Title
South Ural herb-rich pine forests (Pinus sylvestris) with Larix sibirica, with xerophilous shrubs (Prunus fruticosa, Spiraea crenata) with steppe plants (Festuca valesiaca, Veronica spicata)
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
Russia: eastern slope of the southern Ural
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
No details
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
The tree layer is formed from Pinus sylvestris while Betula pendula, and often also Larix sibirica are added (canopy closure 60-70 %, with frequent forest clearings). The height of the pine at the age of 100-120 years reaches 18-20 m, locally 14-16 m with a luxuriant shrub undergrowth (particularly on clearings; 40-60 % degree of coverage); the herb layer (60-70 % degree of coverage) also contains steppe and meadow steppe species in addition to species of open, dry forests. The moss layer is weakly developed (degree of coverage up to 20-30 %) and limited to shady areas, the bases of tree stems and deadwood.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Tree layer
Pinus sylvestris, with admixture of Betula pendula, Larix sibirica
Shrub layer
Prunus fruticosa, Spiraea crenata, Caragana frutex, Cotoneaster niger
Herb layer
Calamagrostis epigejos, Brachypodium pinnatum, Veronica chamaedrys, Festuca valesiaca, Phleum phleoides, Koeleria macrantha, Helictotrichon desertorum, Veronica spicata, Dracocephalum ruyschiana, Pulsatilla patens, Dendranthema zawadskii, Centaurea sibirica, Artemisia latifolia, Artemisia sericea, Artemisia armeniaca, Aster alpinus
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
Pleurozium schreberi, Hylocomium splendens
Diagnostically important species
Pinus sylvestris; Prunus fruticosa, Spiraea crenata; Festuca valesiaca, Veronica spicata
Ecological variants
No details
Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
In a number of formation types boreal species are represented (Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Orthilia secunda, Pyrola minor, Pyrola rotundifolia, Moneses uniflora etc.). Towards the south the forest steppe character increases.
Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)
Steppe communities at steep, stony southern facing slopes, steppe shrub stands.
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
pine forests (D59), lime-pedunculate oak forests (F73, F74).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
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grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
secondary mountain steppes.
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
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settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
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Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
Uplands, mainly south and east facing slopes, in places quite steep
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
montane; 650-800 (1000) m
Geology (bedrock)
granite (Precambrian), more rarely limestone (Permian)
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
shallow, weakly podzolic or brown forest soils, partly stony or rocky; (lithic orthic greyzems, humic cambisols; leptosols)
soil texture
clayey, loamy, partly stony to rocky
soil moisture, water balance
moderately dry
soil reaction
moderately acidic
soil fertility
mesotrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
VII(VIII), VIII(VI)4
average annual temperature
0-1 °C
average annual precipitation
520 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
16-17 °C
average temperature of the coldest month
January -17 to -16 °C
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
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Importance for nature protection
Present state and development trend of natural vegetation (degree of endangerment)
No details
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
secondary mountain steppes with Helictotrichon desertorum, Artemisia austriaca, Artemisia sericea, Veronica incana.
causes of endangerment
Forest clearing, forest fires.
required measures for protection and restitution
No details
Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection
of the natural vegetation
Russia: nature reserve Baškirskij.
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
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Most important references (author, year)
Igošina 1964
Compiled by
Z. Neuhäuslová based on documents by P.L. Gorčakovskij
