GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT FEATURES OF THE ALTAI MOUNTAINS' ENDEMIC SIBIRAEA ALTAIENSIS IN CULTURE
The research of the growth and development indices of the Altai Mountains' endemic Sibiraea altaiensis (Laxm.) Schneider at its introduction in the forest belt of the Central Altai is discussed (Introduction Nursery of “Gorno-Altaiskiy Botanical Garden” - the Altai Branch of Central Siberian Botanical Garden, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences). The research subjects were the plants grown from the seeds collected in 3 cenopopulations of S. altaiensis in the Altai Mountains. The studies were conducted over a period of 2010-2013 according to the commonly used introduced plant research technique. The seeds of S. altaiensis were collected in natural habitats in 2007-2008 within the Ust-Kanskiy and Ust-Koksinskiy administrative districts of the Republic of Altai. It is found that the plants in culture are not exposed to diseases, and they are frost-resistant. The introduced plants reveal a fast rate of growth and development during their early years. The average plant height increases by 9-26 cm over a growing year and the number of leaves increases by 20-72 leaves per 1 plant. On the third year S. altaiensis does not reach its generative state yet, however the plant reveals ornamental features as beautiful lanceolate sessile plain leaves of light-green color. In autumn the leaves turn brownish orange-red. On the fourth year the height of individual plants reach 35 cm, and the number of leaves up to 76 leaves per 1 plant. In culture the plants of S. altaiensis grown from seeds collected in natural habitats reveal satisfactory introduction abilities.