Title
Moldavian-Ukrainian meadow steppes (Stipa tirsa, Stipa pennata, Carex humilis) alternating with hornbeam-pedunculate oak forests (Quercus robur, Carpinus betulus, Prunus avium), in the south with Tatarian maple-pedunculate oak forests (Quercus robur, Acer tataricum)
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
Romania: north-eastern region between Prut and Siret, Banat (not shown on the map); Republic of Moldavia: northern part between Prut and Dnjestr; Ukraine: eastern slopes of the Dnjepr plate, western slopes of the central Russian plates; Russia: border to Ukraine
area frequency
23 polygons.
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Stipetum stenophyllae ponto-romanicum Ciocirlan 1968, Stipetum lessingianae Soó (1927) 1945, Salvio-Festucetum rupicolae Soó 1964, Medicagini-Festucetum valesiacae Wagner 1941, ass. Festuca sulcata+Pedicularis comosa+Salvia pratensis+Thymus odoratissimus+Thuidium abietinum Kleopov 1933, Quercetum roboris dacicum Borza 1959, Querco robori-Carpinetum Soó 1957, Querco petraeae-Carpinetum Soó 1957, ass. Stipa capillata+Carex humilis, ass. Stipa capillata+Herbae stepposae, ass. Cytisus ruthenicus+Festuca sulcata+Carex humilis, ass. Carex humilis+Festuca sulcata+Herbae stepposae, ass. Calamagrostis epigejos+Herbae stepposae, ass. Poa angustifolia+Festuca sulcata+Herbae stepposae Bilik 1973.
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
The meadow steppes are rich in continental species. Xerophilic grasses (Stipa tirsa, Stipa pennata, Stipa capillata, Festuca rupicola, Festuca valesiaca) as well as Carex humilis set the tone. Continental dicotyledonens are also frequent.In the pedunculate oak forests one finds maple species, Ulmus minor and Pyrus pyraster in the lower tree layer; in the western part Quercus petraea and Carpinus betulus also occur. The shrub layer is sometimes very dense, while the herb layer is dominated by grasses.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Tree layer
Quercus robur, in the west with admixture of Quercus petraea, Carpinus betulus, Acer pseudoplatanus, Prunus avium, further in the underwood Acer tataricum, Acer campestre, Ulmus minor, Pyrus pyraster; on northern slopes with Tilia cordata, Fraxinus excelsior
Shrub layer
in forests: Cornus sanguinea, Staphylea pinnata, Euonymus europaea, Euonymus verrucosa, Rhamnus cathartica, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Prunus fruticosa, Prunus tenella; in meadow steppes: Chamaecytisus austriacus
Herb layer
in forests: Vinca minor, Melica uniflora, Carex pilosa, Asarum europaeum, Stellaria holostea, Polygonatum hirtum, Galium odoratum, Poa nemoralis, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Fragaria viridis, Carex michelii;
in steppes: Stipa tirsa, S. pennata, S. capillata, Festuca rupicola, F. valesiaca, Poa angustifolia, Bromus inermis, Carex humilis, Trifolium montanum, Filipendula vulgaris, Galium verum, Salvia pratensis, Adonis vernalis, Paeonia tenuifolia, Achillea setacea
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
No details
Diagnostically important species
in forests: Quercus robur, partly Quercus petraea, Carpinus betulus, Acer tataricum, Cornus sanguinea; in steppes Stipa tirsa, Stipa pennata, Carex humilis
Ecological variants
Different forms of the oak mixed forests and meadow steppes depending on situation and exposure.
Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
In the Romanian and Moldavian oak forests Sorbus torminalis, Malus sylvestris and Pyrus pyraster are added, while in hornbeam-oak forests Quercus robur, Carpinus betulus, Tilia cordata, Tilia tomentosa and Acer pseudoplatanus are admixtures in the tree layer. In the north of Ukraine mesophilous meadow species play an important role: Dactylus glomerata, Poa pratensis, Agrostis vinealis, Trifolium alpestre, Anemone sylvestris; in the Romanian and Moldavian meadow steppes the following species are additionally present: Salvia austriaca, Salvia dumetorum, Trifolium ambiguum, Trifolium medium, Verbascum nigrum, Veronica chamaedrys, Scorzonera purpurea, Medicago falcata, Dianthus membranaceus, Salvia nutans, Salvia nemorosa, Campanula sibirica, Echium russicum, Linum hirsutum, Jurinea arachnoidea, Phlomis pungens, Phlomis tuberosa, Centaurea marschalliana, Centaurea orientalis, Trinia kitaibelii, Elymus repens.
Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)
In Ukraine on silicate rock tomillares (Thymus odoratissimus, Thymus serpyllum, Thymus pulegioides); small area occurrences of north Ukrainian-south Sarmatian small-leaved lime-pedunculate oak forests, of Podolian-Moldavian thermophilous hornbeam pedunculate oak forests, of Ukrainian-central-Russian sedge fens (Carex diandra, Carex lasiocarpa, Carex omskiana, Phragmithes australis, Calliergonella cuspidata).
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
pine forests (D57), acidophilous oak forests (F12), oak-hornbeam forests (F41, F44), lime-pedunculate oak forests (F71), forest steppes (L4, L5), steppes (M1, M8), salt vegetation (P34), alluvial forests (U10, U12, U14).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
Forest stands predominantly used as coppice forest.
grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Pastures: degraded meadow steppes with Festuca valesiaca, Botriochloetum ischaemi.
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
Area mainly used as arable land: cereal, sugar beets, corn.
settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
No details
Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
undulating plateaus with sporadic elevations and deeply notched valleys (erosion ravines)
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
lowland, colline; up to 300 m
Geology (bedrock)
bluff formation above molasse, lime-sandstone (Tertiary), serie above crystaline, acidic main bottom (Precambrian)
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
deep black soils (Ah-hor. 40-70 cm thick), below forests degraded black soils or grey forest soils as well as parabrown soils; (luvic, calcic and haplic chernozems; orthic luvisols; haplic phaeozems)
soil texture
loam, partly clayey, stony, rocky
soil moisture, water balance
fresh to moderately dry
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
VI1
average annual temperature
7-8 °C, in the east 6 °C
average annual precipitation
600-650 mm in the south, 750-850 mm in the west, 450 mm in the east
average temperature of the warmest month
July 18-21 °C
average temperature of the coldest month
January -8 to -5 °C
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
subcontinental climate; absolute minimum in January -36 °C.
Importance for nature protection
Present state and development trend of natural vegetation (degree of endangerment)
Only small remnants of near-natural meadow steppes and forests.
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
Petrophyte steppes with endemic species: Silene hypanica, Dianthus hypanicus, Syrenia cana, Jurinea tyraica, Minuartia hypanica are absolutely worthy of protection.
causes of endangerment
Forest use and clearing, agricultural use, afforestation.
required measures for protection and restitution
No details
Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection
of the natural vegetation
Remnants of the natural vegetation are protected in few reserves. Ukraine: nature reserve Michailovskaja celina (since 1928) along the right bank of the Psel in the Sumsk area (influenced by protection regimes, transition to steppe-like meadows with rhizomous grasses); Romania: Roscani forest (jud. lasi), Bosanci (jud. Suceava).
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
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Most important references (author, year)
Ivan, Doniţă, Coldea, Sanda, Popescu, Chifu, Boşcaiu, Mititelu & Paucă-Comănescu 1993
Compiled by
Z. Neuhäuslová and N. Doniţă based on documents of D. Ivan et al. 1993
