In autumn, you can observe a unique natural phenomenon – purple flowers on the territory of the Uzhanskyj National Nature Park, which is called autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale L.) by scientists. People call this magical flower “Rosemary”, because it blooms in autumn, on the day of the Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It has already become a tradition for students and teachers of the Transcarpathian Regional Ecological and Naturalistic Center for Students Youth to make an excursion to the Pasika tract of the Velykobereznyanskyj district every year to admire the magical flower, familiarize themselves with the biology of the plant, and monitor the state of this population.
So, on September 24, teachers and students went on an unforgettable trip to the floral reserve. Young conservationists walked along the “Pasika” trail and got acquainted with the stops. During the excursion, the young people learned a lot of interesting and important information about this rare plant and the current state of its population. They noted, in particular, that this year the late autumn flowers bloom despite the fact that the summer was dry and hot. They were also pleased that, for the first time in many years, a bridge has been installed here, on which you can safely approach the area with flowers. This amazing flower blooms from September to November. The fruits ripen in June – July of the following year after flowering.
The Latin name colchicum comes from the ancient Greek name of modern Georgia – Colchis because late flowers are quite common on its territory. The Ukrainian name indicates the unusual flowering period of representatives of the genus since the vast majority of late-flowering plants bloom in autumn when other plants have already completed their development. The Ukrainian folk name “zymovnyk”, which is consonant with the Polish zimowit, has the same origin. In the Middle Ages, late bloomers were called filius ante patrem (“son ahead the father”) because the fruits ripen the following year after flowering, which makes it seem that during one calendar year the fruits seem to appear earlier than the flowers.
The late autumn flower is found in separate groups in the Carpathians on wet and floodplain meadows along rivers and streams and highways. A rare and endangered plant, listed in the Red Book of Ukraine. So, no matter how attractive these beautiful autumn flowers are, you should remember that they are under local protection. Do not pluck them, so that these magical autumn flowers do not disappear from our earth! During the excursion, the young people also got acquainted with a real miracle – the rapids on the Uzh River. Picturesque rock ledges blocking the river flow are formed by outcrops of sedimentary rocks of the Cretaceous and Paleogene periods. The participants also joined World Cleanup Day by cleaning the bank of the Uzh River on Porohy from the garbage left there by tourists.
The event was held within the framework of the project “Responsibility for Creation and Women of the Carpathians”, which is implemented by the Interreligious and Environmental Civil Forum of Eastern Europe (IRCEF) (headed by Alexander Bokotey ) and the Ecological Commission of Mukachevo Greek Catholic Eparchy in cooperation with the Archdiocese of Bamberg (Erzbistum Bamberg), the Diocese of Würzburg (Bistum Würzburg) and Renovabis (Organization for Assistance to Eastern Europe from the Catholic Church in Germany).
Velychkanych Olha
Head of the biology and research and experimental work department of TRENCSY
