Title
South Low Caucasian open woodlands (Quercus macranthera) with Acer hyrcanum, Pyrus zangezura, scrub (Juniperus communis subsp. hemisphaerica), partly grasslands (Bromus variegatus, Koeleria albovii), alternating with steppes (Festuca valesiaca, Koeleria macrantha, Nepeta strictifolia) and thorn-cushion mountain vegetation (Astragalus aureus, Astragalus lagopoides, Onobrychis cornuta, Acantholimon glumaceum)
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
in the south of the Low Caucasus: central and southern part of the Zangezur, Daralagez and Megri ridge of hills (Armenia; Azerbaijan: autonomy region Nakhichevan)
area frequency
3 polygons.
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Formation group of subalpine open woodlands, altimontane prostrate shrubs, subalpine grasslands (Doluchanov et al. 1942); steppe vegetation, oreo-xerophytic vegetation (Grossgejm 1948) = Querco-Fagetea Braun-Blanquet & Vlieger 1937, Caricetea curvulae Braun-Blanquet 1948; Festuco-Brometea Braun-Blanquet & R. Tüxen in Braun-Blanquet 1949.
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
Quercus macranthera communities (see C46); low-growing forests with different dominant species, average height 3-5 m, on soils with a high skeletal content and also rich in stones and rubble. The trees frequently have a shrub-like form and stand far apart from one another. The forests are usually two-layered and occur up to altitudes of between 2350 and 2400 m. Regarding the remaining communities see C46 or also C43.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Tree layer
Quercus macranthera forests: Quercus macranthera, Pyrus zangezura, Pyrus syriaca, Acer hyrcanum; low-growing forests: Acer hyrcanum, Quercus macranthera, Juniperus polycarpos
Shrub layer
Quercus macranthera-forests: Crataegus monogyna, Euonymus latifolia, Juniperus communis subsp. hemisphaerica; low-growing forests: Crataegus armena, Crataegus meyeri, Cotoneaster spp., Sorbus graeca, Sorbus kuznetzovii; shrubs and dwarf shrubs of the thorn-cushion vegetation of the mountains: Astragalus aureus, Astragalus lagopoides, Rhamnus pallasii, Rhamnus spathulifolia, Atraphaxis angustifolia, Juniperus communis subsp. hemisphaerica, Juniperus sabina, Ephedra procera
Herb layer
Quercus macranthera forests: Bromus variegatus, Koeleria macrantha, Carex humilis, Festuca valesiaca; steppes: Festuca valesiaca, Koeleria macrantha, Astragalus incertus, Artemisia splendens, Thymus spp., Oxytropis albana, Prangos ferulacea
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
No details
Diagnostically important species
Koeleria albovii, Onobrychis transcaucasica, Scabiosa caucasica, Papaver orientale, Pyrus zangezura, Pyrus syriaca, Sorbus kuznetzovii
Ecological variants
Mainly on lime-rich soils: Acantholimon glumaceum, Onobrychis cornuta.
Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
Pyrus zangezura, Pyrus syriaca, Thymus kotschyanus.
Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)
Rock and rubble vegetation.
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
alpine grasslands (B59), oak forests (F172), steppes (M11), thorn-cushion vegetation (N7).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
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grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Pasture grounds and grass meadows.
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
Potato cultivation.
settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
Communities with Cirsium spp., Carduus spp. and Verbascum spp.
Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
high-mountain regions with relief forms of volcanic origin (lava plateaux, saddles etc.) and tectonic relief forms
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
subalpine; (2000)2100-2600(2700) m
Geology (bedrock)
mostly Pliocene-Quaternary (partly Holocene) rocks of volcanic origin (andesites, tuffs, basalts)
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
mountain-meadow soils (mull-gley), andosols, partly of brown soils below forests, burozem, lithosols; (lithic leptosols; andosols; humic and dystric cambisols)
soil texture
clayey, stony
soil moisture, water balance
fresh to dry
soil reaction
weakly acidic to alkaline
soil fertility
oligo-mesotrophic, mesotrophic (high content of humus (10 % or more), high to moderately high content of nitrogen, moderately high content of potassium, low content of phosphorus)
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
X
average annual temperature
2-4 °C
average annual precipitation
500-700 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
14-16 °C
average temperature of the coldest month
-9 to -7 °C
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
In gorges there is a different air humidity.
Importance for nature protection
Present state and development trend of natural vegetation (degree of endangerment)
See C46: The areas with subalpine forests have been reduced by anthropogenic influences to the extreme. The main forest formations have been cleared all over; natural regeneration is suppressed in all forests.
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
All subalpine types of forest and all low-growing forests.
causes of endangerment
Intense grazing.
required measures for protection and restitution
See C46: Protection of the still remaining areas of subalpine forest and restoration by replantation of tree species local to the sites, controlled grazing.
Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection
of the natural vegetation
No sites available.
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
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Most important references (author, year)
Doluchanov 1949; Jarošenko & Grigorian 1941; Prilipko 1939; Tamamševa 1930
Compiled by
N. Zazanašvili
