Current State of a Rare, Narrowly Endemic Plant of the Flora of Kazakhstan, Rosa Potentilliflora Chrshan. et M. Pop. (Rosaceae) in Low-Mountain Syugaty

Abstract

This study provides a comprehensive ecological assessment of Rosa potentilliflora, a rare and narrowly endemic species of the Kazakh flora, occurring exclusively in the Syugaty low-mountain range at the eastern edge of the Zailiyskiy Alatau. The species occupies southeast-facing rocky slopes within steppe vegetation belts. Three distinct cenopopulations were identified and studied using standard geobotanical and demographic methods. Within these populations, detailed age spectra were constructed based on shoot development stages, revealing a stable regeneration process primarily through vegetative propagation. A total of 248 seedlings, 391 juvenile and immature individuals, and 329 generative shoots were documented. Floristic analysis recorded 59 associated plant species representing 21 families, with dominance of Poaceae, Asteraceae, and Brassicaceae. The plant communities showed vertical stratification and were characterized by high biodiversity and a mixture of xerophyte and mesophyte species. The major anthropogenic threat is grazing. Based on our findings, we recommend the species' introduction into botanical gardens and the creation of a protected reserve in the Syugaty region to ensure long-term conservation.