Tyshchenko D.D.

Dnipropetrovsk National University named by O.Gonchar , Ukraine

DECORATIVE KINDS OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COTONEASTER FAMILY

In constructing of the plant ' s composition it is important to consider the decorative features of plants for the most profitable selection of plants taking into account their seasonal and age dynamics. Each sample of plants should be properly evaluated.

For this aim we used the evaluation method decorative kinds by N.Kotelova and O.Vinogradova in our modification. Decorative kinds of the cotoneasters we determined by such signs as the architectonics of the crown, decorative kinds of the shrubbery, the number of leaves, the decorative kinds of leaves and the fall color of leaves, intensity of flowering, the size and the form of flowers, the decorative kinds of fruits and the term of the fruiting.

The total estimate of the decorative kinds of plants we calculated using the formula, which sum up the evaluation for each sings.

As objects we used the 12 species of the cotoneaster family which are in the Botanical Garden of Dnipropetrovsk National University named by O.Gonchar. It is such species as Cotoneaster atropurpureus , C. bradii, C. calocarpus, C . divaricatus , C . helmquistii , C. horizontalis, C. lucidus, C. salicifolius “Repens”, C. splendens, C. sternianus, C . suecicus “Skogholm”, C. zabelii.

At the end of the analysis it was yielded the following results.

The one the most important decorative kind for the cotoneasters is the total smartness of the shrubbery. Because the plants of this family have a different habits and forms, different size and the character of branching and the arrangement of leaves, which makes them more attractive and more conspicuous in the group. Cotoneaster atropurpureus, C . helmquistii , C. horizontalis, C. salicifolius “Repens”, C. splendens have the marks by this range.

The cotoneasters are especially valuable as highly ornamental plant in autumn fall, when the plant acutely lack bright colours, in the period of fruiting. During this season their shrubs are covered with red, orange, purple, dark-red, black, globose, perl-shaped, solitary, in pairs or in small corymbs fruits. The highest marks using this criterion have such cotoneasters as Cotoneaster divaricatus, C. helmquistii, C. horizontalis.

Summing up all criteria the most ornamental plant are Cotoneaster divaricatus, C. helmquistii, C. horizontalis, C. salicifolia “Repens”, C. splendens. The relatively ornamental plants are Cotoneraster atropurpureus, C. suecicus “Skogholm”.

The high cotoneaster`s decorative quality allow to use them in green construction more widespread than currently. These plants would be useful not only as solitary elements or in alpine slides, but in borders, walls, forest meadows and edges.