Relict and Rare Species of Forests of Tertiary Period of Gakhasi District of Azerbaijan

Relict trees and shrubs of the III period, widespread in forest ecosystems of the Gakh region of Azerbaijan, were identified, classified by geological periods and assigned the status of rare species. According to the results of the analysis, Taxus baccata L., Hedera passuchovii Woronow and Smilax excelsa L. are included in the relicts of the Poltava flora. In the studied forest ecosystems, 5 relict species of trees and shrubs are widespread, belonging to 5 families and 5 genera, included in the subtropical, evergreen Poltava flora (mesothermal relics up to the arctic flora of the III period). With the exception of Smilax excelsa L., 4 more species are included in the "Red Book of the Republic of Azerbaijan". Taxus baccata L. and Punica granatumL. are listed in the Red Book as "vulnerable to extinction" (statuses VU A2c+3c) as rare plants, Hedera pastuchovii Woronow and species of Diospyros lotus L. are included in the Pink List. In the forests of the Gakh district, relict trees and shrubs of the deciduous Turgai flora (mesothermal relics of the Arctic flora of the III period) are widespread, numbering 26 species belonging to 13 families and 20 genera. Of these, Pinus kocianaKlotzsh ex. K. Koch. "Almost threatened with extinction" - NT, Castanea sativa Hill. "Vulnerable to extinction" - VU A2c+3cd., Staphylea colchica Stev. "Critically endangered" - CR B2b (I, II, III), Vitis vinifera L. (V. sylvestris C. C. Gmel.) "Less threatened" - listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Azerbaijan as rare plants with the LC status, Philadelphus caucasicus Koehne., Pterocarya pterocarpaKunth. ex. İljinsk. and Corylus colurna L. are included in the pink list. In total, 31 relict species belonging to 25 genera and 18 families are widespread in the study area, of which 6 species are listed in the Red Book, and 5 species are in the Pink Book.