Penza, 27 September 2016. PenzaNews. During a scientific expedition, undergraduates of the department of “General biology and biochemistry” of the Penza State University discovered nitrariaceae wormwood (Artemisia nitrosa) in the south of the region — in Neverkino area. The plant is rare in Europe

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As the PSU press service informs, the university scientists based in the village of Bikmurzino, and the object of study was the unique for the Penza region halophytic vegetation of saline habitats in villages Mansurovka and Elshanka.

Despite the fact that these regions are experiencing intense anthropogenic impact, they are used for cattle pasture, haymaking and even sometimes plowing, halophytic flora and vegetation are well preserved here. During three expeditions, they found 412 species of vascular plants from 63 families, including two kinds of horsetail, one - ferns, one – gymnosperms, and 408 species of angiosperms.

Flora has 58 rare species, with 9 found in the Penza region for the first time.

To save the rare halophytic vegetation in the Penza region, they suggest organizing two new natural landmarks in Neverkino area — “Mansurovsky solonetz” near the village of Mansurovka and “Kellerovsky solonetz” near the village of Elshanka.