Title
Transvolgian hemi-psammophytic and psammophytic herb-grass steppes (Stipa anomala, Stipa capillata, Cleistogenes squarrosa) with Agropyron fragile
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
Russia: right Samara bank (predominately along the upper course), left Volga bank and along some of its left affluents (Bolšoj Irgiz, Eruslan among others)
area frequency
20 polygons.
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Stipeta (borysthenicae, lessingianae, capillatae) arenoso et hemiarenoso-herbosa; Cleistogeneta squarrosae arenoso-herbosae.
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
Stipa capillata, Festuca valesiaca, Koeleria macrantha and Phleum phleoides are the main components of semi-psammophytic variants of these steppes. Admixtures of Carex supina and Artemisia marschalliana are typical. Herb species of the interfluvial steppes are typical on sandier-loamier soils (e.g. Galium ruthenicum, Aster oleifolius, Veronica incana, Potentilla humifusa), and hemipsammophytes as well as psammophytes are also present. Shrubs (Spiraea hypericifolia) also participate regularly. On lighter soils, Stipa capillata steppes border onto psammophilic herb feather grass steppes with dominating Stipa anomala and many typical obligatory psammophytes. Admixtures of the Kazakh-Mongolian species Cleistogenes squarrosa, the psammo-petrophytic dwarf shrub Ephedra distachya and Agropyron fragile in southern areas are typical.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Shrub layer
Spiraea hypericifolia
Herb layer
Stipa capillata, Stipa anomala, Cleistogenes squarrosa, Galium ruthenicum, Aster oleifolius, Potentilla humifusa, Centaurea marschalliana, Gypsophila paniculata, Helichrysum arenarium, Euphorbia seguieriana, Silene borysthenica, Ephedra distachya
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
No details
Diagnostically important species
Stipa capillata, Stipa anomala, Cleistogenes squarrosa, Agropyron fragile
Ecological variants
No details
Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
No details
Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)
Small-area incidences of East European open pedunculate oak forests (Quercus robur) with steppe species (Caragana frutex, Prunus tenella, Brachypodium pinnatum) at valley slopes.
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
steppes (M3, M9, M14), desert steppes (M19, M20), salt vegetation (P34), alluvial forests (U12, U13, U14).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
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grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Pastures.
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
Wheat fields.
settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
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Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
alluvial plains in river valleys
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
lowland; 100 m
Geology (bedrock)
marine sediments (Pleistocene); Permian, Triassic
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
weakly humic black earths and dark chestnut soils; (luvic chernozems; haplic sodic kastanozems)
soil texture
loamy-sandy, sandy
soil moisture, water balance
moderately dry
soil fertility
mesotrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
VII(VIII)
average annual temperature
3-5 °C
average annual precipitation
300-350 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
20-22 °C
average temperature of the coldest month
-16 to -14 °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)
The whole area has been transformed for agricultural use.
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
near-natural steppe stands.
causes of endangerment
Agricultural use.
required measures for protection and restitution
Establishment of conservation areas.
Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection
of the natural vegetation
There are no reserves in the distribution area of this mapping unit.
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
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Most important references (author, year)
Larin, Šiffers & Levina et al. 1954; Lavrenko 1940; Lavrenko 1980; Rodin 1933
Compiled by
Z. Neuhäuslová based on documents by Z.V. Karamyševa
