The genus Woodsia R. Br. in Ukraine (Woodsiaceae)

Two species of the genus Woodsia R. Br. have been reported for Ukraine: W. alpina (Bolton) Gray and W. ilvensis (L.) R. Br. Based on our analysis of the literature data and the herbarium specimens of 53 herbaria from Ukraine, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Russia, Romania and Slovak Republic, we present maps of the distribution of the genus in Ukraine showing correct, unconfirmed and erroneous records. Our results show a changed perception of the distribution pattern of Woodsia genus, particularly the distribution of W. alpina. The records of W. alpina in the Ukrainian Carpathians were erroneous, only W. ilvensisis growing here, and W. alpina in Ukraine has been convincingly confirmed only from Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhya region (Steppe zone of Ukraine ), from very low elevation making these sites the lowest in continental Europe. In addition to the distribution analysis, we have focused on a morphological overview of Woodsia species and their ecological affinities in Ukraine. A re-evaluation of the threat status of Woodsia species, using IUCN criteria, concludes that both species should be assessed as Critically Endangered (CR) in Ukraine.

Bezsmertna, O., Hleb, R., Оrlov, O., Vasheniak, I., Podpriatov, O., Kvakovska, I., ... Lysenko, T. (2022). The genus Woodsia R. Br. in Ukraine (Woodsiaceae). Thaiszia – Journal of Botany, 32(1). pp. 29-55. doi:10.33542/tjb2022-1-03