Title
Crimean black pine forests (Pinus nigra subsp. pallasiana, Pinus kochiana) with Carpinus orientalis, Quercus pubescens, partly Quercus petraea
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
Ukraine: upper Crimea
area frequency
6 polygons.
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Brachypodio-Pinion pallasianae Diduch 1990, Caricoso humilis-Pinion kochianae Diduch 1990.
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
100 to 200 years old open forests, 15-25 m tall (at the upper margin of its range 5-10 m), with a two- to three-layered tree layer, a sparse or absent shrub layer and a dense herb layer (80 % coverage) featuring sub-Mediterranean and oro-Mediterranean species.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Tree layer
Pinus nigra subsp. pallasiana, Pinus kochiana, Quercus petraea, Quercus pubescens
Herb layer
Brachypodium pinnatum subsp. rupestre, Carex humilis, Laser trilobum, Pteridium aquilinum subsp. brevipes
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
No details
Diagnostically important species
Pinus kochiana, Pinus nigra subsp. pallasiana; Brachypodium pinnatum subsp. rupestre, Laser trilobum, Carex humilis, Polygonatum odoratum, Galium mollugo agg., Teucrium chamaedrys s. l.; specific montane-boreal elements: Goodyera repens, Chamaecytisus polytrichus, Hieracium gentile, Orthilia secunda, Pyrola chlorantha, Rubus saxatilis, Inula conyzae, Solidago virgaurea; meadow steppe species of the Jajla-formation: Bupleurum falcatum subsp. dilatatum, Aster bessarabicus, Pulsatilla halleri subsp. taurica, Gentiana cruciata
Ecological variants
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Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
Pinus nigra subsp. pallasiana forests in the central part of the southern flank of the Crimean mountain mountains (450-1200 m). Brachypodium pinnatum subsp. rupestre is the most important dominant species of the herb layer. Pinus kochiana forests with dominant Carex humilis in the eastern part of the forest’s range at altitudes of 800-1400 m.
Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)
At lower altitudes Quercus pubescens and Carpinus orientalis stands, at moderately altitudes Quercus petraea, Fraxinus excelsior and Carpinus betulus, and at higher altitudes Fagus sylvatica subsp. moesiaca on deeper and moister soils.
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
beech and hornbeam-beech forests (F157), hornbeam-oak forests (F167), Oriental hornbeam-downy oak forests (G61), open juniper woodlands (K32), forest steppes (L17).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
Black pine forestry
grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Meadow 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
mountainous country, moderately to steep southern slopes
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
colline to altimontane; 450-1200 m
Geology (bedrock)
carbonate rocks (Jurassic, Triassic)
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
weakly developed stone-rich cinnamonic or dark brown soils; (calcaric lithic leptosols; chromic cambisols; chromic luvisols)
soil texture
stone-rich, loamy-clayey
soil moisture, water balance
fresh to dry
soil reaction
weakly acidic, neutral
soil fertility
mesotrophic, meso-eutrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
IV(VI), VII2a, X
average annual temperature
5-10 °C
average annual precipitation
600-900 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
July 15-19 °C
average temperature of the coldest month
January 0-4 °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)
This unit characterizes the uniqueness of the montane landscape and the relatively unique microclimatic conditions in the area. It has a water and soil protecting role.
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
Occurrence of endemic species of the and the west-Caucasus: Pinus pityusa; rare species: Paeonia daurica, Prangos trifida, Goodyera repens, Limodorum abortivum, Adenophora taurica.
causes of endangerment
No details
required measures for protection and restitution
No details
Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection
of the natural vegetation
Ukraine: nature reserve: Jaltinskij gorno-lesnoj.
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
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Most important references (author, year)
Diduch 1987a; Diduch 1990; Šeljag-Sosonko & Diduch 1980
Compiled by
Z. Neuhäuslová referring to documents by Ja.P. Diduch
