The concept of "flora" arose in Ancient Rome. In the Roman pantheon there was a goddess of flowers and spring blossoms - Flora. The Romans believed that it was she who was responsible for the well-being of all plants.
Today the name of this goddess has become biological term. Introduced it into scientific use in mid-17th century century Polish botanist Mikhail Boym. Thus, flora in botany is understood as a set of plant species that are common in a certain area and have developed historically, for example, the flora of Sweden or the flora of the desert. .
The branch of botany that studies these collections of plant species is called floristry. It is interesting that plants living in an artificial climate (greenhouses, rooms, greenhouses) are not classified by botanists as flora. Therefore, it is not entirely correct to call a florist a person who grows flowers in a greenhouse.
True, the term is interpreted in its own general meaning. And what flora is often means all types of plants on the planet.
In addition, the term “flora” is used to characterize microorganisms inherent in certain animal organs. For example, skin microflora or intestinal microflora.
Having found out what flora is, let's move on to its classification.
Flora classification
To make it easier for scientists to describe separate groups plants, some special names are adopted. Examples:
- Bryoflora - moss flora;
- Mycoflora - lichen flora;
- Algal flora - algae flora;
- Dendroflora is the flora of woody plants.
To study flora there are various methods: geographical, genetic and age analyses. They make it possible to carry out some kind of inventory among plants for further study, conservation and crossing of species.
Plant species growing on Earth are distributed over its surface in certain combinations with each other. This is primarily due to their confinement to certain habitats in accordance with a set of requirements.
The set of plant species found in a given area (local area, country), making up all its characteristic plant communities, inhabiting all types of habitats, is usually called flora. This concept does not apply to plants deliberately bred by humans and not found in natural conditions: “closed ground” plants (greenhouses, indoors, etc.), growing in special nurseries, botanical gardens(A.I. Tolmachev, 1974).
All plants are usually divided into local, or native, plants that appeared in a given area and grow in it regardless of human activity, and those that are alien in origin, but have gone wild and maintain their existence in it. Although it should be remembered that it is often difficult to establish this boundary.
Despite the indication in the definition of all plants, in practice the designation “flora” often hides a narrower idea of the totality of species higher plants, specifically seed plants and ferns (the so-called “vascular spores”). This is due historically, and also due to the narrow specialization of modern botanists.
The principles for classifying floras may be different. We can classify them based on their different richness of composition (number of species); according to the complexity of the composition; in connection with a certain set of living conditions (flora of cold and hot, arid regions and others); by vegetation type (forest, steppe, desert, etc.); by the nature of connections or degree of isolation from other floras; in connection with the eras of the formation of the Earth, etc. The classification is determined primarily by the objectives of the study. It should contribute to the disclosure of the assigned tasks and identify connections and patterns of the natural phenomena being studied.
Characteristics of the flora
Flora, like any other a natural phenomenon, has certain signs, which characterize it as such and can be compared in a comparative study of floras. Most full view about the flora is given by its systematic characteristics, analysis of biological and ecological structure. Let's look at these concepts in more detail.
The taxonomic structure of the studied flora or its inventory represents the necessary basis for any floristic research. It must be carried out as completely as possible. When carrying out it, it is necessary to remember that in the composition of each flora, along with common and clearly visible species, there are also rare species, represented by a limited number of individuals, sometimes confined to specific habitats that are rarely repeated in the study area.
Accounting species composition flora gives an idea of total number species and reflects its richness. But this indicator is largely related to the size of the space being studied, and therefore requires special approach to the assessment. However, there are the following indicators of the species composition of floras: for arctic floras - 100-250 species, boreal floristic areas (including Western Siberia) - 400-750 species, forest-steppe areas (due to enrichment with steppe species) - 800-900 species, etc. (A.I. Tolmachev, 1974).
More accurate ideas can be obtained by analyzing the number of identified families and the ratio between the numbers of species included in them. This may indicate the phylogenetic features of the vegetation being studied.
An even more striking indicator of the systematic structure of the flora is the distribution of species between taxonomic groups of plants. For example, there is a pattern of decreasing role of monocots as we move from far north to temperate and further to equatorial latitudes, as well as in areas with a continental climate.
Life forms
Features of organogenesis, growth and development of specific organisms lead in the course of evolution to the formation appearance, or habit, of a plant. Features of external appearance, reflecting the adaptability of plants to conditions external environment, got the name life forms or biomorph.
According to the ecological and morphological classification of I.G. Serebryakov, flowering plants are divided into three main categories of life forms: woody plants, semi-woody plants and herbs. Woody plants necessarily have perennial above-ground shoots with renewal buds. Semi-woody plants are characterized by the fact that their above-ground shoots are partially preserved for a number of years, while their upper part dies off annually and is renewed by buds located at a certain height (5-20 cm or more) above the ground. Semi-woody plants occupy an intermediate position between woody plants and herbs.
Grasses do not have perennial above-ground shoots. Annual herbs do not have perennial organs at all. In perennial grasses, only the underground or above-ground ones are perennial, i.e. parts of shoots hidden in the litter or tightly pressed to the ground, usually called rhizomes. The buds for their renewal are also located here.
Woody plants are divided into trees, shrubs and shrubs. Trees are plants with a perennial, usually lignified, branched or unbranched main stem - a trunk that persists throughout life. The height of the trees is from 2 - 2.5 to 100 m and somewhat more (sequoia, some types of eucalyptus). The lifespan of trees ranges from several decades to 4 thousand. years. A typical crown is formed from branches of conifers and dicotyledons. Tree trunks thicken annually due to cambium. The tree-like forms of monocots are peculiar: their crown special type- usually formed by a bunch of large leaves, and the trunks either do not have secondary thickening or thicken due to the extracambial meristem, which mainly forms parenchyma.
The trunk can represent a monopodial axis (spruce, fir) or more often a sympodial axis (most woody flowering plants).
The main form of trees is erect, but there are trees with a lodging trunk. These are the so-called elfin trees (for example, the Siberian cedar elfin tree - Pinus pumila). If the perennial trunk is climbing or wraps around a support, then it is a woody vine, or a liana-like tree. These are many species of the large genus of grapes (Vitis), rattan palms (Calamus), and a huge vine from the legume family, Entada phaseoloides. Woody vines are common in the tropics, but rare in forests of other climates.
Shrubs differ from trees in that during their life, not just one trunk is formed, but several, arising from the dormant buds of the first trunk. The trunks of shrubs are usually called stems. Total duration The life of a bush can be very large, but each individual stem lives limited time(from 2 to 30-40 years). The height of the bushes ranges from 0.6 to 6 m. Shrubs are common in all plant zones. There are liana shrubs, for example Siberian prince (Atragene sibirica) - a plant from the buttercup family.
Shrubs are low-growing plants, similar in the formation of skeletal axes to shrubs. However, their height is smaller (from 5 to 60 cm) and the lifespan of perennial shoots usually does not exceed 5 - 10 years. Shrubs predominate in the vegetation cover of tundras, as well as in coniferous forests.
Semi-woody plants include subshrubs and subshrubs, which differ from each other mainly in the size of the preserved perennial part and overall dimensions. The height of subshrubs rarely exceeds 80 cm, and subshrubs - 15-20. Semi-woody plants are very common in desert climates as well as in high mountain vegetation. Under extreme conditions of existence, they (as well as shrubs) sometimes take on a cushion-like shape. Semi-shrubs include many semi-desert species of wormwood from Kazakhstan and Central Asia(Artemisia). The subshrub is a widespread medicinal plant thyme, or Bogorodskaya herb (Thymus serpullum). Bittersweet nightshade (Solanum dilcamara) is an example of a vine subshrub.
Herbs can be conveniently divided into annual and perennial. Annual herbs do not have organs of vegetative reproduction and die off completely after fruiting. Of particular note are the annual ephemerals that pass life cycle in a few weeks. Ephemera are common in deserts. Most of them belong to the cruciferous family. Biennial herbs develop only a basal rosette of leaves in the first year, while flowering and fruiting occur in the second year. Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) is a biennial plant.
Perennial herbs are divided into several types based on the structure of their underground organs. Herbs that have a well-developed root in adulthood (often a receptacle for reserve substances) are called taproot (for example, angelica - Angelica sylvestris). Carpal-rooted perennials are plants that do not have a main root, but are characterized by relatively thick adventitious roots (ranunculus acris, Trollius species). Types of iris, gravilata, kupena and cuff have a short but fairly durable rhizome. They are called short-rhizome plants. In long-rhizome perennials, the rhizomes are distinguished by long internodes (wheatgrass, maynik, wintergreen). Many cereals and individuals belong to turf plants. The perennial shoot part of them is a branched system of remnants of shoots from previous years. Tuber-forming perennials (potatoes, corydalis, orchis) form storage tubers on rhizomes or roots. Bulbous plants with different types bulbs with a changing adventitious root system.
Ecological structure
To characterize the ecological structure, the ratio of plants to water is most often used. The physiological significance of water is enormous; if certain plants (lower) can exist without air, as well as without light, then they cannot exist without water; Water is contained in all parts of the plant and often accounts for more than 90% of the total weight of the plant. All basic vital functions of a plant require the presence of water.
There are three main categories of plants based on their relationship to water: hygrophytes, mesophytes and xerophytes.
Hygrophytes are plants that grow in conditions excess moisture (aquatic plants, swamp plants).
The most typical hygrophytes are inhabitants of a humid and warm atmosphere tropical forests, as well as our shady forests. The very name “hygrophytes” speaks of growing in the air, saturated with vapors water. The hygrophyte group does not lack water and therefore does not have any adaptations to protect against drought.
Xerophytes. Properties of this environmental group opposite to hygrophytes. Xerophytes are capable of active state tolerate significant and prolonged dry air and soil. They are typical for arid warm climates (steppes, deserts, Mediterranean regions).
Mesophytes. Plants of medium-humidity habitats (plants of meadows, humid forests), occupying an intermediate position between hygrophytes and xerophytes.
This group includes, first of all, our deciduous tree species, many of our meadow and forest herbaceous plants, weeds, most cultivated plants.
In addition to these groups, intermediate groups are often distinguished.
In ancient Rome, Flora stood out among the host of gods and goddesses. She was responsible for the flowering of plants in the spring and was considered the patroness of all flowers. Today the name of this entity is used in botany, biology, and very often in everyday communication. flora in the modern sense?
Traditionally, this word means a collection of all kinds of plants that historically grew in a certain area. So, they usually say “flora of the Earth”, “flora of Africa”. It could be current situation things or something that existed before. But if we clarify more specifically what flora is, then modern botanists by this word mean only vascular plants located in the territory. Other species are not considered in this collection. What’s interesting is that the local flora does not include those flowers that grow on windowsills in houses, as well as those found in greenhouses, winter gardens or greenhouses - that is, in places where climatic conditions created by man.
There is a separate science that clearly explains what the flora of each specific region is. She studies each plant individually, as well as the entire landscape symbiosis located within certain territorial boundaries. This science is called “floristry”. Specialists in this industry are engaged in making notes - lists of plants and their brief descriptions for each individual region.
Historically, this term was first used in XVII century botanist Mikhail Boym. And then the famous one took up the baton from him scientist Karl Linnaeus, who created an extensive work devoted to the flora of Lapland. But this book described not only flowers. Flora in Linnaeus's understanding also included mushrooms, and not just plants. In total, as many as 534 species were described in the scientist’s monumental work.
But in addition to the obvious and remarkable part of the plant world, this term also covers its inconspicuous part. Photos of flora invisible to the naked human eye can be found on the pages of any microbiology textbook. This term is often used to describe the totality of all microorganisms inhabiting a body. For example, the expression “intestinal flora” is not uncommon in medicine and dietetics.
From the point of view of classification, the entire set of plants can be distributed according to several characteristics. So, from the point of view of origin, native and adventive flora are distinguished. From the name it becomes clear that the first of them presupposes the totality of those plants that inhabited the region long time. What is adventitious flora in this case? These are those plants that were introduced, cultivated, or accidentally transferred to the territory of this region not so long ago.
Based on the totality of plant taxa, this term is also divided into:
- algal flora (algae);
- dendroflora (trees);
- bryoflora (mosses);
- lichen flora (lichens);
- mycoflora (mushrooms).
Thus, it becomes clear that this term is not limited to flowers alone, like its ancestor-goddess, it is significantly broader and involves the study of the entire plant world, rich and diverse.
All wildlife Lands can be divided into two halves that constantly interact with each other. This is the world of plants and animals that are scientific world are called flora and fauna.
Flora
Flora- these are all types of plants that appeared in a certain area during historical development. It is closely related to natural conditions and the geological past of this territory.
The term flora refers to all the plants of a given territory, but in practical activities it unites only fern-like and seed plants. Other plants are usually named according to the department: bryophyte flora - Bryoflora, algae flora - Algoflora, and others.
The term "Flora" arose from the name of the ancient Roman goddess Flora - the goddess of fertility, flowers, youth and spring blossoms. It was first used in 1656 by the Polish botanist Michal Piotr Boym in his work “Flora of China”.
In botany there is a section on the study of flora and is called floristry.
The inventory and correlation of plant groups in a certain territory is taken as the basis of a system that divides the Earth into natural floristic units:
- Kingdoms,
- Regions
- Provinces,
- Districts,
- floristic areas,
- areas of specific floras.
Fauna
Fauna— The community of all species of animals in a given territory, which developed in the process of historical development.
The term received its name in honor of the ancient Roman good goddess Fawnia, the goddess of health, fertility and patroness of women.
The entire fauna is divided depending on geographical location and taxonomy. By geographical location you can identify the fauna of Europe, the fauna of the island of Madagascar, etc. According to systematic groups, this will be the fauna of mammals, the fauna of amphibians, and so on.
Study of flora and fauna
The study of flora and fauna begins with the study of their species and generic composition. The term that characterizes this activity is called inventory.
Also, regarding geographical origin, flora and fauna are divided into native and adventive species.
Native species are those species that live in a given area for a long time. In turn, adventive species unite those species that were recently brought into the territory with the help of humans or natural forces.
One of the most important indicators when studying flora and fauna is the proportion of endemics - animals or plants that live only in a given territory. She talks about the age and degree of isolation of the flora and fauna. Good examples Australia and South America will serve as endemic faunas.
A distinctive feature of any flora and fauna is its adaptability to the natural conditions of its species. For example, among the fauna in the steppe regions, burrowing and running species predominate, hibernating and feeding on tough grass and cereals, which are mainly represented by the flora of the steppe.
Flora and fauna are inseparable connected system. Changes in their system are directly related to environmental situation and natural conditions in the territory they occupy.
FLORA FLORA
(Novolat. flora, from Latin Flora - Flora, goddess of flowers and spring in Roman mythology; from Latin flos, gender floris - flower), a historically established set of taxa of plants growing or growing in past geol. era in this area. F. should be distinguished from vegetation - a collection of various. grows, communities. For example, in F. temperate zone North the hemisphere is richly represented by species of the families of willows, sedges, grasses, ranunculaceae, asteraceae, etc.; from conifers - pine and cypress, and in vegetation - grows communities of tundra, taiga, steppe, etc. Historical. The development of f. is directly determined by the processes of speciation, the displacement of some plant species by others, plant migrations, their extinction, etc. Each f. inherent specific. properties - the diversity of its constituent species (the richness of the species), age, degree of autochthony, endemism, etc. The differences between the species are defined. territories are explained primarily by geol. history of each region, as well as differences in orographic, soil and especially climate. conditions. By territory ranks among modern F. are distinguished by F. Earth (has about 375 thousand species, including about 250 thousand species of flowering plants), F. department. continents and their parts, island F., F. mountain systems etc., as well as F. state and department. administrative districts. In addition, consider f. dept. systematic department, for example F. algae, F. mosses, F. fossils, etc. F. research is the subject of the section of botany - floristry. Study of k.-l. Physics begins with identifying its species and generic composition in a given territory. Species similar in geography distribution, make up the geogr. F. element (tropical, boreal, etc.), species close in place of origin and history of settlement - genetic. elements f. (Central Asian, East Siberian, etc.). To clarify the origin and spread of modern Physics is important to study the Physics of past geological studies. eras; Thus, an analysis of the fossils of F. Greenland, Spitsbergen, and others (characteristic species of Trochodendroides, oak, beech, hazel, poplar, etc., from conifers - Taxodium, etc.) shows that Tertiary F. within the modern. The Arctic was not arctic, but temperate-subtropical. Based on the presence of complexes, it is endemic. families and clans are distinguished by regional subordinate divisions of F., most. the largest of which are floristic. kingdoms (Holarctic, Paleotropical, Neotropical, Australian, Cape, Holantarctic). Identified species and genera of plants. regions are most often registered in special. lists (with a description of their distribution, typical habitats, biological features) and are published in the form of books under the names. "F." Thus, in “Flora of the USSR” St. 18,000 species of flowering plants, among which are approx. 2000 species of Asteraceae, 1600 legumes, approx. 1000 - cereals, St. 750 - umbrella plants. In "F." usually include widespread cultivated plants of a given area. and do not include all plants cultivated botanically. gardens, nurseries, parks, etc. In some works the term “F.” are used instead of the term “plants,” which is undesirable (for example, they say cultivated plants, not cultivated plants, etc.). (see FLORISTIC ZONATION, PALEOFLORISTIC ZONATION).
.(Source: “Biological Encyclopedic Dictionary.” Editor-in-chief M. S. Gilyarov; Editorial Board: A. A. Babaev, G. G. Vinberg, G. A. Zavarzin and others - 2nd ed., corrected . - M.: Sov. Encyclopedia, 1986.)
FloraHistorically established combination of plant species in a certain area. It is characterized by the diversity and number of its constituent species (richness of flora), age, the presence of species unique to a given flora (endemics), etc. Modern flora is studied by the branch of botany - floristry; floras that existed in different geological eras - paleobotany. The study of floras of individual territories provides material for floristic zoning, identification of earth's surface floristic kingdoms and more fractional floristic units - regions, provinces, districts, etc.
.(Source: “Biology. Modern illustrated encyclopedia.” Chief editor A. P. Gorkin; M.: Rosman, 2006.)
Synonyms:
See what "FLORA" is in other dictionaries:
Y, female Borrowed Derivatives: Florka; Laura.Origin: (In ancient mythology: Flora is the goddess of flowers and spring.)Name day: November 24. Dictionary of personal names. FLORA Flower. Vegetable world. Tatar, Turkic, Muslim female names... Dictionary of personal names
- (Flora). Roman goddess of flowers and spring. (Source: " Brief dictionary mythology and antiquities." M. Korsh. Saint Petersburg, published by A. S. Suvorin, 1894.) FLORA (Flora, from flos, “flower”), in Roman mythology, the goddess of flowering ears, flowers, gardens.… … Encyclopedia of Mythology
- (Latin flora, from flos flower). 1) among the ancient Romans: the patron goddess of flowering plants. 2) a collection of plants of a certain area, country, the same as fauna in relation to the animal world. 3) an asteroid discovered by Hynd in 1847. Dictionary… … Dictionary foreign words Russian language
Flora, vegetation, color, vegetation cover Dictionary of Russian synonyms. flora see vegetation Dictionary of synonyms of the Russian language. Practical guide. M.: Russian language. Z. E. Ale... Synonym dictionary
Flora- y, w. flore f. Directory of plants. Mister Adjunct Krasheneninnikov! At your request, it was ordered to compose the St. Petersburg flora and prepare a herbarium for the imperial cabinet of curiosities. 1749. Such an excursion flora ... ... Historical Dictionary Gallicisms of the Russian language
Flora- Flora. Painting by Rembrandt. 1634. Hermitage. Flora. Painting by Rembrandt. 1634. Hermitage. Flora in the myths of the ancient Romans is the goddess of flowers, gardens and spring blossoms... Encyclopedic Dictionary of World History
FLORA, flora, plural. no, female (lat. Flora goddess of flowers in ancient Roman mythology) (book). Flora, all types of plants characteristic of a given area or geological epoch. Tropical flora. Dictionary Ushakova. D.N. Ushakov. 1935... ... Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary
And Pomona. Book Outdated Flowers and fruits. /i> Among the ancient Romans, Flora was the goddess of flowers, Pomona the goddess of fruits. BMS 1998, 595. Pass/pass flora and fauna. Jarg. they say Joking. About delivery medical tests. Maksimov, 380 ... Big dictionary Russian sayings
Flora- FLORA, s, f. Contagion, infection, germs, viruses (often about sexually transmitted diseases). You kiss him, and he has all the international flora in his mouth (about a foreigner) ... Dictionary of Russian argot
- (from Latin Flora, goddess of flowers and spring in Roman mythology), a historically established set of all plant species in a given territory (water area). There are floras of individual continents, seas, oceans, lakes, rivers, countries, regions, etc. On... ... Ecological dictionary
Books
- Flora of Asian Russia (set of 13 issues), Fedchenko B. A.. St. Petersburg - Petrograd, 1913-1918. Publication of the Resettlement Directorate of the Main Directorate of Land Management and Agriculture. Printing house A. E. Collins. Original covers. Issues contain...