IRIS SIBIRICA L. (IRIDACEAE JUSS.) IN NATURE AND CULTURAL CONDITIONS IN THE SOUTH URAL BOTANICAL GARDEN
The paper presents the results of studying the biology of <i>Iris sibirica</i> L. from the genus <i>Iris</i> L. of the family <i>Iridaceae</i> Juss. <i>I. sibirica</i> is included in the list of species that need special attention to their state in the natural environment and monitoring in the Republic of Bashkortostan. It is a rare species in many regions of Russia - the Republics of Komi and Tatarstan, Orenburg, Sverdlovsk, Samara Regions, the Perm Region, etc. In 2018-2020 the seasonal rhythm of development, morphometric parameters, reproductive capacity in 8 cenopopulations of the Trans-Urals of the Republic of Bashkortostan and in cultural conditions - in the South Ural Botanical Garden-Institute (Ufa) were investigated. I. sibirica is a plant of the early summer flowering cycle, belongs to the group of long-flowering species, the average flowering period is 28 days, the fruiting phase is on average 56 days, the average growing season is 177 days. The growing season ends in the first half of October. <i>I. sibirica</i> plants undergo a full development cycle in the South Ural Botanical Garden-Institute. Study of biometric indicators of plants <i>I. sibirica</i> showed that most of the parameters under conditions of introduction are close to natural or exceed them. <i>I. sibirica</i> is characterized by relatively low real seed productivity. The coefficient of seed productivity in nature is slightly higher (73.7 %) than in culture (68.9 %). On average, one shoot of cultivated plants accounts for 120 pieces seeds, which is 1.2 times less than in nature. The decorative and medicinal qualities of <i>I. sibirica</i> make it possible to recommend it for wide cultivation not only in the Bashkir Cis-Urals, but also in the Southern Urals in general and in many other regions of Russia. Cultivation of the rare species <i>I. sibirica</i> is one of the ways to preserve its biodiversity.