Title
Transcaucasian altimontane herb-grass and meadow steppes (Stipa tirsa, Stipa pulcherrima, Festuca ovina, Carex humilis, Poa densa, Bromus variegatus, Onobrychis altissima, Onobrychis transcaucasica, Serratula biebersteiniana, Prangos ferulacea, Aster ibericus) with Medicago papillosa, Astragalus hyalolepis, Linaria kurdica, Salvia armeniaca, alternating with thorn-cushion communities (Astragalus aureus, Astragalus microcephalus, Astragalus lagopoides) and tomillares (Thymus rariflorus, Thymus kotschyanus, Scutellaria orientalis)
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
Georgia, Armenia: Transcaucasia from the Džavacheti-highland in the north as far as to the Pambak ridge in the south
area frequency
5 polygons.
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
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Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
The main components of this mapping unit are the steppe grasses Festuca valesiaca, Koeleria macrantha, Elymus hispidus subsp. barbulatus, Stipa tirsa, Stipa pulcherrima, and also the mountain steppe petrophyte Poa densa (a Caucasian-Anatolian-north-Iranian species), the meadow species Festuca ovina, Festuca pratensis, Phleum pratense, Poa angustifolia, Dactylis glomerata, Bromus variegatus as well as Koeleria albovii (Caucasian-Anatolian-north-Iranian), Secale montanum (east Transcaucasian Anatolian-west-Iranian) and Hordeum violaceum (Caucasian Anatolian-Iranian). The mapping unit is very rich in herbs (120-140 herb species per 100 m2). Together with widespread species (Filipendula vulgaris, Aster linosyris, Peucedanum ruthenicum, Lotus corniculatus amongst others), mountain steppe and steppe species play an important role (Anthyllis lachnophora, Hypericum linarioides, Linaria kurdica, Aster ibericus, Pulsatilla armena), as well as bulb geophytes (Gagea species, Muscari caucasicum etc.). For the Transcaucasian meadow steppes, Caucasian-Iranian, Armenian-Iranian, Caucasian-Anatolian-Iranian species as well as Caucasian endemics are characteristic.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Herb layer
in meadow steppes: Stipa tirsa, Stipa pulcherrima, Carex humilis, Festuca ovina, Poa angustifolia, Phleum pratense, Dactylis glomerata, Campanula glomerata, Trifolium ambiguum, Trifolium alpestre, Onobrychis iberica; in tomillares: Thymus rariflorus, Thymus kotschyanus, Scutellaria orientalis; in Tragacanthen-communities: Astragalus aureus, Astragalus microcephalus, Astragalus lagopoides, Astragalus uraniolimneus, Acantholimon glumaceum
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
Bryum argenteum, Tortula ruralis, Lecidella anomaloides, Candelariella vitellina, Cladonia chlorophaea
Diagnostically important species
Stipa tirsa, Stipa pulcherrima, Carex humilis, Bromus variegatus, Poa densa, Koeleria albovii, Secale montanum, Hordeum violaceum, Onobrychis altissima, Onobrychis transcaucasica, Serratula biebersteiniana, Prangos ferulacea, Aster ibericus, Medicago papillosa, Astragalus hyalolepis, Linaria kurdica, Salvia armeniaca; Astragalus aureus, Astragalus microcephalus; Thymus rariflorus, Thymus kotschyanus
Ecological variants
No details
Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
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Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)
Tragacanthen communities and occasionally tomillares communities.
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
krummholz and open woodlands (C44, C45, C46), hornbeam-oak forests (F170), Stipa steppes (M11).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
Forest plantations.
grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Pasture grounds, meadows; in contact areas with subalpine grasses one finds mountain meadow species in the meadow steppes (Pyrethrum carneum, Scabiosa caucasica, Stachys macrantha, Galega orientalis, Centaurea ficri).
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
Cereal farming, orchards; characteristic weeds: Avena fatua, Lolium rigidum, Rapistrum rugosum etc.; at higher locations on pastures there are Rumex and Cirsium species, and with extensive destruction there area also Alchemilla species.
settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
Uncultivated land with ruderal species (Centaurea solsticialis, Carthamus lanatus, Carthamus glaucus, Salvia verticillata etc.)
Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
volcanic massifs and mountain plateaux with almost a flat or weakly undulating relief
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
altimontane, subalpine; 2100-2500 m in the Džavacheti-highlands, in Armenia 1700-1800 m up to 2300 (2800) m
Geology (bedrock)
base-rich volcanic rocks: basalt, andesite and tuff (Tertiary; Middle and Upper Jurassic)
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
leached, partly deep mountain-black earths, locally ranker; (haplic and luvic lithic kastanozems; haplic and luvic chernozems; leptosols)
soil texture
sandy-loamy, stone-rich, stony
soil moisture, water balance
moderately dry
soil fertility
meso-eutrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
VII(IV)
average annual temperature
5-6 °C
average annual precipitation
600-700 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
15-17 °C
average temperature of the coldest month
-6 to -4 °C
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
No details
Importance for nature protection
Present state and development trend of natural vegetation (degree of endangerment)
The greater part of these steppe areas has been transformed into arable land; on stony soils and at steep slopes the areas have been used as pasture grounds or meadows; grazing has led to the spreading of Festuca ovina and Bromus variegatus and to the dominance of fescue meadow steppes.
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
Above all geophytes (Iris caucasica, Tulipa Julya, Fritillaria caucasica, Puschkinia scilloides, Merendera trigyna among others) are endangered.
causes of endangerment
Arable farming, intense grazing (erosion of the soils by sheep grazing).
required measures for protection and restitution
Regulation of grazing (e.g. expansion of grazed areas), local adjustment of agricultural use and protection of typical steppes in different areas (small protection areas).
Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection
of the natural vegetation
Armenia: Sevan national park: Vardenis-highlands, nature reserve Chosrov at the southern margins of the des Gegam-highland.
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
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Most important references (author, year)
Barsegjan, Zirojan & Afrikjan 1987; Churšudjan, Barsegjan & Afrikjan 1980; Fajvuš 1981; Kavrišvili 1960; Lavrenko 1980; Magak’jan 1941b; Tachtadžjan 1941b; Zedel’mejer 1933
Compiled by
Z. Neuhäuslová based on documents by M. Ivanišvili
