
Caprifoliaceae
Solanaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Rosaceae
Rosaceae
Moraceae
Moraceae
Tamaricaceae
Oleaceae
4
Shrub
Liana
Liana
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Tree
Tree
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Tree
Tree
Shrub
Tree
Tree
Shrub
Shrub
5
Africa
Euro-Medit.
Eux.
East Asia
Euro-Sib.
East Asia
Euro-Sib.
Medit.
Eux.
Medit.
Medit.
Medit.
Asia
Euro-Sib.
Eux.-Iran.
Medit.
East Asia
East Asia
East Asia
East Asia
Euro-Medit.
unknown
Eux.-Iran.
East Asia
East Asia
East Asia
Eux.-Iran.
Hyrc-Eux.
unknown
East Asia
unknown
Eux.
6
7
20-50
50-750
30-2000
20-150
10-100
10-300
10-1200
10-800
10-1800
10
100-1400
400-550
2000-2400
2000-2400
50-2300
10-300
10-100
10-100
10-100
10-100
30-400
50-500
1350-2000
10-300
10-150
100-1400
200 - 1550
30-500
30-500
500-700
100-500
8
9
adventive
subspontaneous
subspontaneous
VU
VU
subspontaneous
naturalized
subspontaneous
subspontaneous
subspontaneous
naturalized
subspontaneous
A-L
VU
7
Cont. Table 1
1
2
3
4
Ostrya
Paliurus
Paulownia
Periploca
Picea
Pinus
Pinus
Populus
carpinifolia
spina-christi
tomentosa
graeca
orientalis
kochiana
sosnowskyi
tremula
Corylaceae
Rhamnaceae
Bignoniaceae
Asclepiadaceae
Pinaceae
Pinaceae
Pinaceae
Salicaceae
Tree
Shrub
Tree
Liana
Tree
Tree
Tree
Tree
Prunus
Pterocaria
divaricata
pterocarpa
Rosaceae
Juglandaceae
Tree
Tree
Punica
granatum
Punicaceae
Shrub
Pyracantha
Pyrus
Pyrus
Quercus
Quercus
Quercus
Quercus
Quercus
Quercus
Rhamnus
Rhamnus
Rhododendron
Rhododendron
Rhododendron
Rhododendron
Rhododendron
Rhododendron
Rhus
Rhus
Ribes
coccinea
balansae
caucasica
acutissima
dschorochensis
hartwissiana
imeretina
myrsinaefolia
pontica
imeretina
microcarpa
caucasicum
luteum
ponticum
smirnowii
ungernii
x sochadzeae
coriaria
javanica
alpinum
Rosaceae
Rosaceae
Rosaceae
Fagaceae
Fagaceae
Fagaceae
Fagaceae
Fagaceae
Fagaceae
Rhamnaceae
Rhamnaceae
Ericaceae
Ericaceae
Ericaceae
Ericaceae
Ericaceae
Ericaceae
Anacardiaceae
Anacardiaceae
Ribesiaceae
Shrub
Tree
Tree
Tree
Tree
Tree
Tree
Tree
Tree
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Tree
Shrub
5
Medit.
unknown
East Asia
East Medit.
Eux.
Asia minor- Iran
Asia minor
Euro-Sib.
Caucas.-Asia
minor
Caucas.-Iran
Europ.-Caucas.Iran
Caucas.- Asia
min.
unknown
Eux.
East Asia
Eux.
Eux.
Eux.
East Asia
Eux.
Eux.
Eux.
Eux.
Eux.
Eux.
Eux.
Eux.
Eux.
Medit.-Asia
East Asia
Europe
6
7
8
9
VU
600-1000
0-50
20-200
0-100
400-2000
2000-2400
300-100
400-2400
subspontaneous
20-800
0-50
VU
0-100
0-500
200-600
1800-2000
50-100
100-1200
50-1500
50-100
50-100
900-2300
1800-2400
2200-2600
1600-2400
200-2400
50-1200
900-1600
900-1200
900-1200
50-1200
20-100
1500-2000
K
subspontaneous
A-L
G
VU
VU
subspontaneous
COLH
COLH
VU
A-L
A-L
VU
VU
invasive
8
Cont. Table 1
1
Ribes
Robinia
Rosa
Rosa
Rosa
Rosa
Rosa
Rosa
Rubus
Rubus
Rubus
Rubus
Rubus
Rubus
Rubus
Rubus
Rubus
Rubus
Rubus
Rubus
Salix
Salix
Salix
Salix
Sambucus
Smilax
Solanum
Sorbus
Sorbus
Sorbus
2
biebersteinii
pseudoacacia
boissieri
canina
corymbifera
micrantha
tomentosa
woronowii
adzharicus
anatolicus
buschi
caesius
candicans
canescens
caucasicus
hirtus
moschus
saxatilis
serpens
woronowii
alba
caprea
caucasica
kikodseae
nigra
excelsa
pseudocapsicum
aucuparia
colchica
fedorovii
3
Ribesiaceae
Leguminosae
Rosaceae
Rosaceae
Rosaceae
Rosaceae
Rosaceae
Rosaceae
Rosaceae
Rosaceae
Rosaceae
Rosaceae
Rosaceae
Rosaceae
Rosaceae
Rosaceae
Rosaceae
Rosaceae
Rosaceae
Rosaceae
Salicaceae
Salicaceae
Salicaceae
Salicaceae
Sambucaceae
Smilacaceae
Solanaceae
Rosaceae
Rosaceae
Rosaceae
4
Shrub
Tree
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Tree
Tree
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Liana
Shrub
Tree
Shrub
Shrub
5
6
North America
1500-2200
20-1200
Eux.
Asia minorCaucas.
Europe
Europe
Europe-Medit.
Europe
Asia minor
Eux.
Medit.
Caucasus
Europe
Europe
Medit.
Eux.
Europ-Caucas.
unknown
unknown
Europe
Eux.
Euro-Sib.
Euro-Sib.
Eux.
Eux.
Euro-Sib.
Eux.
South America
Euro-Sib.
Eux.
unknown
150-800
50-2000
200-2000
150-800
700-1200
1800-2400
0-50
0-50
1500-2400
50-800
50-1500
800-1500
50-2200
50-2000
800
1800-2000
10-100
300
20-1800
50-2000
800-2400
2200-2400
50-1800
50-1500
20-250
500-2000
2000
1800
7
8
9
invasive
A
G
G
K
COLH
EN
subspontaneous
COLH
K
9
Cont. Table 1
1
2
3
4
Sorbus
Sorbus
Sorbus
Sorbus
Spartium
Spiraea
Staphylea
graeca
migarica
subfusca
torminalis
junceum
japonica
colchica
Rosaceae
Rosaceae
Rosaceae
Rosaceae
Leguminosae
Rosaceae
Staphyleaceae
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Tree
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Staphylea
Swida
Swida
Tamarix
Tamarix
Taxus
Tilia
Trachycarpus
Ulmus
Ulmus
Ulmus
Vaccinium
Vaccinium
Vaccinium
Vaccinium
Viburnum
Viburnum
Viburnum
Viscum
Vitex
Vitis
Vitis
pinnata
australis
koenigii
ramosissima
tetrandra
baccata
caucasica
fortunei
glabra
minor
scarba
arctostaphylos
myrtillus
uliginosum
vitis-ideae
lantana
opulus
orientale
album
agnus-castus
labrusca
vinifera
Staphyleaceae
Cornaceae
Cornaceae
Tamaricaceae
Tamaricaceae
Taxaceae
Tiliaceae
Palmae
Ulmaceae
Ulmaceae
Ulmaceae
Vaccinaceae
Vaccinaceae
Vaccinaceae
Vaccinaceae
Viburnaceae
Viburnaceae
Viburnaceae
Loranthaceae
Verbenaceae
Vitaceae
Vitaceae
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Tree
Tree
Tree
Tree
Tree
Tree
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Liana
5
Medit.
Eux.
Eux.
Euro-Sib.
Mediterranean
East Asia
Eux.
Europ.-Asia
minor
Asia minor
Eux.
Medit.-Iran
Medit.
Europe
Eux.
East Asia
Euro-Sib.
Euro-Sib.
Euro-Sib.
Eux.
Euro-Sib.
unknown
unknown
Euro-Sib.
Euro-Sib.
Eux.
unknown
Medit.
North America
unknown
6
1800-2400
2400-2600
2400-2600
300-700
20-150
20-500
100-150
50-900
50-800
300-1700
0-100
0-500
50-1500
100-1600
30-500
50-1500
50-700
50-1600
50-1900
2400-2600
2400-2600
2400-2600
1800-2200
50-1500
50-1800
5-1500
0-20
50-500
100-700
7
8
9
G
K
naturalized
invasive
COLH
VU
COLH
VU
subspontaneous
subspontaneous
10
On the research area euxine elements are more spread than other phytogeographic elements of the
region. Domination of euxine and the Mediterranean elements not surprising as taking into
account its species composition of florist complexes, historical past and systematic structure of
flora Ajara belongs to antic Mediterranean world, Mediterranean region, colchic or east Euxine
province; Its floristic diversity is based on auto tectonic flora developed from the kernel of
Mediterranean flora in tertiary period [4].
There are 25 species in the dendroflora of Adjara which belong to 9 families and 12 genus,
including Caucasian -6 taxa (Acer trautwetteri; Euonymus leiophloea; Pyrus caucasica; Salix
caucasica; Sorbus fedorovii; S. subfusca) Georgian -4 taxa (Quercus imeretina; Rubus
moschus; Rubus woromowii; Sorbus migarica) Colchetian -8 taxa (Betula medwedewii;
Quercus pontica; Salix kikodzea; Sorbus colchica; Rhamnus imeretina; Staphylea colchica;
Swida koenigii; Ficus carica; ); Adjara-Lazetian -6 taxa (Astragalus sommieri; Epigaea
gaultherioides; Quercus dzhorochensis; Rhododendron ungernii; Rh. smirnowii; Osmanthus
decorus); and Ajarian-1 taxa (Rubus adzharicus).
Nowadays there are non-local species listed in the dendroflora of Adjara except autochthonic
element The alian flora is presented by 35 taxa- 19 % (adventive-3, invasive-3, subspontaneous22, naturalized-7) which belong to 24 families and 31 genus. According to living forms there are
17 trees, 18 bushes included. According to origin the majority is East Asian taxa (19);
comparatively less is northern American (7) and Australian taxa (4); The most widely spread is
11 non-local taxa (Robinia pseudoacacia; Spirea japonica; Ulex europae; Pueraria japonica;
Lonicera japonica; Cryptomeria japonica; Cupressus lusitanica; Buddleja davidi; Clerodendron
bungei; Ecaliptus cinerea; E. globules; Aleurites fordii.).
23 taxa included in Red List of Georgia (Arbutus andrachne; Astragalus sommieri; Betula
medwedewii; Buxus colchica; Castanea sativa; Celtis australis; Daphne albowiana; Epigaea
gaultherioides; Juglans regia; Laurus nobilis; Osmanthus decorus; Ostrya carpinifolia;
Pterocarya pterocarpa; Quercus hartwissiana; Quercus imeretina; Quercus pontica;
Rhododendron smirnowii; Rhododendron ungernii; Salix kikodseae; Staphylea colchica; Taxus
baccata; Ulmus glabra); 3 taxa included in IUCN Red List (Abies nordmanniana, Buxus
colchica, Taxus baccata); 5 taxa are recommended for the “Red List” of Caucasia: -Betula
medwedewii, Rhododendron ungerni, Swida koenigii, Quercus pontica, Rhamnus imeretina
[31].
Nowadays gene pool of all these critical species is in correspondence to ex situ conservation
requirements in the humid subtropics floristic department of Batumi Botanic Garden; Kintrishi
reserve, Kintrishi protected landscape, KObuleti reserve and Mtirala National Park if total area
30137.75 ha is in correspondence to in situ conservation requirements; e.i. 15.70 % of total area
of Forest Fund of Ajara Autonomous Republic is managed by management tolls stipulated by the
Low of Georgia on “System of the Protected Territories” [32].
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