L7
West Caucasian meadow steppes (Stipa tirsa, Stipa pennata, Bromus riparius, Carex humilis, Elymus hispidus subsp. barbulatus, Dianthus capitatus, Thymus pastoralis) with Centaurea leucophylla alternating with scrub (Prunus spinosa, Rhamnus pallasii)
Description
Complex consisting of herb-rich feather grass steppes, meadow steppes and hemixerophilic scrub predominating on loess sites in the foothills-lowlands-hills. In the steppes there are species combinations consisting of steppe grasses (Stipa tirsa, Stipa pennata, Bromus riparius, Koeleria macrantha, Festuca valesiaca) as well as meadow steppe grasses (Phleum phleoides, Brachypodium pinnatum, Festuca pratensis, Dactylis glomerata, Bromus inermis, Helictotrichon pratense and Elymus repens) and sedges (Carex humilis). Amongst the herbs, in addition to general steppe and meadow steppe species (Adonis vernalis, Galium verum, Medicago falcata, Onobrychis inermis, Peucedanum ruthenicum, Dianthus capitatus, Centaurea leucophylla, Lotus corniculatus etc.) there are bulb geophytes (Allium- and Gagea species) as well as rhizome geophytes (Iris hungarica, Iris pumila). There are also dwarf semi-shrubs (Thymus kosteleckyanus, Teucrium chamaedrys). Occurences of Caucasian endemics (Centaurea leucophylla, Thymus pastoralis). Locally there is scrub consisting of hemixerophilic shrubs (Prunus spinosa, Rhamnus pallasii, Rosa pimpinellifolia) that is usually associated with slopes of ravines and river valleys, as well as petrophyte communities (Carex humilis, Thymus pastoralis, Teucrium chamaedrys etc.) on rocky sites.
Tree Layer
No detail
Shrub Layer
Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn), Rhamnus pallasii (Fruiting Alder Buckthorn), Rosa pimpinellifolia (blackberry_bush)
Lianas
No detail
Herb Layer
in steppes: Stipa tirsa, Stipa pennata, Bromus riparius, Koeleria macrantha (timothy_grass), Festuca valesiaca (woodland_sedge), Phleum phleoides, Carex humilis; Brachypodium pinnatum (green_meadow_fescue), Festuca pratensis, Dactylis glomerata (green_meadow_fescue), Bromus inermis (woodland_sedge), Helictotrichon pubescens, Elymus repens (bottle_sedge); Adonis vernalis (dogs_mercury), Filipendula vulgaris (fern), Onobrychis inermis (cross_leaved_heath), Galium verum (goldenrod), Medicago falcata (green_spurge), Trifolium ambiguum (red_clover_flowers), Trifolium pratense (red_clover_flowers), Peucedanum ruthenicum (cow_parsley), Astragalus onobrychis (fern), Lotus corniculatus (birdsfoot_trefoil), Allium albidum (cotton_grass), Allium carinatum subsp. pulchellum (cotton_grass); Thymus kosteleckyanus (sweet_woodruff), Thymus pastoralis (sweet_woodruff), Teucrium chamaedrys (lavender), Teucrium capitatum (wormwood), Centaurea leucophylla (black_knapweed).
dogs_mercury, fern, cross_leaved_heath, goldenrod, green_spurge, red_clover_flowers, cow_parsley, birdsfoot_trefoil, cotton_grass, sweet_woodruff, lavender, wormwood, black_knapweed, thistles, + grass mix
Steppes to the south and east of the Sea of Rhûn
