On the territory of Russia, forests formed by Pinus kochiana are common in the mountains of the Caucasus and Crimea, and grow in dry and wet habitats at altitudes from 400 to 2700 m above the sea level. Forms pure pine and mixed forests in the regions of the Eastern, Central and Western Caucasus; the belt of pine forests is well expressed in the eastern part of the Caucasus. In similar edaphotopes, but under warmer climatic conditions, in the Crimea and Transcaucasia (Arkhipo-Osipovka village), they are replaced by Pallas pine communities, and in colder habitats, in the western and central Caucasus and western Transcaucasia, by fir or spruce forests, as well as subalpine shrubs or meadows.
Pinus kochiana is of East Asian origin, it penetrated the Caucasus at the end of the tertiary period and is a relic of the ice age. The formation of forests from Pinus kochiana, as well as in the entire Euxine province, is associated with paleogeographic processes that took place during the Pleistocene. Further distribution of pine was determined by intraspecific relationships and soil and climatic conditions of a particular region.

A rare polypore species Antrodia hyalina Spirin, Miettinen & Kotir. collected in Dagestan is reported for the Caucasus for the first time. Data on the finding from the Samurskiy National Park is listed with information on substrate, habitat, and voucher specimen kept in the Mycological Herbarium of the Komarov Botanical Institute (LE). The known distribution of the species in Russia and Europe is briefly discussed. New ITS nuclear ribosomal DNA sequence from studied specimen of Antrodia hyalina has been generated and deposited into the GenBank database.

The aim of this work is to study the content of essential oil and antioxidants in the raw material of Satureja hortensis to assess the possibility of introduction and develop recommendations for its cultivation in Dagestan as a promising essential oil plant. The material for the research was plant raw materials from three geographically isolated points at different altitude levels. A high content of essential oil (1.04–1.66%) and antioxidants (66.6–107.0 mg/g) was revealed in raw savory from the natural populations of Dagestan, which determines the biological value of the species, which makes it possible to use it as a food and the perfumery and cosmetic industry, as well as for the creation of medicines. Of the populations studied, the maximum content of essential oil was noted in the Irganai population (1.66%) at an altitude of 620 m above sea level. The total content of antioxidants is the highest in the Keger population (107.0 mg/g) at an altitude of 985 m. The results of one-way ANOVA and regression analyzes indicate a weakly pronounced contribution of the factor of the altitude gradient to the variability of the studied characters. The correlation coefficient r_xy showed a positive correlation (0.58) with the altitude gradient of the total antioxidant content and negative (-0.75) – the content of essential oil in the aboveground mass of S. hortensis.

The paper presents the results of the introduction assessment of varieties of Hippophae rhamnoides according to the main economically valuable traits in the conditions of Mountainous Dagestan. The material for the research was the collection of varieties H. rhamnoides of the Mountain Botanical Garden, presented at the Tsudakhar experimental base (Inner Mountain Dagestan, 1100 m above sea level). The assessment of the economic value of the varieties was carried out according to biometric indicators, productivity, morphometric and biochemical characteristics of fruits and the ability to reproductively reproduce bushes. Vegetative reproduction was carried out at different altitude levels and under different moisture regimes. Biochemical analysis of fruits of sea buckthorn varieties was carried out by spectrophotometric method (flavonoids) and extraction with petroleum ether in a Soxhlet apparatus (oil).
According to the results of the introduction in the Inner mountain conditions of Dagestan, the varieties of sea buckthorn were distinguished by large-fruited – Botanicheskaya lyubitelskaya and Neon; productivity – Klon perchika, Yantarnaya, Novost Altaya; by oil content – Otradnaya; antioxidant activity – Trofimovskaya; by sugar and triglyceride content – Yantarnaya; according to the results of rooting of cuttings and their subsequent development – Botanical lyubitelskaya, Otradnaya and Klon perchika.
The study of the lipid composition of the seeds of the varieties showed the presence of a high content of essential acids in the composition of seeds, especially in the variety "Yantarnaya" – more than 90%. The technology of extraction of triacylglycerides from seeds after fermentation of fruit juice together with whole seeds is proposed, while the composition of fatty acids of seeds does not change.

Thirteen lichen species proposed for the Red Data Book of Republic of North Ossetia – Alania on based of the results of author's field works and analysis of literature information. Among them, seven species are included in the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation (Leptogium burnetiae, Letharia vulpina, Lobaria pulmonaria, Menegazzia terebrata, Nephromopsis laureri, Ricasolia amplissima, Usnea florida). Ten species are rare and vulnerable due to the state of populations in the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania at the current time (Bactrospora dryina, Buellia elegans, Candelariella boleana, Chaenothecopsis trassii, Gyalolechia lenae, Hypotrachyna afrorevoluta, Myelochroa aurulenta, Usnea articulata, U. cornuta, Xalocoa ocellata). Seven rarest lichen species in the Republic and in the Caucasus, data on the state of populations of which are currently absent (Ephebe lanata, Lathagrium dichotomum, Pannaria conoplea, Phylliscum demangeonii, Stereocaulon pileatum, Sticta sylvatica, Usnea longissima). Information on distribution in the republic, ecology and proposed categories of the threatened are given. Most of the species (15) were proposed to be included with category 3 “Rare species”, and 9 species – with category 4 “Undefined by status”.