Title
Greater Caucasian thorn-cushion vegetation (Astragalus aureus, Astragalus denudatus, partly Astragalus beckerianus, Onobrychis cornuta) with Scutellaria leptostegia, Onobrychis bobrovii and tomillares (Salvia canescens, Salvia daghestanica, Salvia beckeri, Thymus daghestanicus, Scabiosa gumbetica)
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
Russia: Karatchayevo-Cherkess, Kabardino-Balkarskaja, north Ossetia, Ingushetia, Chechnya, Daghestan; Georgia: Kazbek mountain range, (not shown on the map, because too small-scaled); Azerbaijan: linear- and transversal valleys in the Greater Caucasus, mountain kettle at Mount Djubrar
area frequency
21 polygons.
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Astragaleta denudati (Astragalus denudatus+Festuca ovina+Carex humilis-ass., Astragalus denudatus+Festuca valesiaca+Artemisia chamaemelifolia-ass., Astragalus denudatus+Bromus riparius+Elytrigia gracillima-ass., Astragalus denudatus+Rhamnus tortuosa+Thymus daghestanicus-ass.); Astragaleta aurei (Astragalus aureus+Festuca valesiaca+Thymus daghestanicus-ass., Astragalus aureus+Thymus elisabethae+Scutellaria polyodon-ass.) Ivanišvili 1973; Thymeta (daghestanicus); Salvieta (beckeri, daghestanica).
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
Astragalus thorn-cushion communities with dominant Astragalus denudatus (50-80 cm tall), Astragalus aureus (30 cm tall; north-Caucasian endemic), Astragalus beckerianus (30 cm tall; east-Caucasian endemic) and Onobrychis cornuta (60-80 cm tall; Asia minor), as well as dwarf semishrubs including Thymus, Scutellaria and Artemisia species (many endemics, including local endemics). Herb species of the genuses Astragalus, Onobrychis, Nepeta, Centaurea, Anthemis, Scorzonera, Seseli etc. are also present, as well as geophytes of the genuses Allium, Muscari, Bellevalia (Greater Caucasian, Caucasian, Daghestanian endemics). Dwarf semishrubs (Thymus daghestanicus) and herbs dominate in the tomillares.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Shrub layer
thorny dwarf shrubs: Astragalus denudatus, Astragalus aureus, Astragalus beckerianus, Onobrychis cornuta
Herb layer
thorn-cushion vegetation: Astragalus captiosus, Astragalus haesitabandus, Campanula alliariifolia, Heliotropium styligerum, Onobrychis bobrovii, Onobrychis petraea, Alyssum armenum, Nepeta daghestanica, Scabiosa gumbetica, Gypsophila acutifolia, Scorzonera biebersteinii, Seseli grandivittatum; Allium-, Muscari-, Bellevalia-species; Festuca valesiaca, Festuca sclerophylla, Bromus riparius, Bromus biebersteinii, Elytrigia gracillima, Melica transsilvanica, Stipa daghestanica, Stipa caucasica, Carex humilis. In the tomillares: Thymus elisabethae, Thymus daghestanicus; Salvia canescens, Salvia daghestanica, Salvia beckeri, Convolvulus calvertii, Pyrethrum leptophyllum, Helianthemum daghestanicum
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
Thuidium abietinum, Hypnum cupressiforme
Diagnostically important species
Astragalus denudatus, Scutellaria leptostegia, Onobrychis bobrovii and many species mentioned above.
Ecological variants
Onobrychis-communities (Onobrychis cornuta) particularly on limestone, Astragalus communities with Astragalus beckerianus on Daghestanian slates.
Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
Western variant with the local endemics Astragalus captiosus, Medicago karatschaica, Dianthus elbrusense, Nepeta kubanica, Salvia canescens, Thymus elisabethae; eastern variant with the endemic species Astragalus onobrychioides, Dianthus dagestanicus, Nepeta daghestanica, Scabiosa gumbetica, Heliotropium styligerum etc.
Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)
Pinus kochiana forests (D64), mountain steppes (M11), hemixerophytic scrub (Juniperus communis subsp. hemisphaerica, Juniperus sabina, Juniperus communis subsp. oblonga, Ephedra procera, Rosa pulverulenta, Rhamnus tortuosa, Berberis vulgaris).
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
alpine grasslands (B56, B57), krummholz and open woodlands (C41, C43, C44, C46), pine forests (D64), Oriental beech forests (F164), Caucasian hornbeam-oak forests (F167, F170), mountain steppes (L8, M11), deserts (O7, O8, O9).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
---
grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Pastures.
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
On terraces: orchards, vineyards, agriculture (in south Daghestan). Weed species: Rapistrum rugosum, Lolium rigidum, Avena fatua etc.
settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
Carduus pycnocephalus subsp. albidus, Cichorium intybus, Salvia verticillata, Filago arvensis, Peganum harmala etc.
Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
steep, rockier-rugged mountain slopes, old river terraces, scree and debris fans, cirque hollows along the Scalistiy and the Bokovoi mountain chains
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
montane to subalpine; formations with Astragalus denudatus (900) 1000-1800 (2000-2200) m, with Astragalus aureus up to 2300-2400 m, with Astragalus beckerianus 2000-2500 m
Geology (bedrock)
slate and limestone (Cretaceous, Jurassic)
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
stone-rich, here and there weakly developed mountain chestnut soils and mountain-brown soils; (leptosols; haplic kastanozems; cambisols)
soil texture
stony-rocky, locally sandy
soil moisture, water balance
dry, moderately dry
soil reaction
weakly acidic, neutral
soil fertility
oligo-mesotrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
VI2, VI(IV), X
average annual temperature
6-7 °C
average annual precipitation
400-800 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
July 16-17 °C
average temperature of the coldest month
January -7 to -3 °C
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
”rainshadow”climate in corree hollows and mountain valleys (468 mm in 1362 m altitude; 370 mm in 1400 m altitude etc.).
Importance for nature protection
Present state and development trend of natural vegetation (degree of endangerment)
The thorn-cushion vegetation in particular is greatly endangered by intense grazing, fire and clearing; severe soil erosion is another problem that has set in in certain places. Changes in typical communities and changes in species composition within the communities are on the increase. Endemic and rare species are on the decrease. Small populations of rare species are potentially threatened.
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
Protection of the nearly-natural remnant stands is necessary; species worthy of protection: all endemic species including local endemics (north Caucasian: Astragalus denudatus; Caucasian-Anatolian-north Iranian: Astragalus aureus; east Caucasian: Astragalus beckerianus; Greater Caucasian: Onobrychis bobrovii, Onobrychis petraea among others; Daghestanian: Alyssum armenum, Nepeta daghestanica, Scabiosa gumbetica; Caucasian: Alchemilla sericata, Anthemis dumetorum, Gypsophila acutifolia, Scorzonera biebersteinii, Seseli grandivittatum, Bromus biebersteinii) as well as endemic species occuring in the tomillares (north Caucasian: Thymus elisabethae, Thymus daghestanicus, Salvia canescens, Salvia daghestanica; Daghestan: Salvia beckeri, Dianthus dagestanicus among others).
causes of endangerment
Grazing, fire, clearing; soil erosion.
required measures for protection and restitution
Establishment of protected areas for near-natural and typical stands; regulation of grazing.
Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection
of the natural vegetation
Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan: Greater Caucasus: valleys, mountain kettle at the north and north-eastern slopes.
Endangered communities in Uchkulan (Kuban upper part), Bilim (Baksan), Unal-Sadon (Ardon), Targim (Assa), Botlich (Araskoje-Koisu); close to the villages Kuruš, Išir (Daghestan). Kazbegi (Terek basin), Šatili (Argun), Itum-Kale (Chanti Argun), Achti-Rutul (Samar).
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
see above.
Most important references (author, year)
Čilikina 1960a; Grossgejm 1948; Ivanišvili 1973
Compiled by
Z. Neuhäuslová based on documents by M. Ivanišvili
