Distribution
Angelica palustris has its distribution centre in Eastern Europe and Western
Siberia. The distribution boundary respectively outposts are in Germany. The
plant is growing in moist meadows or meadows having changing water levels.
Changing land use of these habitats and melioration decreased the number of
populations considerably. In Eastern Germany occur still 11 populations,
about 25 populations went already extinct. The remaining populations are
genetically quite isolated (Dittbrenner et al. 2005). Our plants are from
Zwintschöna close to Halle (Saale).
Biology and growth
Angelica palustris grows mainly as a biennial; sometimes it needs 3 years to
flower. Removing of the inflorescences did not lengthen the life of the
individuals. The leaves of the over wintering plant decay. The species is self-
compatible and the seed set is high. Nevertheless, the fruit should become
ripe at the mother plant. Germination is considerably increased by frost the
seeds experience during the winter after sowing. Best places for growth are
very light. Snails and slugs frequently damage young plants.
Conservation
Fruit are sown in late autumn in a sandy garden soil. Next spring seedlings
are transplanted twice. First the seedlings were transferred into bowls, later
into pots with a diameter of 9 cm. In the second spring, the plants were again
transplanted, now into pots with a diameter of 12 cm. In these pots they will
flower. For the pots ordinary garden soil is used. The plants get about twice
as much water as other plants, but they can survive with considerable less
water. Trails for re-establishment of the species at suitable places in the wild
failed due to a high competitive pressure from the other wild plants.
Maintenance of genetic diversity
Collected fruit are used for propagation. Aliquots of them are offered in the
seed exchange network. Plantings are in the Botanical Garden and in a
garden designed for the maintenance of rare species at the Kapenmühle
(Biosphärenreservat Mittlere Elbe).
Literatur
Dittbrenner, A., Hensen, I., Wesche, K. (2005): Genetic structure and
random amplified polymorphic DNA diversity of the rapidly declining
Angelica palustris (Apiaceae) in Eastern Germany in relation to population
size and seed production. Plant Species Biology 20, 191-200.
Text (c) Botanischer Garten Halle: M. H. Hoffmann, F. Ebel, H.-G.
Fuhrmann, 2006
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