In the Odesa region, the red-listed Brandyushka has bloomed: an anomaly in military December.

According to ТСН: A unique natural phenomenon occurred in the Tuzlivski Limany National Nature Park in the Odesa region — a record early flowering of the late-flowering ankarian, also known as Brandyushka. Scientists link this to abnormal changes in nature.

Flowering of Brandyushka

In the Tuzlivski Limany Park, Brandyushka has bloomed, a vulnerable species listed in the Red Book of Ukraine. Park employee, Doctor of Biological Sciences Ivan Rusev, comments that he has been observing this process at Christmas time for many years near Tatarbunary. The range of this plant is gradually decreasing, creating a risk of its complete disappearance.

To preserve this species, last year the national park appealed to the Ministry of Ecology for permission to transplant Brandyushka from a non-protected area to the Tuzlivski Limany, where it once grew. This autumn, the plants were planted in three sections of the park.

“And here is the miracle. Without waiting for Christmas and New Year, flowers appeared on the plants in the midst of the military December 2025 — just a few days ago. This fact is unique and indicates the possibilities of plant reproduction and, secondly, that there are changes in the nature of military December 2025 that have 'awakened' the flower,” said Doctor of Biological Sciences in a statement.

Earlier flowering of Brandyushka

Rusev emphasized that this is an extraordinarily early time for the blooming of Brandyushka. In over 30 years of observations of these plants in the vicinity of Tatarbunary, such early blooming has not been recorded before.

It is worth noting that at the beginning of November, an anomalous blooming of wild plum occurred in the Tuzlivski Limany Park. Rusev believes that this rare phenological phenomenon is caused by climate changes, particularly anomalously wet and warm weather that followed the hot summer of 2025.

Thus, the flowering of Brandyushka and other plants in the Tuzlivski Limany has become a vivid confirmation of the impact of climate change on nature. This phenomenon raises concern among scientists and environmentalists, indicating disruptions in natural rhythms and threats to rare species. Observing these changes will help better understand how nature adapts to modern challenges. It is necessary to take measures to protect these species and their habitats.