Vascular Plant Flora of Estonia. Summary
Toomas Kukk
Introduction
During the 270 years of studying Estonian vascular plant flora, an imposing amount of materials on its species
composition and distribution, cultural relationships and other aspects has been collected. Larger part of this vast
information is summarized in publishing Eesti NSV Floora (Flora of Estonian SSR)in 11 volumes within the
period of 1953 to 1984, but also in the plant identification guides, handbooks and in several studies.
The present publication contains a lot of basic data necessary for studying flora: information on the scientists
who have studied flora and on their works, Estonian floristic bibliography, the list of vascular plants with their
correct modern names, the position of the species in floristic elements, cultural relations between species,
species distribution and frequency in Estonia. The present publication presents also a new analysis of Estonian
flora and gives a brief overview of plant protection.
Abbreviations
BF - Flora of the Baltic Countries (Vol. 1 1993, Vol. 2 1996)
BKA - West-Estonian Archipelago Biosphere Reserve
BÖI - Institute of Botany and Ecology, University of Tartu; its library
EAR - Estonian Academic Library (former Library of Estonian Academy of Science)
Eesti TA KA - Central Archive of Estonian Academy of Science
EF - Eesti NSV Floora (Flora of Estonian SSR, Vol. 1-11 1953-1984)
ELF - Estonian Wildlife Foundation
ELM - Estonian Nature Museum
EMK - Estonian Forest Management Centre
EPA - Estonian Agricultural Academy
EPMÜ - Estonian Agricultural University
EPMÜ MKI - Institute of Silviculture, Estonian Agricultural University
KM - Estonian Literary Museum
LKA - Nature protection area
LK1, LK2, LK3 - protection categories for the species under protection (see Chapter 4.10)
LUS - Estonian Naturalists' Society
LÜÖS - Livländische Gemeinnützige und Ökonomische Sozietät (Public and Economic Society of Livonia)
(O) - Plant running wild by cut branches
ÕES - Learned Estonian Society
PR0, PR1, PR2, PR3, PR4, PR5 - the danger category for the taxon, by the Red Book of Estonia
RT - Riigi Teataja (State Gazette)
(S) - Plant running wild by seeds
TBA - Tallinn Botanical Gardens
TPÜ - Tallinn Pedagogical University
TPÜ B - Chair of Biology, Tallinn Pedagogical University
TPÜ ÖI - Institute of Ecology, Tallinn Pedagogical University
TRÜ - Tartu State University
TÜ - University of Tartu, its library
TÜ GG - Library of the Institute of Geography, University of Tartu
TP ZHI - Institute of Zoology and Hydrobiology, University of Tartu
(V) - A plant running wild by root suckers or rhizome
ZBI - Institute of Zoology and Botany of Estonian Agricultural University, its library
ZBI B - Library of the Botany department of Institute of Zoology and Botany
(!) - Mainly after the references to the Floras from 18th and 19th centuries on Estonia, Livonia and Kurland, if
the habitat situated within the present borders of Estonia is mentioned there
(?) - Used in referring to the first mentioning of the taxon if in the publication referred to the presence of the
taxon is marked with a questioning mark
- Arrow referring to the valid name
- (Before the name of a taxon) A taxon without herbarium evidence
History of Studying Estonian Flora (Chapter 2)
Only studies on flora and plant systematics are discussed here, and therefore the scientific works concerning
plant ecology and vegetation science, as well as those on bryology and algology have not been included.
Besides, a good overview of the history of Estonian vegetation science was published lately (Masing et al.
1995). The contribution of the researchers is discussed only from the viewpoint of floristic studies, leaving aside
all other (and often more significant) studies of the scientist.
Chapter 2.1. describes the historiography of learning the flora of Estonia. The most noteworthy among the
historical surveys is the description of the early history of vegetation studies (up to the end of tsarist times) with
an extensive bibliography compiled by G. Vilbaste. It was published as two almost identical articles (Vilberg
1929c, Vilbaste 1937e). A longer period is discussed in a survey of history given in Eesti NSV taimkate
(Vegetation of the Estonian SSR) written by L.-M. Laasimer (1965a. A monograph on the history of Estonian
nature studies up to the year 1917 published by L. Kongo (??? 1987). The history of collecting Estonian folk
plant names has been written by G. Vilbaste (1993). These works end the list of profound discussions on the
history of Estonian flora studies.
The first scientific works on flora of Estonia are dated back to the first half of the 18th century, when Johann
Christian Buxbaum, a scholar from Russian Academy of Science (founded in 1725) studied the flora of
Ingermanland. In his works published in 1729, 1732 and 1740, Buxbaum describes some species noticed
occasionally at several places near Narva where he stayed and rested.
The first proper list of vascular plants growing in Estonia is found from the work Topographische Nachrichten
von Lief- und Ehstland, published in 1777 by August Wilhelm Hupel (1737-1819). His alphabetic list of natural
species of Estonia and Livonia contains about 310 names, 260 of which are considered as species of natural
and seminatural flora nowadays (M. Kask 1983).
The main reason why the flora on the territory of Estonia was so modestly described in the 18th century was the
lack of local scientists as well as the lack of common institution for naturalists here (Chapter 2.2). Although
Baltic-Germans from Estonia did study in the University of Tartu (Academia Gustaviana, Academia
Gustavo-Carolina 1632-1710) and in the universities abroad, they graduated the universities as medical doctors,
pharmacists or pastors. One of the few local naturalists with the education of a botanist was J. B. Fischer, and
we must stress here the pioneering significance of his works (Fischer 1778, 1784, 1791) - these publications
were the main source for studying Livonian flora during the next sixty or seventy years.
The first half of the 19th century (Chapter 2.3.1.) is characterized by only brief studies of flora: only notes of
encountered species and plant identification guides were published (Germann 1805; Grindel 1803; Friebe 1805;
Drümpelmann 1809-1810). We could call this a period of amateur botanists, as those who studied plants here
were pastors, medical doctors, teachers, and so on, while the university professors of botany were fascinated by
more distant and less studied places, such as Crimea and Altai. The most noteworthy works written by amateur
botanist of that period were the studies on flora of Saaremaa written by J. W. L. von Luce (1823, 1829b).
During the years 1811-1836, C. Fr. von Ledebour (1785-1851) was the professor of science in the University of
Tarty, and his main contribution was developing of the University Botanical Gardens into an institution accepted
in the whole world, and founding of the Tartu school of botany. In his major work Flora Rossica (in four volumes,
published in Stuttgard in 1841-1853) Ledebour gives the first complete survey of the flora of Russian Empire.
According to Flora Rossica, 1037 species of vascular plants grow in Estonia (M. Kask 1994). On the material
gathered from Estonia Ledebour described at least one new species - Viola epipsila Ledeb.
The period of 1855-1865 is especially important for the studies of Estonian flora, because this is the period
when intensive describing of local floras started (Chapter 2.3.2). The period coincides partly with the publication
of exchange herbarium Flora Exsiccata Liv-, Esth- und Kurlands by A. G. von Bunge (1803-1890). The leading
role in the research was played by the professors and students of the University of Tartu (Fr. Schmidt, Ed.
Russow, L. Gruner, P. Glehn, G. Pahnsch, etc.) who were assisted by amateurs (A. von Sass, Ed. Lehmann, A.
Schmidt, G. K. Girgensohn, H. A. Dietrich, etc.). The centre of the researches was Tartu, especially after
founding the Estonian Naturalists' Society there in 1853.
In 1852, a plant identification guide Beschreibung der phanerogamischen Gewächse Esth-, Liv- und Curlands
by two amateur botanists - a linguist F. J. Wiedemann (1805-1887) and a school teacher Fr. Ed. Weber (†
1894), this book is considered as one of the best handbooks on Estonian vegetation from the last century. The
guide covers 1050 species of vascular plants. The descriptions of the taxa are given in more details than in
earlier Flora publications, and the locations are given for the majority of the species.
During the years 1865-1920, no major survey on the local flora was published in Estonia, but smaller articles still
appeared in the periodical publications. The interest of the scientists towards studying the flora of Estonia,
which was relatively well studied at that time, drop significantly. The attention of the professors of botany was
attracted by the unstudied regions in Russia, and again the flora of Estonia was left to the amateur botanists.
One of the most famous botanists working in Tartu was J. C. Klinge (1851-1902) whose most important work
published on the flora of Eastern Baltic was a plant identification guide with the title Flora von Est-, Liv und
Curland (Klinge 1882b). Even today, this Flora by Klinge is used as a good auxiliary material in identifying the
names of taxa used in the botanical literature in the 18th and 19th centuries. Another famous work by Klinge is
on dendrological flora of eastern Baltic (Klinge 1883c). However, the most famous work of Klinge discusses the
systematics of orchids (Orchidaceae).
At the end of the 19th century, also several botanists from Sweden and Russia studied the Estonian vegetation.
In 1901, a Flora on Saaremaa Island was published by K. J. F. Skottsberg (1880-1963) and J. T. C. Vestergren
(1875-1930), and this is the last thorough discussion published on the flora of this island. On the basis of
material gathered by these two researchers, G. A. H. Dahlstedt (1856-1943) published his Flora of Hieracium's
in Saaremaa (1901), and L.P.R. Matsson his overview of Rosas in Saaremaa (Matsson 1900). Russian
botanists Fr. Ruprecht, K. F. Meinshausen, I. Schmalhausen and others studied the flora of Ingermanland and
Narva region mainly. Based on Ruprecht's workFlora Ingrica (Ruprecht 1860), and on the material collected by
Kurilin and himself, Meinshausen compiled his famous Flora Ingrica (1870).
During the first half of the 20th century, K. R. Kupffer (1872-1935) became the leading scientist in floristic and
vegetation studies. Kupffer started studying Estonian vegetation during his student years (1886-1889) in Tartu.
He published about 350 works on flora of Eastern Baltics, including the systematics of some more complicated
taxa (e.g. Violaceae). Kupffer was one of the first scientists in the Baltic countries to come out with plant
protection initiatives.
Among the amateur botanists from the turn of the century, one of the best known is the pharmacist R. Lehbert,
whose herbarium (over 11,000 pages) is among the most representative ones in all the Baltic countries. He is
famous for his studies on the systematics of the genus Calamagrostis.
During the imperial university in Tartu (up to 1918), the flora of Estonia was studied rather disproportionately -
more detailed descriptions appeared in the places where the botanists lived, but also on the areas surrounding
manors, resorts, post stations and major roads. Some regions, however, especially in central and southwestern
Estonia, were not studied at all. The species composition of Estonian flora was outlined by the beginning of the
20th century, but data on their distribution was scarce. The studies on more complicated, the so-called critical
taxa were often carried out by visiting foreigners, while the scientists living in Estonia preferred to study the
systematics of vegetation of distant and unstudied regions.
Researches on Estonian flora during the Estonian university in Tartu could be divided in two, according to the
centre coordinating the studies. Thus, the period of 1919-1947 could be called the period of the Institute of
Botany of the University of Tartu (Chapter 2.4.1.). An important turning point here is the year 1947, when the
Institute of Biology (since 1952 the Institute of Zoology and Botany) was founded by the Academy of Science of
the Estonian SSR. At this time the floristic studies transformed into a side subject in the University, and Institute
of Zoology and Botany became the centre of floristic studies and it is still playing the key role in this field in
Estonia (Chapter 2.4.2).
Before the World War II, the vast work of organizing both professional and amateur botanists in systematic
studies of Estonian territory was carried out by G. Vilbaste and T. Lippmaa, and the latter was also the Head of
the Institute of Botany in the University of Tartu.
The scientific importance of the floristic studies by Vilbaste are the most outstanding ones of that period. As an
eager herbarium maker, he collected materials from all over Estonia and published numerous articles on the
distribution of rare and interesting plants or on flora of specific regions. Vilbaste wrote the first complete plant
field key-book published in Estonian (Vilberg 1922b, 1925a), which stayed in active use for over twenty years.
His more profound studies discuss the vegetation of alvars (doctoral thesis, Vilberg, 1929b). In addition to his
main work, he also published (at his own expense) a journal Loodusvaatleja ('Naturalist'), and was the editor of
the journals Loodus ('Nature', 1923-1924), Eesti Looduskaitse ('Nature Protection in Estonia', 1938),
Loodushoid ja Turism ('Nature Protection and Tourism', 1939-1940), and several publications of collected
articles. The list of Vilbaste's publications includes over 1200 works. Another remarkable feature of this scientist
is the variety of topics he has discussed. Several works are with the inclination towards country study, folklore,
ethnographies or medical herbs, such as Harjumaa. Maateadusline lugemik (Harju County: Reading Book on
Geography, Vilberg 1921), Kodumaal rännates I-III (Travelling in Estonia, Vilberg 1923c, 1924i), Meie kodumaa
taimi rahva käsitluses I-II (The Plants of Our Country in Folklore, Vilberg 1934f, 1935b), and his masterpiece
published after his death Eesti taimenimetused (Estonian Plant Names, Vilbaste 1993). Therefore, it is entirely
justified to consider Vilbaste as the founder of ethnobotanics in Estonia.
T. Lippmaa was the Head of the Institute of Botany and the Botanical Gardens of the University of Tartu in the
years 1930-1943. At 1920s, his main interest was plant physiology, but his first floristic studies on Setumaa
(Lipman 1923a, b; Lippmaa 1928 a, b) and monograph on the flora and vegetation of Pärnu County (Lippmaa
1931 a, b) are also written at that time. The height of his research career as vegetation scientist was achieved in
the analysis of Estonian vegetation and dividing it into floristic districts (Lippmaa 1935 a, b), which is one of the
most frequently used division in plant geography nowadays.
A large-scale project of mapping the vegetation of Estonia was started at 1934 under the supervision of T.
Lippmaa. In addition to being valuable from the viewpoint of vegetation sciences, it was an important work also
for the plant geography - the explanations to the maps contain a lot of floristic material. The mapping was
finished under the supervision of L.-M. Laasimer by the year 1955.
In the second half of 1920s, the Institute of Botany of the University of Tartu started researches on unstudied
areas in Estonia. The project was aimed to the systematic and thorough studying of the Flora and vegetation on
the whole territory of Estonia. Initiated by Lippmaa, several amateur botanists started to study the systematics
of many critical plant genera in Estonia (Hieracium - A. Üksip, Alchemilla - W. Reinthal, Taraxacum - B.
Saarsoo, etc.).
One of the largest projects joining all the botanists in Estonia at that time was the compilation of the exchange
herbarium Eesti taimed ('Estonian Plants', I-IV, Lippmaa, Eichwald 1933, 1935; Eichwald 1938d, 1939a). The
aim of such collection was to proceed the studies on Estonian flora, improve the University's Herbarium
Generale by complementing it with new plants from other countries, as well as to supply the larger educational
establishments in our country with herbariums (Lippmaa 1933c). In addition to its authors, 39 professional and
amateur botanists participated in compiling the collection. The majority of the work in compiling the exchange
collection was carried out by Karl Eichwald (1889-1976), who was the conservator of the herbarium of the
University of Tartu in 1930-1944.
The Soviet occupation that started in 1940 did not have so much influence on unpolitical botanic studies as it
had on such fields as geography and humanitarities. However, the publication possibilities worsened
significantly. The libraries started to destroy unadvisable literature or close such books up in special
depositories. The mapping of vegetation and plant species become more difficult as the maps were subject to
secrecy during the Soviet time, or they were inaccurate or deformed on purpose.
From the years of German occupation, the most noteworthy publication was a plant identification guide
Kodumaa taimestik ('Vegetation of Our Country', Enari et al. 1943), which was the next identification guide on all
vascular plants after that of Vilbaste (Vilberg 1925a). Although majority of the herbariums, manuscripts and
literature survived the war, the lines of the botanists thinned. T. Lippmaa, the leader of Estonian vegetation
science, was killed in the war (1943). At the last year of independence or during the years of occupation several
botanists fled from Estonia (L. Enari, P. Kaaret, E. Leppik, A. Mathiesen, B. Saarsoo, H. Salasoo, A. Tamsalu,
P. W. Thomson, B. Tuiskvere, etc.).
In 1947, the Institute of Biology was founded in the Academy of Science of the Estonian SSR. During its first
years of existence the main fields of activity were inventories of Estonian nature, along with starting the
collections, and beginning to educate young biologists. The department of Botany of the Institute of Zoology and
Botany decided to start working on complete "Flora of Estonia", and to publish several identification guides and
manuals to help people to learn plants.
The first volume of this complete work, Eesti NSV floora ("The Flora of Estonian SSR"), written by the botanists
of Institute of Zoology and Botany and the botanists of the University of Tartu, was published in 1953, the last
volume appeared in 1984 and the Index in 1998. The collection includes 54 orders, 124 families, 676 genera
and 2028 species (if we add also the smaller taxa, the number of taxa is 2500). Besides the native taxa, also
more important cultivated plants (about 1/5 of the species) and aliens are described in this work. Every species
is presented with parallel names and references to literature, and a detailed morphological description is given
together with data on its habitat and distribution in Estonia, its economic importance, etc. 27 authors, mainly
from Institute of Zoology and Botany and the University of Tartu, participated in writing the Flora.
Nowadays, floristic researches are carried out mainly in two institutions - Institute of Zoology and Botany of
Estonian Agricultural University and Institute of Botany and Ecology of Tartu University. Other institutions are
engaged with either applied researches, teaching botany or popularization. At the moment, the major works of
the botanists of the Institute of Zoology and Botany include compilation of the atlas of Estonian vascular plants
and the Flora of the Baltic Countries (in three volumes; 1st Vol. published in 1993, 2nd in 1996). The new
identification guide of vascular plants is ready (Krall et al. 1999). The scientists participate in compilation and
complementation of the Red Book of Estonia, and in compilation of the lists of plants under protection. Since
the year 1970, the botanists have contributed to the map of European Flora (Atlas Florae Europaeae, 1972-).
The last volume of the Flora of the Baltic countries is still in progress.
The floristic researches carried out in the Institute of Botany and Ecology of Tartu University are usually
connected with the Bachelor, Master or Doctoral studies. Such floristic studies often discuss the morphological
variations in several difficult plant genera (Potentilla, Alchemilla, Pilosella, etc.). Another type of floristic
research carried out by the Institute concerns the primary tasks of its researchers (E. Roosaluste: protected
species, flora of Saaremaa and Vormsi islands).
Herbariums (Chapter 3.1)
The largest herbarium in Estonia is situated in the Institute of Botany and Ecology of the University of Tartu,
where the total number of sheets is estimated to be 245,000...275,000 (of which about 45,000 are collected
from Estonia). The largest collection of Estonian plants in herbarium is situated in the Institute of Zoology and
Botany of Estonian Agricultural University (110,000 sheets from Estonia and about 25,000 from foreign
countries, with the herbarium of 11,000 sheets collected by G. Vilbaste and stored separately). A lot of
herbarium specimens collected in Estonia during the 19th and 20th centuries is stored in the Estonian Nature
Museum (the size of this herbarium is about 62,000 sheets). Smaller herbariums are stored in Tallinn Botanical
Gardens, nature preservation areas and country study museums. The largest private herbarium is owned by H.
Aasamaa (over 30,000 sheets).
The bibliography of Literature on Estonian Flora (Chapter 9, comments in Chapter 3.2)
This list contains 6,500 entries of literature published from 1637 to 1999. The bibliography focuses on the
following sources.
1. The literature referred to in the present publication. Therefore, also occasional seed exchange lists of
botanical gardens occur in this bibliography.
2. Floristic, dendrological and geobotanical publications containing data on the distribution of vascular plants in
Estonia. However, the typological literature containing description of species composition of a community with
any specific locations mentioned are not included. In spite of all the efforts, the list of dendrological and forestry
literature is subjective.
3. General publications on the vegetation and plant systematics of eastern Baltic, which are interesting
especially from the viewpoint of phytogeographical studies. Of the publications on systematics and
monographs, the works based on herbarium specimens collected from Estonia have been preferred.
4. Phytogeographical studies and atlases containing the data on species distribution in Estonia. The list focuses
on the publications using the original data. However, "secondary" floristic literature, i.e. the literature repeating
the data of earlier authors without presenting anything new, has also been included.
5. All kind of brief notes, notices, travel articles, reviews and so on containing floristic data. We must also say
that the list of literature on ancient trees is not complete in this bibliography.
6. Non-botanical works containing notices on vegetation, especially on distribution of plants. For example,
majority of the zoological studies contain some observations on vegetation. The list is more complete on the
biological publication of the last century and the beginning of this century, as the number of special flora studies
was much smaller at that time.
7. Plant identification guides on Estonian vascular plants (in any language) and the lists of vascular plants.
8. Major works on plant protection in Estonia.
9. Biographies, bibliographies, and other publications on botanists, dendrologists, amateur botanists and other
similar who have worked in Estonia; literature discussing the history of studying Estonian flora.
10. Major manuscripts on the topic (graduating and diploma papers, candidate and doctoral theses, final reports
of research grants, etc., also some term papers written by the students).
Data on flora is found also in the mycological literature, primarily through mentioning the hosts of the
micromycetes. However, as there are wonderful bibliographies of Estonian mycological literature (Järva,
Parmasto 1980; Järva, Parmasto, Vaasma 1998), there is no need to repeat this data in the present list.
The bibliography is compiled mainly de visu. The articles published in newspapers or journals other than
scientific ones are represented occasionally. The complete inclusion of such articles has not been the purpose
of this bibliography. In case of older and rare literature, as well as for the majority of the manuscripts, the notes
on the library where the copy used is situated is often added (sometimes with call number). If it was not possible
to find the publication (the reference originates from another bibliography), it is marked with abbreviation non v.
(non vidi).
Unpublished Databases (Chapter 3.3)
A database here is defined as a collection of data on any kind of carrier (paper, electronic carriers, etc.). Often
the term of a database coincides with the term of manuscript, as the database is usually formed on the purpose
to fulfil certain tasks (e.g. a research or writing a book). The survey gives the name of the collector (person or
institution), contents and form of the database, its volume and limits to use. The databases are arranged in four
groups according to their topic (entire flora of Estonia, local floras, floristic data by habitats, collections and
bibliographies). The overview of the manuscripts is not complete; the complete list is given in the bibliography at
the end of this publication.
The List of Estonian Vascular Plants (Chapter 7) and its Structure (Chapter 4)
The list of Estonian vascular plants (Chapter 7) tries to give as complete as possible a list of all the indigenous,
naturalized, run wild and casual alien species and subspecies of vascular plants found on the territory of
Estonia. The list contains also the taxa without herbarium evidence and therefore not considered as belonging
to Estonian flora. Such taxa are marked with an asterisk ()
The species concept used in this publication is wider than its traditional use in Estonian botanical literature
during the last decades. Here more attention is payed to the valid name, and the rank of the taxon has not been
considered so important. Of hybrid taxa, the species with independent spread by either generative or vegetative
means has been the ground for inclusion.
Within the division, the families are ordered by alphabet, and within the angiosperms, the families of
monocotyledons and dicotyledons are listed separately. Within the families, the genera, species and
subspecies, sometimes also the varieties (if the variety has been discussed in earlier Estonian floristic literature
as an independent species) are also ordered alphabetically.
The valid Latin names are given in bold italics, and the synonyms in ordinary italics. The list contains also
some valid genus names with no valid species name - in such cases no valid species of these genera are found
in Estonia. The indigenous species are discussed in more details. The data on subspecies and micro-species,
hybrids, introduced or unverified taxa may be incomplete.
Scientific Names and Synonyms (Chapter 4.1)
The ordering of the synonyms was based on the following publications: Flora Europaea 1963-1981 (also the
reprint of the 1st volume in 1994); Atlas Florae Europaea, parts 1-11 (1972-1998) and proof sheets of the 12th
part; Wiersema et al. 1990; Brummitt 1992; Gunn et al. 1992; Hämet-Ahti et al. 1992, 1998; Greuter 1993,
1994. Also more recent discussions published in taxonomical periodicals and recent monographs were used
here. In case of contradiction, traditional names in use for decades have been favoured.
The orthography and abbreviations of the authors of the taxa's names are usually harmonized with the
handbook by Brummitt and Powell (1992). The exceptions occur mainly in the names of Estonian authors (Juxip
or Yuksip pro Üksip, Vilyasoo pro Viljasoo, also Nenukow pro Nenjukov, etc.).
In choosing between the synonyms, the names used in Estonia for decades have been preferred. If Eesti NSV
floora and Flora Europaea give different valid names, these names are always given as a synonym. The older
names which are not in use any more are given only, when the name is connected with the first mentioning of
the taxon in Estonia.
First Mentioning in Publications on Estonian Flora (Chapter 4.2)
First mentioning is discussed here in a rather wide scope. The mentioning of the Latin name of the species
(subspecies, variation, etc.) has been considered sufficient here. There was no similar survey on Estonian flora before.
The cases, where the occurrence of a taxon in Estonia was denied, but it was still found later, were not
considered as first mentioning. If the later authors have proved the earlier data to be wrong, we have tried to
include both sources of information. If the first mentioning has also been describing of a new species, the
reference is marked with a bold shrift. The problems concerning the first mentioning in literature are the following:
1. Often the names given in the literature are written so, that it is not possible to identify the species clearly,
especially in the cases where no author name of the taxon is given. Such names are very frequent in the works
published before the Species plantarum... by K. Linné (Linnaeus 1753). The earlier publications are referred to
only, if we can be sure of the identification of the taxon (description or illustration is added).
2. If the name used in first mentioning is different from the present one, the old name is also included. If the
name has been out of use and forgotten, it is not given as a synonym after the present valid name. The names
are given with the names of the authors (if known), irrespective of whether the name has been used with or
without the author's name (sine auct.) in the referred publication.
3. Several problems arise from the different species concepts. If the earlier discussions of the taxon have been
broad and it is not possible to harmonize all the subspecies rank with the present narrow understanding of the
species (resp. subspecies), usually (but not always) two references are given: first mentioning for a larger and a
smaller unit. However, if the species concept has broadened, the mentioning of one of its microspecies is
understood as the first mentioning of the species.
4. In the Floras of the 18th and 19th centuries, Estonia, Livonia and Kurland are often discussed as one entity.
Several authors (Fischer, Fleischer, Grindel, etc.) does not mention the territories separately and does not give
much data on the specific locations the plant was found. When the specific place is mentioned in these works,
the reference is marked with an exclamation mark (!). The references to the Floras of Ingermanland are referred
to only, if the location is in Viru County or Narva region.
5. We could not found some of the literature referred to in the earlier works. Probably also the data of first
mentioning in the works published abroad on Estonia is incomplete.
6. The year of publication of the old Floras referred to here may differ from the number printed on the title page,
if the work has been published in parts during several years (most famous among such publications is Flora
Rossica by Ledebour).
7. Finding out the first mentioning in literature for the plants cultivated in Estonia has not been the aim of the
present publication, as it would presume profound studies on the literature discussing forestry, dendrology,
gardening and agriculture.
References in Flora of the Baltic Countries and Eesti NSV floora (Chapter 4.3)
These references are given for the taxa discussed in these publications. Two first volumes of Eesti NSV floora
have appeared in reprint, and then both references are included (e.g. 1/1 meaning 1st print of 1 volume; 1/2 -
the reprint of the volume, etc.). Only two first volumes of the Flora of the Baltic Countries, have appeared, the
third one on Monocotyledons, Campanulaceae and Asteraceae has not been published yet. The number of
volume and the page in the Flora of the Baltic Countriesstands after the family and genus names only.
Estonian Name (Chapter 4.4)
The correctness of Estonian names was checked from the database of the Committee for Estonian Plant
Names. No new names are introduced in this publication, but the Committee did change the orthography for
some of the names. Folkloristic or earlier standardized names are discussed in more details in the monograph
by G. Vilbaste (1993) and therefore it is not considered necessary to repeat them here. The Estonian names
are usually written without capitals, with the exception of persons' names used as species epithets.
Floristic elements (Chapter 4.5)
In the present publication, the floristic element is defined as a group of species whose geographical distribution
area is overlapping. The grounds for defining floristic elements have always arisen discussions as the areas are
overlapping to certain extent only. Moreover, the grouping of the species between different floristic elements
depends on the species concept - if we consider the American variety of a circumpolar species as an individual
species, we must classify the former taxon as one of Eurasian or a european floristic element.
There are two common approaches to this problem: the floristic elements are numerous and various, or only a
few general but inaccurate groups are used. During the last decades the Estonian floristic literature has
traditionally used the North-European vascular plants' distribution atlas by Hultén (1950, reprint 1971), that
defines 48 area types. The present publication is also based on the floristic elements by Hultén, but the groups
defined are somewhat different, both in volume and substance, from these given in earlier analyses of Estonian
flora (Laasimer 1965a; Masing 1979). Defining the floristic elements, mainly the geographical position of the
mass centre was considered. If the taxon is not present on the maps by Hultén or is grouped as a species with
unknown area there, other sources were used to determine the floristic element, of which the most important
one was the revised edition of the Hultén's atlas (Hultén, Fries 1986). Disputable cases are marked with a
questioning mark. In the case of immigrated plants or plants run wild, the origin of the taxon (natural area) is given.
Arctic and arctic-alpine element (Hultén groups 1-11): Contains taxa with arctic and circumpolar distribution (in
polar regions of America and Eurasia) in arctic Europe or Asia. The species of arctic-alpine element have part of
their distribution areal in the mountains in warmer climate zones.
Circumpolar element (synonyms: holarctic, circumboreal; Hultén groups 16, 24, 29, 30): The taxon is found in
the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere, partially extending into other vegetation zones. The total area
of discontinuous circumpolar subtype (Hultén groups 17, 31-33, 41) is divided into subareas with vast
territories inbetween where the taxon has not been found. The larger subareas of such discontinuous
circumpolar taxa are usually found in Europe, North America and Far East.Circumpolar costal plants (Hultén
groups 21, 22) are found mainly in the temperate costs of Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, in smaller numbers also
on the costs of the inland sees (Mediterranean, Black and Caspian Sea) or on the costs of larger rivers and lakes.
Eurasian element: The taxon is found all over the temperate zone of Eurasia (Hultén groups 15, 23, 28, 38).
We could separate here the continental version of Eurasian element, where the mass centre of the taxon is
situated on the eastern or southeastern Europe or western part of Asia, while the distribution area is much
smaller in western Europe and Far East (Hultén groups 14, 37, 39, 40). The continental subtype of Eurasian
element coincides more or less with the pontine (pontiline) and ponto-sarmentous (pontosarmaatiline) elements
defined by Lippmaa (1935b, c).
Euro-Siberian element: The mass centre of this floristic element is situated on the western and central Europe,
from where the area continues up to Siberia. This element covers the Hultén groups 25-27, 35 and 36. One
could see several differences, if we compare this division with the composition of Eurasian and Euro-Siberian
floristic elements by Masing (1979). The present work uses the broader concept of the Euro-Siberian element.
European element [Hultén groups 12, 13, 19 (Atlantic), 20 (Subatlantic), 34, 42]: The mass centre is in western
and southern Europe, but the area extends to northern and eastern Europe, some taxa (many so-called
sub-atlantic taxa) may reach even to Central Asia in the form of few isolated distribution areas. European
costal plants (Hultén group 18) are usually distributed on the costal regions of Atlantic Ocean, but also on the
costs of the Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. For some taxa, the area extends to Iceland and Spitsbergen
in the north, and the Caspian Sea and the Red Sea in the south. The Atlantic group is not contrasted here with
the continental European group, as the mass centre for both of these groups is situated in the western Europe
where there are no significant differences between the continental and maritime regions.
Asian element: The mass centre of this floristic element lays in certain regions in Asia (e.g. South-East Asia,
China, etc.), and the number of areas outside these regions is small. This element covers the Hultén groups 43
and 44.
American element (Hultén groups 45): The natural distribution area of the taxon is in North America and/or
South America, but it is found in other places as an introduced or immigrated taxon.
Species known in cultivated forms only (Hultén group 46): It is hard or impossible to tell the origin of the
taxon, although several theories exist. This group does not correspond to the definition of a floristic element
really, but, on the basis of our present knowledge, it is not possible to list these taxa under other floristic elements.
Endemic element (Hultén group 47): Endemic species of the Baltic countries and Estonia (see also Chapter 4.8).
Status in Flora (Chapter 4.6)
The status of cultivated, introduced or naturalized plants or a species run wild is recorded here. All other
species (incl. archaeophytes) are indigenous species. Archaeophytes arrived to the territory of Estonia
together with the first humans, usually during the prehistoric period, but in any case not later than in the middle
of the 18th century. Anthropophytes have arrived to Estonia since the times of first settlements, while the first
scientific notes on species introduction could be dated by the middle of the 18th century. Differences in
comparison with the discussions in Flora Europaea orAtlas Florae Europaeae are given here.
Cultivated plants are species and subspecies of intentionally introduced and cultivated plants. If some
indigenous species is cultivated in some places, it is also mentioned here.
Aliens are plants who have migrated here along with humans and grow by railway stations, ports, wool mills
and elevators, on refuse dumps and other similar sites.
The taxa runs wild contain plants who have "fled" the places of cultivation, and such species are always found
near the fields and gardens, on refuse dumps, abandoned farmlands, by the roads, etc. Distinguishes have
been drawn between occasional running wild (the taxon is not able to reproduce and spread without the help of
humans in this habitat) and permanent running wild (the species shows at least some extent of vegetative or
generative reproduction without human help). The type of running wild is added mainly in case of woody plants:
by seeds (S), by root suckers or rhizome (V), or by cut branches (O). We have tried to make the list of the
species running wild by seeds as complete as possible, although some of the species cultivated in few
collections only, where the running wild is limited to the nearest surrounding or a compost heap have not been
included. Running wild by seeds is considered to be the most important way of running wild, and therefore the
ability of such plants to reproduce by cut branches or develop root suckers has not always been referred.
Naturalized plants are introduced plants which are more or less common in natural communities without
needs of human help in distribution (e.g. silvicultural plantations of foreign species with any natural second
growth are not considered as naturalized species). However, the introduced species reproduce usually more
successfully in anthropogenic communities. Some of the naturalized taxa has been originally aliens, but the
majority is formed of cultivated plants run wild. In reality, we could speak of naturalization also in case of several
taxa known only as weeds or ruderal plants, but who has acclimatized here as successfully as archaeophytes.
To distinguish these species from the true naturalization and migration into natural communities, such species
are called acclimatized aliens or plants permanently running wild.
We must also mention the different interpretations of the term naturalization, as majority of the communities are
nowadays more or less influenced by human activities. Several species have naturalized on our western islands
where the climate is milder, while the representative of the same taxon may suffer hard from the damages of
frost and do not reproduce naturally in eastern Estonia.
Distribution and Frequency in Estonia (Chapter 4.7)
The frequency evaluations are based on the publications or manuscripts from the last decades, on the author's
observations, and on evaluations received from co-workers. The manuscripts of Estonian plant distribution atlas
is not ready yet and therefore we have no objective grounds for evaluating the frequency of taxa. However, we
may say that the evaluated frequency is good enough for the rare and common species. The locations of
rarities are carefully recorded, and, similarly, in case of a common taxon, the possibilities to make errors here
are rather small. Such frequency estimations as "uncommon", "scattered" or "in some places" are defined less precisely.
The following frequency classes are used:
Unclear - (a) The presence in Estonian flora is uncertain due to missing on trustworthy data in herbariums or
references in literature ("presence unclear"); (b) The species has not been found during the last 50 years, but all
the earlier sites have not yet been checked ("presence unclear"); (c) The taxon has been described lately, its
present existence in Estonia is proved but its distribution has not yet been studied sufficiently ("distribution unclear").
Extinct - The last proved findings (as a herbarium specimens or notices) dates back more than 50 years and all
the former sites have been checked.
Very rare - One to three proved findings during the last 50 years and the taxon may not be permanent in the
locations (especially characteristic to aliens or species running wild).
Rare - 4-10 findings during the last 50 years.
Uncommon - More locations (11-30) where the species has been found and usually the locations are in one
and the same region (e.g. Saaremaa, southeastern Estonia).
Scattered - Distributed all over Estonia, but sparse everywhere; no specific distribution locations.
In some places - The frequency of the taxon is similar to the previous one, but the distribution is limited to
certain regions in Estonia and in these regions (e.g. in Saaremaa, southeastern Estonia, etc.) the species may
be rather common.
Common - Grows in suitable locations, usually not very numerous but found all over Estonia, or in large
numbers in some areas in Estonia (while there are areas where this taxon is missing).
Frequent - The taxon grows in almost every suitable location and in large numbers.
In case of aliens, and sometimes also the plants run wild, the location, year and the name of the collector (or
the data known at the moment) of the first (preserved) herbarium specimens are added. The herbarized plant
may be dated significantly later than the first mentioning of the species in the literature.
The frequency of occurrence is used uniformly for indigenous species and cultivated plants, species run wild,
aliens and naturalized species. Therefore, one taxon may have more than one frequency evaluation, for
example, an indigenous species may be "common, rarely cultivated and run wild", or a cultivated taxon may be
"scattered in cultivations, rarely run wild".
Margins of distribution area (Chapter 4.8)
When a taxon in Estonia is on margins of distribution area, the quarter of the area's margin in Estonia is
mentioned. In some cases also the position on the area margin of discontinued area or near the area margin is
mentioned, but these cases are not included in the analysis of the flora (Chapter 4.3). The area margin is clearly
shown on the distribution map of the taxon, but its explanation in words, however well composed, leaves always
room for different interpretations. The margin of area is recorded for the indigenous species only. Endemic
taxon is here understood as a taxon with relativelysmall distribution area (region, mountain area, island). In the
list of Estonian vascular plants the narrower concept of endemism has been used: endemic species are only the
species distributed in Estonia and Baltic countries only. However, sometimes a taxon with much wider area is
called endemic - for example, the Atlas of European Flora discusses European endemic plants. When the larger
part of the area of an endemic species is situated in Estonia, its position on the areal border is not mentioned separately.
Sensitivity to Human Impact (Chapter 4.9)
Hemeraphob is a taxon, which is disturbed by human activities, i.e. such plants usually disappear from the
ordinary cultivated areas or show clear signs of stress there (no flowers, no seeds, etc.). Usually the reasons
could be found from rapid changes in environment caused by human activities. Some hemeraphobs are
obligatory mycotrophic plants.
Hemeradiaphor is a taxon indifferent to a certain limit of human activities, but if the activities become more
intensive, the plants turn into hemeraphobes of (more rarely) apophytes. Such plants are often found in the
communities with little human influence (costal regions, denudations, dunes, etc.).
Apophyte is an indigenous taxon of plants preferring moderate to strong human impact and the communities
changed by human activities. Some of the apophytes have been anthropophytes before.
Anthropophyte is an introduced taxon of plants (either aliens or run wild from cultivation resp. naturalized)
surviving only in communities significantly changed by human activities. Such plants are very rare in natural communities.
In determining the relations for the cultivated plants, mainly the thesis by L. Enari (1944) and an article by H.
Rebassoo (1962a) has been used, but other sources have been helpful here as well. The thesis by L. Enari is
always referred to in the list, and the apophytes and anthropophytes are given the number of the divisions by
Enari. If the relations are given without references, it has a different source or originates from observations by
the author.
Endangered Species and their Protection (Chapter 4.10)
The evaluation of danger is added to the taxa (a) uncommon in Estonia (many of which being on their area
border here); (b) with significant decrease in their distribution during the last 50 years; (c) with significant
decrease in their distribution in neighbouring regions (the Baltic countries) during the last 50 years. The species
under protection are marked with the abbreviations for the protection category, i.e. LK1, LK2, or LK3.
1st category of protected species is those of high scientific value (relicts, species with narrow area and on the
area border), very rare plants (1-5 locations) and clearly endangered species (Ü, Kukk 1995e: 73). There are 22
species in the first category. The list of the species and grounds for their protection were ratified in 1994 (RT1
1994, 46, 773; RT1 1998 23, 323).
2nd category of protected species also consists of rare and endangered species and species of scientific value,
but the danger is not so direct as that of the species of the first protection category. The rarest species of the
second category usually grow in nature protection areas nowadays. More common species are endemic, relict
from the former climatic periods or situated on the border of their distribution area (Ü. Kukk 1995c: 113). The list
consists of 145 species, and it was ratified in 1994 (RT1 1994, 94, 1610; Rt1 1998, 23, 323).
3rd category of protected species covers the species quite common in Estonia but still endangered due to
different reasons. Many of these plants are decorative plants, herbs or edible plants. It is either difficult to
protect the locations of such plants or it has not yet been necessary (Ü. Kukk 1995d: 158). The list consists of
41 species (RTl 1995, 36).
Special references have been used for species included in the Red Book of Estonia (Lilleleht 1998a: 14), using
the abbreviation's PR0, PR1, PR2, PR3, PR4 and PR5. The number here signifies the protection category.
0 Extinct or probably extinct. Species with permanent natural population extinct or probably extinct in Estonia.
In spite of repeated searches, the species has not been found in Estonia after 1950, water plants exceptionally
after 1965, but there are reliable documents on their earlier existence.
1 Endangered. The species in great danger to become extinct, with the numbers growing very small or the
habitats disturbed to critical extent, and if the dangerous situation continues, the future existence of these
species is questionable.
2 Vulnerable. The species with populations decreasing due to overexploitation, or due to destruction or
damaging of habitats, and their distribution and numbers in Estonia are decreasing. If the situation continues,
the species may become highly endangered in the future.
3 Rare. Species which occur in Estonia within restricted areas of in few habitats or very sparsely but not
belonging into the 1st or 2nd protection categories, and the population could be damaged easily.
4 Care demanding. Species needing monitoring. Covering species that are still quite common but their
numbers have shown rapid fall lately and, if the situation continues, the species may soon pass to the category
of endangered species. This category includes also species that have been in the former categories before, with
their status having improved significantly.
5 Indeterminate. Species probably belonging to the categories of extinct, highly endangered, endangered or
rare species, but due to insufficient data it is not possible to determine their exact position.
Analysis of the Present Flora of Estonia (Chapter 5)
The indigenous flora of Estonia includes 1441 species (incl. hybridogenic species) of vascular plants. The
number covers also taxa with unclear existence in present Estonian flora (herbarium evidence proofs earlier
existence, but no fresh findings), and microspecies. Usually, the species of the generaTaraxacum, Hieracium
and Pilosella are considered as microspecies, but we have no objective grounds for such discrimination.
Existence of another 130 taxa has been published in the literature, on which no proof has been found, and
these taxa has not been included.
If we add the 97 subspecies to the 1441 indigenous species (i.e. the species are found as two or more
subspecies in Estonian indigenous flora), the total number of taxa is increased to 1538. The number of
indigenous pteridophyte is 50, the number for gymnosperms is 4 and angiosperms' 1387. These indigenous
species belong to 113 families and 443 genera. A general picture of the number of species in the families is
given in Table 3. The largest family is Taraxacum with 165 species, followed byHieracium with 81 and Carex
with 69 species.
There are 82 naturalized species belonging to 30 families known in Estonia (see also Chapter 4.6). The majority
of naturalized species (51) are cultivated species run wild; 26 species have arrived Estonia as casual aliens,
and five species are cultivated species run wild and aliens.
The total number of species and subspecies migrated or cultured and run wild (including naturalized) is 718,
and 10 of the alien species are represented by two subspecies. However, 17 or our indigenous species are also
represented by one or more alien subspecies. The number of alien taxa is 373 and there are 409 taxa run wild,
while 54 taxa occur both as casual aliens and cultivated plants run wild. The adventive taxa belong to 84
families, of which 24 are represented by migrated species and subspecies only (cf. the number of families
consisting of indigenous taxa only is 52).
Protection of Estonian Vegetation (Chapter 6)
Dozens of good overviews have been published on the history of plant protection in Estonia (Eilart 1967a;
Eichwald 1970b, 1973; R. Sander 1975a; M. Kask, Kuusk 1981; Laasimer 1986d; Ü. Kukk 1987c, 1988b,
1992b, 1994f, 1998a, c; Varep 1990; Kalda 1991; Kongo 1998a; Lilleleht 1998a, b; etc.). The Red Book of
Estonia (Lilleleht 1998a) covers 309 endangered species and subspecies of vascular plants, making up 20.6
per cent of the total number of species in Estonian flora. Of these, 159 species are protected due to their
rareness or endangered position, and 26 species are protected mainly due to their decorative appearance. The
preservation of rare species or communities may sometimes be especially complicated:
1. Protecting the oligotrophic and semidystrophic lakes. The health of several plant species (Lobelia dortmanna,
Isoetes lacustris, I. echinospora, Sparganium gramineum, etc.) has worsened significantly during the last
decades. The occurrence of water lobelia (Lobelia dortmanna) was known in 15 bodies of water, but in two of
them it has died out during this century and its numbers in the majority of the locations have decreased.
2. Protecting the fens. While the main danger during the last decades was drainage of the fens, the last years
have brought along the problem of overgrowth in the swampy areas - the majority of the fens have been
preserved as opened landscapes due to brief or moderate grazing.
3. Disappearance of meadow communities. If there is no grazing or mowing, the alvars develop into alvar
forests, coastal meadows overgrow with reed, and the flood plains overgrow with bush. The tendency is
especially clear, if we take a look at the decrease of the area under the wooded meadows, along with the
decrease in the distribution of plants growing in these communities. Although the territory of wooded meadows
is about 1000 times smaller than it was at the beginning of this century (T. Kukk, Kull 1997), we fortunately
cannot say the same about the distribution of the plant species on the wooded meadows.
4. The number of old weeds, especially the weeds of flax cultivations, has decreased significantly.
Unfortunately, the same tendency is clearly visible in other European countries as well. Protecting a specific
weed species is a very complicated task. Some help may be found from leaving a special weed zone around
the fields, which is ploughed every year but with no herbicides used. The best way of protecting endangered
anthropophytes is to grow them in the botanical gardens.
Sometimes, reintroduction and re-plantation have been advised as the means of flora protection. However, both
of these methods, especially re-plantation, are not acceptable from the viewpoint of plant geography. We must
not discuss the indigenous species separately from is location, because the fact that the individual plant is
growing in the location where the environmental factors have taken it is as important as the individual plant
itself. All kind of activities aiming artificial distribution of rare plants must be considered equal to distributing a
non-indigenuous plant.
There are no vast open communities in Estonia which could favour the distribution of introduced species, and
the only natural communities on mineral soils are heaths, limestone shores and some costal communities. The
inclusion of new species is also slowed down by Estonia's situation in the northern parts of the temperate zone
where the growth of vegetation is relatively slow. Therefore, introduction is generally not seen here as
dangerous as it is in the warmer regions with paleoendemic vegetation, such as Australia, Oceania and Africa,
where the species of local flora tend to suffer hard through the competition with introduced species.
According to the evaluations by A. Paivel (1960), about 900 introduced species of woody plants have been
cultivated in Estonia at some time. About half of these species are still growing in our gardens and parks. Of
these 900 species, about 55% have shown good acclimatization and 35% adequate acclimatization, while 10%
of the plants have not acclimatized (Paivel 1960a: 70). According to H. Sander (1998, oral information), the total
number of introduced taxa in Estonian dendrological flora is about 1700, of which 1/3 are cultivars. There are
forest cultivations with at least 40 introduced tree species in Estonia.
During the last years, the herbs causing problems include the extensively running wild and in some places
naturalized plants Heracleum sosnowskyi and Galega orientalis. The introduced species often show certain
negative characteristics - these species may become garden and field weeds hard to get rid of, and although
they cannot be taken as direct danger to the natural species and communities, they are dangerous or
productivity decreasing plants from the viewpoint of agriculture. Of the naturalized aliens, the most dangerous
one is Galinsoga cilata which is a common and difficult weed on the fields of southern Estonia. The weed of the
garden lawns and rock gardens is Veronica filiformiswhich escaped from a private collection in Jõgeva in 1950s.
The data on naturalized plants, their situation, distribution and other characteristics must be collected into a
Black Book. This Black Book could then serve also as a media popularizing the dangers of species
introduction. The species of this book should be grouped by their dangerousness, present and potential distribution.
Tables
Table 1. Conference excursions of Baltic botanist (between1954 and 1994 (??? 1987; Masing 1990)
Table 2. The number of species in Estonian flora (according to the literature data, in chronological order)
Table 3. The number of indigenous, casual alien and running-wild taxa
Table 4. The composition of families by the sensibility to human impact the taxa
Table 5. The composition of Estonian native flora by floristic elements and their frequency
Table 6. The composition of Estonian aliens flora by regions of origin
Table 7. The composition of Estonian indigenous flora by floristic elements and sensibility to human impact
Table 8. The significance of species at the margins of their area
Table 9. The taxa reaching their area borders by floristic elements. The per cent after the quarter stands for the
share of the taxa reaching their area border in this floristic element. The last but one line shows the share of the
floristic element in the taxa reaching their area border, and the last column shows the share of the taxa on their
area border in the total number of taxa in the floristic element.
Table 10. The taxa reaching their area borders by frequency. The per cent shown the share of a frequency
class in the taxa reaching their border in a specific quarter.
Table 11. Cultural relationships between the taxa reaching their area border. The per cent shows the share of
the group in the taxa reaching the area border in a specific quarter.
Table 12. Frequency of cultural relationships between the species of Estonian flora. The per cent shows the
share of a frequency group in a specific type of cultural relations.
Table 13. Origin of naturalized species and their frequency in Estonia
Fig. 1. The number of species at the margins of their area