M18
Northwest Caspian moderately halophytic desert steppes (Stipa sareptana, Stipa lessingiana, Stipa capillata, Agropyron desertorum, Leymus ramosus, Tanacetum achilleifolium, Artemisia taurica, Artemisia lerchiana) in combination with vegetation on solonetz (dry, heavy, very alkaline) soils (Artemisia pauciflora, Camphorosma monspeliaca) a = without Artemisia pauciflora on solonetz-soils
Description
As the species assemblage suggests, these steppes represent a transitional type between the Pontic and the trans-Volgian-Kazakh desert steppes. In addition to species generally distributed in Pontic and Kazakh desert steppes (e.g. Stipa lessingiana, Festuca valesiaca, Aster tarbagatensis), other species prevailing here include: Stipa sareptana, Agropyron desertorum, Artemisia lerchiana, Artemisia pauciflora etc. Typically Pontic species also play an important phytocoenotic role (e.g. Artemisia taurica). In the whole area, particularly on watersheds, the formation of a vegetation complex is characteristic.
M18a (steppe):
Biome:
Grass mix: grass, kentucky_bluegrass, meadow_fescue, small_fescue, common_meadow_grass
Small clumps of wormwood
M18b (dry steppe):
Biome:
Grass mix: grass, meadow_fescue, small_fescue, common_meadow_grass
Clumps of wormwood, wood_horsetail, and pine_bush
Tree Layer
No detail
Shrub Layer
Rhamnus cathartica (Fruiting Alder Buckthorn), Spiraea hypericifolia (wild_shrub), Calophaca wolgarica (wild_shrub), Prunus tenella (Blackthorn)
Lianas
No detail
Herb Layer
M18a steppe communities: Stipa capillata (kentucky_bluegrass), Stipa lessingiana, Stipa sareptana, Stipa pennata (kentucky_bluegrass), Agropyron desertorum (meadow_fescue), Festuca valesiaca (meadow_fescue), Artemisia lerchiana (wormwood), Artemisia taurica (wormwood)
M18b dry steppe communities: Artemisia pauciflora (wormwood), Tanacetum achilleifolium (wood_horsetail), Leymus ramosus (meadow_fescue), Kochia prostrata (wormwood), Camphorosma monspeliaca (pine_bush)
Large stretches of land north of Mordor, as well as the Brown Lands
