Ecological-phytocenotic confinement and seasonal rhythm of development of Paeonia anomala L. in East Kazakhstan

The article describes the ecological and biological features, phytocenotic structure and seasonal rhythm of development of Paeonia anomala L. populations on the territory of Kazakhstan Altai in the East Kazakhstan region. According to the research results, the regularities of the species confinement to the ecological and geomorphological conditions of the habitat were revealed, the limiting factors determining the rarity of the species were identified and recommendations were given for the preservation of the natural populations of the species. It was found that P. anomala in the studied region grows on steep forest and shrub slopes of northern exposure, overgrown kurums, bottoms of inter-montane ravines, river valleys at an altitude range of 700–1850 m above sea level. The most optimal habitat conditions for P. anomala are cedar-larch sparse forests. The age spectrum of the Paeonia anomala populations is characterized by the absolute maximum of generative individuals. Populations in thickened forest and shrub habitats on the southwestern micro-slopes are in unfavorable ecological conditions for the species. The limiting factors that determine the rarity of seeing are the collection of bouquets, the procurement of medicinal raw materials, grazing and the low competitive ability of seedlings in the early stages of development, as well as the massive destruction of seeds by rodents. To preserve the natural populations of the peony evading in Western Altai, it is necessary to strictly protect the species from being cut into bouquets, prohibit the procurement of medicinal raw materials, as well as develop industrial technologies for growing the species in culture.