Title
East transcaucasian Salsola nodulosa- and Salsola ericoides-deserts with ephemeroids (Poa bulbosa, Catabrosella humilis), with Artemisia fragrans
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
south-east Georgia; Azerbaijan: Kura-Araks lowland, on the Apšeronskij peninsula; Armenia: in the Ararat basin
area frequency
7 polygons.
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Catabrosella humilis-Poa bulbosa-Salsola nodulosa community, Catabrosella humilis-Poa bulbosa-Salsola ericoides community.
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
Dwarf semishrubs play a major role and Salsola nodulosa as well as S. ericoides dominate. Ephemerals are also frequent. The occurrence of ephemeroids is typical (although they occur in mapping unit O7 more strongly).
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Herb layer
Salsola nodulosa, Salsola ericoides, Artemisia fragrans, Poa bulbosa, Catabrosella humilis, Kochia prostrata, Noaea mucronata, Limonium suffruticosum, Alyssum parviflorum, Arabidopsis pumila, Ceratocephala falcata, Bromus japonicus, Erodium cicutarium, Lepidium vesicarium, Velezia rigida, Salvia-species among others
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
No details
Diagnostically important species
Salsola nodulosa, Salsola ericoides, Poa bulbosa, Catabrosella humilis, Artemisia fragrans
Ecological variants
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Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
Salsola nodulosa deserts are endemic to east Transcaucasia.
Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)
Artemisia fragrans-Salsola dendroides community, Artemisia szowitziana community, succulent perennial halophyte communities.
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
open juniper woodlands (K33), steppes (M11), thorn-cushion vegetation (N6), southern dwarf semishrub deserts (O7, O9), dune vegetation (P16), salt vegetation (P36), alluvial and moist forests (U22).
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)
Agricultural land (fields, watered as well as irrigated orchards and vineyards).
settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
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Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
plains
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
lowland; 0-15 m below sea level
Geology (bedrock)
fluviatile sediments (Holocene, partly above Tertiary; Tertiary)
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
serozem-, grassland-serozem- and brown serozem-types; (haplic, calcic and luvic xerosols)
soil texture
loamy, sandy-loamy
soil moisture, water balance
very dry
soil fertility
oligotrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
III(VII), VII(IV)
average annual temperature
15-16 °C
average annual precipitation
200-300 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
July >27 °C
average temperature of the coldest month
January 0-3 °C
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
continental, arid climate.
Importance for nature protection
Present state and development trend of natural vegetation (degree of endangerment)
Areas are used as pastures.
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
endemic Salsola nodulosa-deserts.
causes of endangerment
Severe grazing.
required measures for protection and restitution
Protection of near-natural stands and regulation of the grazing intensity.
Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection
of the natural vegetation
Azerbaijan, Armenia.
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
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Most important references (author, year)
Abdullaev et al. 1963; Grossgejm 1932; Grossgejm 1948; Grossgejm & Sachokia 1931
Compiled by
Z. Neuhäuslová based on documents by I. Safronova
