FLORISTIC DIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION VALUE OF BUCHAREST’S HISTORICAL PARKS

Abstract

In the context in which the flora of Bucharest has been insufficiently studied in recent decades, and the current urban dynamics profoundly influence the vegetation, the present study contributes to updating the knowledge on urban plant diversity. The research is part of the project "Urban flora and its characteristics in Bucharest and surroundings" (ICUB – Grants for Young Researchers) carried out between 2023 and 2024 and targets five representative historical parks: Carol I, Cișmigiu, Kiseleff, King Michael I of Romania and Cotroceni. The floristic inventory, carried out between March and September 2023 (for Cotroceni in 2025), allowed the identification of 555 taxa of vascular plants, both spontaneous and cultivated. The proportion of autochtonous species (54%) slightly exceeds the allochthonous component, indicating the maintenance of a significant autochtonous flora within the city. Among the autochtonous species characteristic of the original forest areas are Corydalis solida, Allium ursinum, Alliaria petiolata, Ranunculus ficaria and Viola odorata, and among those with conservation value, Cephalanthera damasonium stands out, spontaneously present in King Michael I Park of Romania. In parallel, 46 invasive alien species were identified, including Ailanthus altissima, Acer negundo, Phytolacca americana, Reynoutria japonica, Reynoutria × bohemica and Ambrosia artemisiifolia. The results highlight the character of historical parks as urban biodiversity hotspots, which, in addition to their aesthetic and recreational role, can be capitalized on for environmental education and public awareness activities. The implementation of adaptive landscape management, oriented towards the conservation of autochtonous species and the control of invasive ones, is essential for maintaining the ecological balance and heritage value of these historic green spaces.