Checklist of herbaceous plants in South Karelia

The article presents a checklist of herbaceous plants cultivated outdoor in the South Karelia (North-West of Russia). Life forms, geographical origin, lack or presence of cultivated naturalizing features in the region, adventive status, economic group, and cultivation rate are given for each specie. Naturalizing criteria is considered as ability for independent regeneration by seed or vegetative renewal. The list contains 436 species. It represents 59 families and 243 genera. The crop is dominated by perennial grasses (68%) and hemicryptophytes (53%). In case of geographical origin, species from south temperate (48%) and temperate (36%) zone, as well as Eurasian (32%) and European (21%) species prevail. Among cultivated plants, there are exotic species, such as African and Australian. The main part of plants (about 70%) has no naturalizing features, i.e. they do not have independent regeneration by seed and/or vegetative renewal. Only 120 species are marked with naturalizing features. They are a part of adventive flora of the region, representing a special group of species fall out of cultivation. In case of economic use, decorative species prevail. 357 species are cultivated mostly as decorative plants, 42―as edible plants, 7―as medical plants, 28―as fodder plant, and 3―as soil-improving plants. The majority of species (around 80%) are really rare; they are found only on separate land plots. 63 species can be found pretty often, 7 species are usual.