Plants growing in the steppe. Steppe plants of Kazakhstan

Steppes are the most species-rich communities of drought-resistant plants - xerophytes. They are common where the climate is warm but there is not enough rainfall to allow a forest to grow. Steppes - "a type of vegetation represented by a community of drought-resistant perennial herbaceous plants with a predominance of turf grasses, less often sedges and onions." If we analyze the geographical distribution of the steppe landscapes on the globe, it will find -

Xia, which is the most typical steppes formed in the interior of the mainland. Steppe zones of the temperate zones of the northern and southern hemispheres, characterized by a dry climate, treeless watersheds, dominance of herbaceous, predominantly cereal vegetation on chernozem, dark chestnut and chestnut soils.

The area is dominated by steppes, which are changed by pasture digression and represent short-grass pasture communities with dominance of fescue and sagebrush. Small fragments of the hay-growing variants of the steppe have been preserved, among which the southern, northern and central variants are distinguished, which represents the transition between the northern and southern ones. In the steppes central option if they are not disturbed by grazing, feather grass-pinnate, Zelessky, narrow-leaved are common. In addition, there are fescue and forbs are very abundantly represented. The steppe also includes shrubs - caragana, spirea, gorse, broom.

In addition to the mountain steppes, solonetzic steppes have been preserved in small fragments on the plain, which usually include wormwood Lerkha, Gmelin's kermek, and pseudo-wheatgrass. For the steppe on gravelly soils, it is characteristic

the participation of species - petrophytes, i.e. stone-loving ones - protozoa, thyme, mountain grate, Siberian cornflower and others. Such steppes are especially easily destroyed by pasture digression. The yield of steppe hayfields is up to 4-5 q/ha

Hay, the productivity of steppe pastures as a result of overgrazing is low and amounts to no more than 15-20 c/ha of green mass

throughout the pasture period. According to the classification, according to the research of Professor Mirkin B.M. , all the steppes of the Republic of Bashkortostan can be divided into two main types - meadow and typical. Meadows are common in the forest-steppe zone, and in the steppe zone they gravitate towards the slopes of the northern exposure.

Typical steppes occupy areas in the steppe zone of the republic.

Mordovnik ball-headed

A biennial or perennial herb from the Asteraceae family. The height of the plant reaches 1.5 m. The stem is single, straight, branched at the top. It is covered with glandular hairs. The leaves are twice pinnately dissected, large, 10 to 25 cm long and 4 to 10 cm wide. rosette leaves with a petiole, the rest are sessile, amplexicaul. From above they are green, and from below they are covered with white felt, there are small spines along the edges. The flowers are collected in spherical inflorescences, they are bluish-white in color. Spherical heads have a diameter of 4-5 cm. Seed fruits. It grows in river valleys, among shrubs, on the edges of island forests, in wastelands.

The plant population on the Roman-gora hill is represented by single plants. Occasionally there are "islands" of 5-10 plants. In general, the plants are in good vital condition.

Yarrow

Perennial herbaceous plant from the Asteraceae family. A plant with an upright stem. In the conditions of Belarus, its height ranges from 48 to 72 cm. Several shoots of stems depart from a thin creeping rhizome. The leaves are basal - lanceolate, doubly pinnately dissected into narrow small slices. Stem leaves shorter, pinnately dissected.

Stem leaves are shorter, pinnately dissected, divided into a large number of lobules. The inflorescence is corymbose, consisting of many flower baskets. The flowers are small, white, pink-purple or reddish. Blooms in June-August, a very long time.

It grows on the hill everywhere, where there are patches of meadow steppe. It is especially common on the southern side of the slope in gentle places, where cattle graze more often and closer to the Asly-Udryak river.

Asparagus officinalis

Perennial herbaceous plant from the lily family. The stem of asparagus is erect, reaching a height of up to 150 cm, strongly branched. The branches on the stem depart at an acute angle. The leaves are reduced to scales, in the axils of the stem are formed modified shoots resembling leaves. Underground stem straight, smooth. It is juicy, etiolated, forming shoots extending from the rhizome. These stems are used as vegetable plant. The flowers are small, greenish-yellow. Perianth of six petals with 6 stamens. The fruit is a red globular berry. Blooms in June - July. Asparagus grows in meadows, among thickets of shrubs, and is also found in the steppe, on the slopes of the mountains.

It is quite rare in the study area. Found in areas adjacent to the forest belt and located between rows of trees inside the forest belt. The population is represented by single plants.

Adonis spring

Perennial herbaceous plant from the buttercup family. Adonis has a two-stroke development - at the beginning

Early flowering is different, and then the stem and leaves are formed. Flower early in spring - from the end of April, in May. A bush in which there are up to 20-30 pieces of flowers blooms from 40 to 50 days. The very first flowers, as a rule, are large, but they are pale yellow, golden, apical, solitary, abundantly visited by bees. Adonis at the beginning of flowering has a bush height of 10 to 15 cm, and in the fruiting phase it reaches 30-70 cm. In each bush, there are from 2 to 15 generative and from 4 to 23 vegetative shoots.

Found throughout the study area. The population consists of more than 150 plants that are in good vital condition.

Budra ivy

Perennial, herbaceous plant from the mint family. Budra has a creeping and branched stem, it takes root, forming new stems. The leaves are petiolate, opposite, crenate-toothed, rounded kidney-shaped. They are covered with hairs. Flowers 3-4 pcs. located in the axils of the middle stem leaves, they are small, two-lipped, violet-blue or bluish-lilac in color. Pedicels 4-5 times shorter than the calyx, equipped with subulate bracts. The calyx is covered with hairs; its teeth are triangular, finely pointed. The height of the rising stems ranges from 10 to 40 cm. It blooms in May-June.

It grows along the ravine and on the south side of the slope. Numerous population, studied at the beginning of flowering.

St. John's wort

A perennial herbaceous plant from the St. John's wort family. The stem is straight, 45 to 80 cm high, glabrous, with two faces. Leaves oblong-ovate, entire, opposite, sessile. Translucent dotted receptacles are scattered on the leaves, which resemble holes - hence the name - perforated.

The flowers are numerous, golden-yellow in color, collected in a broadly paniculate, almost corymbose inflorescence. The sepals are acute with an entire margin. Petals twice as long as the sepals, blooms in June-July. The fruit is a three-celled multi-seeded basket, opens with 3 valves. The rhizome is thin, several stems depart from it.

Found only in one place on the eastern gently sloping side of the hill. Presented by 8-15 plants.

Veronica oak

Perennial herbaceous plant. Keeps green shoots all year round. The leaves are arranged oppositely, in the axils of the brush are not regular flowers. The flower has 2 stamens and 1 pistil. The fruit of Veronica is a flattened box.

Grows in meadow areas of the steppe of the study area. Plants are evenly distributed among other species. Often found on the outskirts of the forest belt.

Awnless bonfire

Belongs to the grass family. It has smooth stems, reaching a height of one meter. The leaves are flat and wide. Spikelets are collected in an inflorescence - a sprawling panicle. Bonfire is a good fodder grass, it blooms from the end of May and in June. From the creeping rhizome, many high erect shoots of peduncles depart.

AT plant communities the hill is an environment-forming species, since occurs uniformly often almost everywhere.

sporysh

Annual, herbaceous plant from the buckwheat family. A small plant with a height of 10 to 40 cm. It has straight stems, prostrate, branched. The leaves are elliptical or lanceolate, small, with a short spine. The flowers are in the axils of the leaves, distributed evenly throughout the plant. The corolla of the flower is pale pink. The fruit is a trihedral nut. It blooms from May to October. It grows along the roads, on the streets, in the yards, on pastures. On pastures where there is a large load of livestock, all types of plants suffer, only knotweed remains.

This species is well expressed at the foot of the hill from the side of the river and animal stalls. Almost never found in the main system.

Common colza

Herbaceous plant from the cruciferous family. Bright green rosettes of colza from bizarre lyre-shaped. pinnately dissected leaves are seen in large numbers in the fields plowed last fall. Blooms in May-June. With an abundance of sun and moisture from the melted snow, a flower-bearing shoot with a brush of yellow flowers quickly stretches near the colza. The fruit is multi-seeded, opening with two wings. Good honey plant.

It grows unevenly in the vegetation cover of the hill and is found in a large way from the side of the field, located closer to the eastern slope.

Kozelets purple

Hemicarps at the base with a hollow swollen leg, 12 mm long, ribbed, light gray. Stems erect and ascending, furrowed, simple and branching. Basal leaves on long petioles, pinnate and dissected, with narrow linear lateral segments. Baskets are cylindrical, the involucre is slightly cobweb, then naked, its leaves are lanceolate, sometimes with a horn-shaped appendage. Flowers yellow, marginal reddish on the outside.

It grows on a hill on the lawns between the trees of the forest belt. It occurs moderately often, the population consists of single plants that are located at a relatively small distance from each other - from 40 to 60 cm.

Karagan

Belongs to the legume family. Shrub with gray straight thin branches, with four contiguous obovate leaves with a wedge-shaped base and thorns at the top; flowers are golden yellow with a wide obovate sail, blunt boat, concentrated 2-3 on single peduncles, which are twice as long as the calyx, pods up to 3 cm long, glabrous, cylindrical, 1-4 seeds.

Grows mainly on the western slope of the mountain, in the ravine and adjacent beam on the north side.

Nonea dark

Belongs to the borage family. The whole plant is covered with protruding stiff hairs and sparse glandular ones. The leaves are oblong-lanceolate, the lower ones are narrowed in petioles, the rest are sessile, semi-amplex. Bracts lanceolate, longer than flowers, dark red-brown. The calyx is bell-shaped, incised to one part. The lobes of the calyx are lanceolate. Nuts are reticulate-wrinkled.

It grows everywhere on the hill, it was studied and determined at the beginning of flowering.

Bell

Belongs to the bell family. Flowers numerous, in large branched inflorescence. Corolla funnel-shaped bell-shaped, blue or white. Stem with dense foliage. The leaves are large-serrate, glabrous or pubescent.

Grows in communities of studied plants between cereal plants. It is rare, there are only about 30 plants counted in the population.

Veronica longifolia

Belongs to the family Norichnikovye. The leaves are unequally serrated to the very top, with finely pointed,

Simple or to the base of the b.ch. double notches, oblong or linear-lanceolate, acute at the base cordate or rounded, often whorled. The inflorescence is a terminal dense raceme, lengthening up to 25 cm, sometimes with several lateral racemes; flowers on pedicels, almost equal to calyxes. Corolla blue about 6 mm. Long, with a hairy tube inside. The whole plant is glabrous or with short grayish pubescence.

Spreading this plant moderately rare in the studied ecosystem. growing individual plants or 2-3 individuals.

Violet amazing

Belongs to the violet family. Stem up to 30 cm tall. The petioles of large broad-heart-shaped stem leaves are grooved, pubescent only on the convex, downward-facing hairs. Stipules of stem leaves are large, entire, stipules are large, rusty-red.

On the hill grows in places with low grasses or among low grass cover, loves stony areas of the surface.

forest anemone

Ranunculaceae family. Perennial. Stem leaves not fused, similar to basal leaves, short-haired. Flowers are yellow-white.

It grows in small "families" between pine trees and separately on open slopes on the eastern and northern sides of the Roman-gora hill.

field bindweed

Belongs to the bindweed family. Naked or scattered drooping plant with recumbent, creeping or climbing shoots. Flowers up to 3.5 cm in diameter, usually collected in 2-3 or solitary. Bracts in the form of a pair of small linear leaflets are located oppositely in the middle of the pedicel, do not reach the calyx. Corolla pink, rarely white.

Grows in areas with other meadow plants from the side of the ravine and the river.

Onosma Preduralskaya

Belongs to the borage family. Pedicels very short, much shorter than the bracts. The whole plant is hard-rough. The stem is straight, simple, rarely branched, covered with stiff, erect bristles and dense down. Basal leaves are numerous, petiolate, linear, stem sessile, linear-lanceolate.

Likes open sunny places with rocky soil. Grows in crowded bushes. Very interesting during the flowering period. There are not many plants on the Roman-mountain hill on the south side. Numerical accounting showed about 20 plants.

Wormwood flat

Belongs to the Compositae family. The root is vertical, woody, developing branched flower-bearing shoots and straight ribbed reddening branched flowering stems. Leaves of sterile shoots and lower stem leaves are twice-, thrice-pinnately dissected, their lobules are narrowly linear 3-10 mm long, slightly pointed, middle and upper stem leaves are sessile, bracts are short, narrowly linear. The outer leaflets of the involucre are oval, almost round, convex, green along the back, the inner ones along the edge are broadly membranous-marginated.

Well expressed as a cover plant on the southern slope of Roman-gora hill. Plants are smaller than usual, indicating oppression by grazing pressure.

Geobotany

Theme 4

Lecture 2

Lecture questions

steppe zone

desert zone

Steppe zone.

The steppe zone stretches as a continuous strip across the European part of the country and Western Siberia from the south of Ukraine to the Ob River. AT Eastern Siberia steppes are found only in the form of separate islands among the taiga ( Krasnoyarsk region, Transbaikalia).

The steppe zone is defined as a territory where the zonal vegetation is a community of herbaceous xerophytes. It is xerophilous grasses that tolerate drought well that form the basis of steppe phytocenoses. Currently within steppe zone you can find only relatively small areas of the steppes (for example, in reserves). Vast areas have been plowed up and the natural vegetation cover has not been preserved here.

natural conditions. The climate of the steppe zone is continental. Summers are hot and dry; winters are cold, more or less frosty, with stable snow cover. Precipitation falls 300-500 mm/year, sometimes less. A characteristic feature of the steppe climate is that the amount of precipitation is much less than evaporation. In the warm season, plants almost constantly experience a lack of moisture. Most of the precipitation falls in the middle of summer, during the hot season, and in the form of short-term heavy showers. This makes it difficult for plants to use moisture, since water quickly drains over the soil surface, and part of it evaporates without having time to penetrate into the soil layer. In the open spaces of the steppes, winds almost constantly blow, which increase the evaporation of water from the above-ground plant organs. From time to time there are dry winds - hot, withering winds, which are especially dangerous.

Soils of the steppe zone - various varieties chernozems (typical, podzolized, leached, ordinary, southern, etc.). Chestnut soils are common in the south of the zone.

steppe plants. The steppes are dominated by herbaceous xerophytes. Soddy (densely bushy) cereals with very narrow leaf blades are especially characteristic of the steppes. Among them, first of all, it is necessary to name various types of feather grasses ( Stipa). Feathers grow in fairly large dense "bushes" (slide 6). Their leaves are almost always folded lengthwise. The stomata through which water evaporates are located on inner surface leaf, which reduces moisture loss (this is important in arid climates). The lower lemmas of the feather grass are equipped with a very long awn, which is articulated and covered with hairs in many species (pinnate feather grass).

The number of narrow-leaved turf grasses also includes fescue ( Festuca valesiaca) (slide 7) and thin-legged slender ( Koeleria cristata) (slide 8).

Some legumes are also found in the steppes, for example sandy sainfoin ( Onobrychis arenaria) (slide 9), various types of clover ( Trifolium) (slide 10), astragalus ( Astragalus) (slide 11), etc. All of them are quite drought-resistant, they tolerate a lack of moisture well.

A significant role in the steppe phytocenoses is played by herbs - representatives of various families dicot plants(except beans). As an example, we can name the types of zopnik ( Phlomis), sage ( Salvia), bruise ( Echium) and others (slides 12-14).

A special group is made up of steppe ephemeroids - perennial herbaceous plants, which develop only in spring, when there is enough moisture in the soil. By summer, their above-ground part dries up completely. An example of plants of this type can be bluegrass bulbous ( Poa bulbosa) (slide 15), different types of tulip ( Tulipa) (slide 16).

Ephemera are also characteristic of the steppe - annual plants that completely go through the entire life cycle within a few weeks. They emerge from seeds in early spring, develop rapidly, begin flowering and have time to form new seeds before the onset of summer drought. At the same time, the plants themselves die off completely. Among the steppe ephemera, we can name the crescent hornhead ( Ceratocephala falcata), Bedbug pierced-leaved ( Lepidium perfoliatum), some types of grits ( Draba) and others (slides 17-19) These small plants are most abundant in the southern steppes, where the summer drought is especially severe.

In addition to herbaceous plants, some shrubs are also found in the steppes. They often form small thickets against the background of steppe vegetation. At the contact of the steppe with the forest, a shrub edge almost always develops. Steppe shrubs include, for example, blackthorn, or wild plum ( Prunus spinosa), bean, or wild almond ( Amygdalus nana), various types of spirea ( Spiraea), caragans ( Caragana) (slides 20-23).

Subzones. Let us consider the subzones in the steppes of the European part of Russia and neighboring states, where they are well expressed. Here, the northern part of the steppe zone, adjacent to broad-leaved forests, is the most humid, while to the south the climate becomes more and more arid. As a result, the vegetation cover also changes from north to south. The steppe zone in this region is usually divided into three subzones.

The first of them, the most northern, - meadow subzone, or northern, steppes. It is characterized by the fact that in the watershed spaces there are both sections of the steppe and areas of oak forests, and the steppe vegetation resembles meadows in appearance. Sometimes this lane is also called forest-steppe.

The second, more southern, subzone - forb-turf-cerealsteppes. Here, on the watersheds, only steppe vegetation absolutely dominates, and a drier version of the steppes is common. forest areas found only along beams and depressions, where the best moistening conditions are created. The situation is similar in the third, southernmost, subzonesod-cereal steppes. However, here the watersheds are dominated by an even drier variant of the steppes.

Variants in the steppes starting with the wettest.

Meadow, or northern, steppes have a rather high (up to 80-100 cm) and dense grass cover, in which forbs predominate, and feather grasses play a subordinate role.

During the flowering period of plants, the meadow steppe is very similar in appearance to a colorful meadow. Here you can find many types of herbs with bright beautiful flowers. Such, for example, are six-petal meadowsweet ( Filipendula vulgaris), Bruise red ( Echium rubrum), meadow sage ( Salvia pratensis), Kozelets purple ( Scorzonera purpurea) and many others (slides 24-27). In addition to herbs, there are also cereals, but mostly broad-leaved - Coastal Rump ( Bromopsis riparia), Sheep hairy ( Helictotrichon pubescens), Wheatgrass average ( Agropyron intermediate) and others (slides 28-30). On the contrary, there are quite a few typical steppe narrow-leaved grasses. This is mainly Welsh fescue, or fescue (Festuca valesiaca) and feather grass ( Stipa pennata) is one of the most moisture-loving feather grasses (slides 31-32).

A remarkable feature of the meadow steppes is a very high species richness. So, in the meadow steppe in the Central Chernozem Reserve near Kursk, up to 80-90 plant species can be counted per 1 m. In this respect, the meadow steppe is unique.

The meadow steppe is characterized by a change in the external appearance of the vegetation cover during the warm season, the so-called change of aspects. This happens because one or another plant blooms in the mass, giving the steppe one color or another (yellow, white, blue, blue, etc.).

A more southern version of the steppe - forb-fescue-feather grass. It is distinguished by noticeably sparse and low grass cover. Here the role of narrow-leaved turf grasses sharply increases. Fescue and various feather grasses dominate, and not those of their species that in the meadow steppe, but others that are more drought-resistant. At the same time, the role of herbs is quite large. But among this group of plants, more drought-resistant species are also common - Sage drooping ( Salvia nutans), prickly prickly ( Phlomis pungens) and some others (slides 33-34). Species saturation is less than in the meadow steppe.

The southernmost, fescue-feather grass steppes are even more different from the meadow ones. The grass cover here is especially rare and low (up to 30-40 cm). Narrow-leaved turf grasses absolutely dominate. In addition to fescue, there are the most drought-resistant types of feather grass, for example Lessing's feather grass, or feather grass ( Stipa lessingiana) (slide 35). There are very few herbs. Between the tussocks of fescue and feather grass, various ephemeral annuals appear in spring: pierced-leaved bug, sickle-shaped hornhead, etc. There are also ephemeroid perennials - bulbous bluegrass, various types of tulip, etc.

In terms of species saturation, the southern steppes are significantly inferior to other steppe options. Here you can meet no more than 10-15 species per 1 m.

For southern steppe characteristic plants that are called "tumbleweed". They belong to different families of flowering plants, but have a fairly similar appearance. Their aerial part is a loose tangle of branches, more or less spherical in shape. In autumn, this ball easily breaks away from the soil and rolls over the expanses of the steppe with the wind. An example of such plants can be Kachim paniculata ( Gypsophila paniculata), Common eryngium ( Eryngium campestre), Tatar goniolimon ( Goniolimon Tataricum) and others (slides 33-34).

Ctepi, located in the Asian part of Russia and neighboring states.

The steppes of the south of Western Siberia (Baraba steppe) in appearance somewhat resemble the meadow steppes of the European part of the territory under consideration, but differ from them in noticeable waterlogging and salinity of the soil. As a result, the species composition of plants here is quite specific (many halophytes, etc.). The steppes of Kazakhstan in terms of plant composition have much in common with the steppes of the south of the European part of Russia and neighboring states. Here, as in the European part of the country, there are subzones of forb-turf-grass and turf-grass steppes.

In Eastern Siberia, only individual steppe islands are common, most often located among the taiga. Their vegetation is very peculiar.

The flora of the steppes of Eastern Siberia is very different from the flora of the steppes of the European part of the country. Here, for example, special Mongolian elements are widespread. However, there is also common plants, especially some cereals: Welsh fescue, or fescue (Festuca valesiaca) and thin-legged slender ( Koeleria cristata), Hairy feather grass, etc. (slide 39-41).

It is noteworthy that in the East Siberian steppes, even the most southern ones, there are no or very few ephemeroid perennials (such as tulips, bird-bearers, crocuses, etc.). Extremely rare are ephemeral annuals, so common in the southern Russian steppes. The grass stand is based on perennial grasses and herbs.

desert zone

The desert zone is located south of the steppe zone. It extends in the form of a continuous strip from the extreme southeast of the European part of the country (lower reaches of the Terek, Volga and Ural) to the eastern borders of Central Asia and Kazakhstan. There is also a small array of deserts in Transbaikalia, on the border with Mongolia and China.

The zonal vegetation of deserts is peculiar. The most drought-resistant xerophytes predominate, most often semishrubs, and the vegetation cover is more or less sparse and open. The sparseness of the vegetation cover is one of the most characteristic features of deserts.

natural conditions. The climate of the deserts is sharply continental, even hotter and drier than in the steppes. Temperature fluctuations throughout the year are very large. Long hot summers give way to frosty winters with snow cover. The average July temperature reaches 25°C. In winter, the thermometer can drop well below zero. Temperature fluctuations are also very large during the day in the summer. An unbearably hot day gives way to a rather cold night. All this is characteristic of a sharply continental climate.

In deserts, the soil surface heats up to 60-70 °C in summer. Such temperatures can be tolerated only by the most heat-resistant plants. High temperatures are dangerous for plants not only in themselves, but also because transpiration increases sharply. Contribute to the loss of moisture and strong winds, common in the desert.

Deserts are characterized by extreme dryness of the climate. The annual amount of precipitation does not exceed 200-300 mm, and evaporation is several times greater. In the summer, when it is very hot, the plants almost completely do not receive moisture, they experience acute water starvation.

desert soils usually more or less saline, which is unfavorable for the existence of many plants. Deserts are characterized by gray soils and gray-brown desert soils.

With regard to the nature of the substrate, deserts are sandy, clayey, saline and stony (gravelly). Each of these edaphic types of deserts has a special, peculiar vegetation cover. Sandy deserts are the most common in Russia and neighboring states, and the areas of clay deserts are quite large. Other types are less common.

Distinguish two climatic types of deserts: deserts, where precipitation falls little by little more or less evenly over the seasons, and deserts, where the bulk of precipitation falls in the spring. These types of deserts differ sharply in vegetation cover.

desert plants. In deserts, there are various life forms of plants: subshrubs, shrubs, perennial and annual grasses, and even trees. Semi-shrubs are especially characteristic. In these plants, the lower part is lignified, perennial, and the shoots of the current year die off by winter almost throughout. Semishrubs are represented in the deserts of the territory under consideration by various types of wormwood and plants from the Marev family. True shrubs are found mainly in sandy deserts. Herbaceous plants primarily include ephemeroid perennials (for example, some grasses and sedges) and ephemeral annuals. Of the trees in the deserts, only some types of saxaul are common (slide 42).

Many of the most common desert plants belong to the Marev family. This is salient feature flora of the deserts of Russia and neighboring states. In the vegetation cover of all other natural zones of our country, the species of this family do not play a big role.

Almost all desert plants are able to tolerate prolonged and severe drought well. Different plants have different ways of adapting to drought.

One of these adaptations is leaflessness (aphyllia). In this case, the leaves either do not develop at all, or have the appearance of barely noticeable scales. The functions of photosynthesis are performed by thin green stems of the current year (for example, in saxaul). The absence of true wide leaves greatly reduces the total evaporative surface of the plant, thereby reducing moisture loss.

Another adaptation to endure drought is the shedding of the shoots of the current year and leaves with the onset of summer heat (such a phenomenon is observed, for example, in some polynyas). This also greatly reduces evaporation.

In a peculiar way, succulents adapt to the transfer of drought: they accumulate water reserves in their aerial part (a special aquifer tissue serves for this).

A special way of adaptation is observed in ephemers and ephemeroids. They, developing in the spring, seem to “leave” the summer drought. These plants tolerate the unfavorable dry season in the form of seeds or dormant underground organs located in the soil (rhizomes, bulbs, etc.). By their nature, both ephemera and ephemeroids are mesophytes.

Phreatophytes (pump plants) form a specific group of desert plants. They develop normally only if their roots reach the groundwater level. Phreatophytes do not suffer at all from summer drought, as they are always provided with moisture. They turn green and bloom in the midst of summer. An example of plants of this type can be the semi-shrub Camel's thorn ( Alhagi pseudalhagi), the roots of which are able to penetrate the soil to a depth of 10-15 m (slide 43).

For desert plants, it is characteristic that their above-ground part is many times smaller in mass than the underground. Desert plants are mostly submerged in the soil.

Among the plants found in deserts, there are quite a few more or less salt-tolerant ones that can grow on saline soils. There are also real halophytes that can tolerate severe salinity.

Subzones. Three subzones are distinguished within the desert zone: semi-deserts, northern clay deserts, and southern clay deserts.

Semi-desert subzone- the northernmost. It is a transition zone between steppe and desert. Phytocenoses are formed both by narrow-leaved steppe turf grasses (for example, feather grasses) and desert semishrubs (species of wormwood, etc.). Both grow together.

However, the vegetation cover on the positive and negative microrelief forms differs greatly. On microelevations, where the soils are drier, semishrubs predominate and phytocenoses characteristic of the desert are formed. In microdepressions, where soils are more humid, turf grasses dominate and steppe phytocenoses develop. With a well-defined microrelief, the vegetation cover has a spotty character. Spots of semi-desert, desert and steppe vegetation alternate with each other, forming a motley mosaic.

Northern clayey subzonedeserts characterized by the fact that precipitation here falls little by little and more or less evenly throughout the year. The vegetation cover is sparse, the surface of the soil is visible everywhere, not covered with plants. Subshrubs predominate, growing in the form of low, squat, rounded pillows. This group of plants is represented by various wormwoods and species of the haze family (they are called "saltworts"). Of the sagebrush, Wormwood of the white earth is especially common ( Artemisia terrae- albae), growing in the form of pillows of a dull grayish-greenish color (slide 44).

In the group of hodgepodges, you can call the gray-haired quinoa, or kok-pek ( Atriplex cana), Anabasis solonchak, or biyurgun ( Anabasis salsa), Anabasis leafless, or itsegek ( Anabasis aphylla) (slides 45-47). These plants also grow in pillow form. In some of them, the leaves look like small scales or are not developed at all, and the functions of photosynthesis are performed by young green stems. Solyanka are good fodder plants, they are readily eaten by livestock (sheep and camels). According to the peculiarities of the vegetation cover, the northern clay deserts are called wormwood-saltwort. Deserts of this type are widespread in southern Kazakhstan.

Subzone of southern clayey deserts characterized by the fact that the bulk of precipitation here falls in the spring, while in the summer they do not happen at all for 3-4 months. Winter in this subzone is comparatively warm, sunny, and usually without snow. The vegetation cover is dominated by ephemeroids - some perennial grasses and sedges. They develop only in spring, when the soil is sufficiently moist. At this time, the desert resembles a green lawn. Plants form a continuous, but rather low cover. This is excellent pasture for livestock. With the onset of a summer drought, the above-ground part of the plants dies off and the soil is exposed. In summer, no plants are visible here. In the desert of this type, the grass Bulbous Bluegrass and Short-columnar Sedge are especially common. (Carex pachystylis) (slides 48-49) . Both plants are quite small, low. During the summer drought, only the underground organs located shallow in the soil remain alive in them. Southern clay deserts are called ephemeral. They are distributed only in the extreme south of Central Asia, and in a relatively small area.

A very special, peculiar type are sandy deserts. They occupy a very large area (Karakum, Kyzylkum, etc.) and are located in those areas where the bulk of precipitation falls in the spring. The sandy desert is a set of large dunes covered with bushes. Thickets of shrubs are relatively dense and often reach the height of human growth. Sands in desert conditions contain more moisture than loamy and clay soils, as a result of which vegetable world especially rich here.

Among the shrubs of the sandy desert, first of all, representatives of the genus Juzgun ( Calligonum). All of them have extremely poorly developed leaves, resembling very small scales, and original fruits - loose reddish balls (slide 50).

In addition to juzgun, various other shrubs and small trees, such as sand locust, are also found in the sandy desert. (Ammodendron conollyi), chingil (Hcdimodendron halodendron) , eremosparton (Eremosparton flaccidum) and others (slides 51-53)

A real tree grows in the sandy desert - white saxaul (Haloxylon persicum). The appearance of the saxaul is very peculiar (slide 54). Its trunk is winding, knotty, the crown is very loose and consists mainly of thin green twigs, freely hanging down like whips (therefore, the tree gives almost no shade).

In spring, in the sandy desert, a continuous green cover of grasses develops on the soil. The bloated sedge is especially abundant here , or ilak (Carex physodes), - comparatively small plant. A distinctive feature of this sedge is large reddish brownish oval sacs located in a small group at the end of the stem (slide 55). The swollen sedge is one of the ephemeroids. It turns green only in spring, and by the summer its aerial part dries up. This plant is of great nutritional importance.

In the sandy desert, annual ephemera are also found, for example, the Mortuk Bonaparte grass ( Eremopyrum bonaepartis), Malcolmia grandiflora ( Malcolmia grandiflora), Hornhead falciform ( Ceratocephala falcata), Veronica bow-legged ( Veronica campylopoda) (slides 56-59). All these plants wither with the onset of summer, completing their life cycle and dispersing their seeds.

Takov in in general terms flora of the sandy desert. It should be emphasized that it was only about immovable, fixed sands, where the vegetation cover is in its natural state. With too much grazing, the plant cover is destroyed and the sand sets in motion. The final stage of this process is exposed loose sands blown by the wind. Over time, some specific pioneer plants settle on such mobile dunes, which contribute to the fixation of sand, for example, Celine grass ( Aristida karelinii) (slide 60). However, the restoration of vegetation is very slow and with great difficulty.

In our country, there are also saline or juicy-salt deserts that do not occupy large areas. They develop on highly saline moist soils in depressions, drainage basins, etc. Succulent halophytes from the haze family dominate here: Sarsazan ( Halocnemum strobilaceum), Soleros ( Salicornia europaea), potashnik ( Kalidium caspicum), some species of Sveda (Suaeda) and others (slides 61-64). These plants are called juicy saltworts. The vegetation cover of the saline desert is usually quite dense and continuous. However, it is formed by only a very few species (usually two or three, and sometimes even one). Plants here are constantly provided with moisture and vegetate from spring to late autumn. They die only with the onset of frost.

Seminar Questions

Vegetation cover of Russia and neighboring states

I.1. Steppe zone:

1.1. Zonal vegetation;

1.2. natural conditions;

1.3. Soils of the steppe zone;

1.4. steppe plants.

1.5. Subzones:

1.5.1. Meadow, or northern, steppes (forest-steppe);

1.5. 2. Forbs-turf-grass steppes;

1.5. 3. Turf-cereal steppes.

I.6. Features of the steppes of the Asian part of Russia and neighboring states

II.1. Desert zone:

1.1. natural conditions;

1.2. Desert soils;

1.3. Climatic types of deserts.

Steppes are a type of vegetation represented by a community of drought-resistant perennial herbaceous plants with a predominance of turf grasses, less often sedges and onions.

They are common where there is very little rainfall and the climate is warm temperate.

Habitat

If we analyze the geographical location of the steppe reliefs on the globe, it will be found that the most common steppes are formed in the interior of the continent.

The steppe regions of the temperate belts of the southern and northern hemispheres are characterized by treeless watersheds, dry hot climate, dominance of cereal greenery on dark chestnut and black earth lands.

The steppes, modified by pasture digression, prevail over the area and show low-grass pasture communities with a predominance of fescue and sagebrush. Among other things, the steppe includes herbs and various shrubs. In addition to the mountain steppes, solonetzic plants of the steppe, such as wormwood, vostrets, etc., remained in small fragments on the plain. For the steppe on gravelly lands, thyme, cornflowers and other plants are specific.

Systematization

According to the research of researchers, according to the classification, steppe plants can be divided into two types:

• meadow (in the forest-steppe zone);
• typical (in the steppe zone).

There are a large number of different plants, consider only a few of them in more detail:

Biennial or perennial herbaceous plant. The height of the plant is about one and a half meters. Stem solitary, straight, spreading upwards. The leaves are pinnate, large, 10 to 25 cm long and 4 to 10 cm wide. Leaves are rosette with petiole, sessile, amplexicaul.

Green on top, and covered with snow-white felt from below, there are scanty spines along the edges. The flowers are collected in spherical inflorescences of a bluish-white color. The diameter of the spherical head is 4-5 cm. The fruits are seeds. Grows among bushes in river valleys, wastelands and forest edges.

Perennial- Compositae families with an upright stem. Its height varies from 45 to 62 cm. The stem leaves are pinnately dissected, divided into a huge number of lobules. The inflorescence is corymbose.

Small, snow-white flowers (pink-lilac or red). Blooms very long time in June-August, Grows on hills everywhere, can also grow in the meadow steppe. Often found on steep slopes.

. Perennial herbaceous plant - lily family. The asparagus stem is erect, up to 150 cm high, branched. The leaves are reduced to scales, in the axils of the stem, modified shoots are created that look like leaves. The camouflage stem is even, bright, forming shoots.

They are used as a vegetable plant. Flowers are emerald yellow. The fruit is scarlet (berry). Blooms in June - July. Asparagus can grow in meadows, among small forests, in the steppes and of course on the slopes of the mountains.

herbaceous plant of the family ranunculus. Differs in early flowering (from 40 to 50 days). The very first flowers, as always, are large, pale yellow, amber, apical.

At the beginning of flowering (the height of the bush is from 10 to 15 cm), and at the time of fruiting it reaches 35 - 65 cm. It occurs almost everywhere:

• in each bush from 3 to 15 generative;
• and from 4 to 22 vegetative shoots.

. The plant is from the mint family. It has a creeping and branched stem. Roots, forming new stems. Leaves are rounded kidney-shaped, petiolate. Flowers 3-5 pcs. are in the axils of medium leaves, they are tiny, violet-blue or azure-lilac.

Pedicels five times shorter than calyx, bracts provided. The height of the stems varies from 10 to 35 cm. It blooms in May-June. Can grow along ravines and on hillsides.

Perennial herbaceous plant - family St. John's wort. The stem is straight, height from 45 to 75 cm, glabrous, with 2 faces. Leaves oblong-sessile. Dotted receptacles are scattered on the leaves, which look like holes, hence the name - perforated St. John's wort.

Flowers are countless, yellow-golden hue, collected in a wide-paniculate, almost corymbose inflorescence. The sepals are pointed with a complete edge. Petals twice as long as sepals, blooms in June-July. The rhizome is not thick and stems depart from it.

Veronica oak

Perennial herbaceous plant. Green shoots are preserved all year round. The leaves are placed opposite. The flower has one pistil and two stamens. Veronica fruit is compressed box. Grows in meadows.

. Plant buckwheat family, height ranges from 15 to 40 cm. It has even spreading stems. The leaves are lanceolate or elliptical, tiny, with a short spine. The flowers are present in the axils of the leaves and are divided throughout the whole plant. The corolla is a dull pink. The fruit is a nutlet (trihedral).

Blooms from May to October. It grows along paths, on avenues, in yards, on pastures. By the way, on pastures where there is a huge overload of livestock, all plant variations suffer, however, only not knotweed.

Common colza

Herbaceous plant - belongs to the family cruciferous. Bright greenish rosettes of colza from intricate pinnately dissected leaves. Blooms in May-June.

With an abundance of moisture and sun from melted snow near the colza lightning fast a flower-bearing process with a brush of yellow flowers is drawn out.

The fruit is multi-seeded, strong. Honeymoon is excellent.

Violet

Belongs to the violet family. The stem reaches about 30 cm. The petioles are large, wide-heart-shaped leaves (grooved). Stipules are large, rusty-red. It grows on a hill, in places with a low grassy cover. It will grow well on rocky areas of the surface.

. Family (composites). The root is woody, vertical, forming branched flower-bearing shoots and straight uneven purple branched flower-bearing shoots.

The leaves of the processes and the lower stem leaves are three times pinnately dissected, the lobules are 3-10 mm long (narrow-linear), slightly pointed, the upper and middle stem leaves are sessile, short, narrow-linear. The outer leaves are oval, almost rounded, plastic, green on the back, the inner ones are membranous-bordered.

The steppe zone is considered one of the main land biomes. Plants in the steppe are quite resistant to arid climate and can coexist for a long time with a lack of moisture.

Steppe - a belt of plains in the temperate and subtropical regions, covered mainly with low grassy vegetation. The Eurasian steppe stretches for 8000 km from Hungary in the west through Ukraine, Russia and Central Asia to Manchuria in the east. Mountain ranges interrupt, dividing it into separate fragments.

The soils of the steppe are rich in minerals, but contain little organic matter due to a small amount rain. The annual precipitation is approximately 960 mm (of which 460 mm is rain and 500 mm is snow) in the northern regions of the steppe and about 360 mm (of which 260 mm is rain and 100 mm is snow) in the south. Summer lasts from four to six months, with average temperatures around 21-23° C. Winter lasts for three to five months with temperatures ranging from -13° to 0° C. There are also few trees in the Steppe, so there are often strong and cold winds or dust storms.

Plant world of the steppe

The steppe flora usually consists of plants such as small shrubs and grasses that can withstand drought and scarcity. nutrients in the soil. There are also trees, but only along the banks of the rivers. Tall grasses growing up to one and a half meters in height are found near trees near water sources. Lower grasses - up to one meter in height - can be found in areas closer to deserts. Due to the dryness of the vegetation, sometimes in the summer the grass catches fire and the fires spread very quickly, covering large areas.

Grasses predominate among the vegetation of the steppe, growing in small bunches, between which a bare soil cover is visible. Different types of feather grass are widespread, such as John's feather grass ( Stipa pennata). He often takes huge territories. In densely overgrown areas of the steppe, species of feather grass flourish, characterized by a much larger size. Small species of feather grass predominate on arid, infertile steppes. Also found various types from the genus Tonkonog ( Koeleria). They grow everywhere in the steppes, but are especially common east of the Ural Mountains, and some species serve as excellent food for grazing.

Since the steppe is very diverse, the flora that grows in the steppes also varies greatly depending on the region. Regarding most plants, there is no general opinion as to which of them belong exclusively to the steppe species.

The flora of the steppe differs, for example, from the forest, in its resistance to heat and drought. The color of plants is usually grayish or gray-green, sheet plates small, and the cuticles are thickened. In most steppe grasses, leaves have evolved adaptations to curl up in dry weather, protecting them from extreme moisture loss.

Among the steppe flora, there are plants that have an important economic importance. This is mainly fodder vegetation that grows in the steppe and forms pasture lands. Other valuable steppe plants for humans are melliferous and medicinal herbs. Also special attention cereals and legumes deserve, but among other plants united by the concept of forbs, there are also valuable species.

Below is a list of some plants of the steppe zone with brief description and photo:

Common mullein

This biennial reaches one and a half meters in height, its leaves have felt pubescence. Spike inflorescences of mullein dotted yellow flowers. The flowering period lasts from July to September. All parts of the plant are widely used in medicine. Decoctions and infusions from the leaves are used as expectorants, analgesics, anticonvulsants.

Adonis spring

Spring Adonis is a rhizomatous perennial from the buttercup family. It tolerates strong temperature fluctuations well, and reaches 20 cm in height. The erect stems are covered with small green leaves. Bright yellow flowers stand out against their background. They open early in the morning and close in the afternoon, and on cloudy days they do not open at all. The flowering period is April - May. The life expectancy of a plant in one place is about 50 years. Adonis preparations are used in traditional medicine more than a century with heart disease and diseases of the nervous system.

slender-legged crested

A representative of the cereal family prefers dry fields. The height of the thin-legged comb is 65 cm. The lower leaves are pubescent, the stems have a dense base. The inflorescence is an elongated panicle, the shade of which varies from green to silver. The plant bears fruit profusely. Infusions from the leaves have a wound-healing effect.

Schizonepeta multinotched

It is a good honey plant, grows on hillsides and meadows. The plant has a woody root and a simple stem, the height of which can exceed 60 cm. Pinnately dissected leaves have 3–5 lobes. Shizonepeta, or anise grass, blooms from June to August. Purple flowers collected in an ear. The plant has a high nectar productivity. Shizonepeta has been used in folk medicine for many centuries: a decoction is used as an expectorant and anti-inflammatory drug. The plant is part of the hypoallergenic cosmetics. In cooking, it is used as a seasoning, especially for fish dishes.

Iris leafless

The herbaceous perennial is considered a rare species, That's why . Iris, or iris, is found in thickets of steppe shrubs and along river valleys. The rhizome of the plant is short and creeping. The height of the peduncle is about 50 cm. The leaves, covered with a bluish bloom, appear later and grow higher than the peduncle. The flowers themselves are large purple hue. The middle is painted yellow. You can admire the irises in late May - early June. The fruit is a box that opens with flaps. Some forms are characterized by remontance, that is, the ability to bloom again.

Cornflower blue

The plant belongs to the Compositae family. The period of his life can be one or two years. During this time, the cornflower is extended by 60 cm. The green mass is thin and pointed, covered with a felt coating, the lower leaves are trifoliate-lobed. Flower baskets are located singly. They are painted along the edges. blue color. Flowers in the middle of the plant are purple. The flowering period falls on June - July. This species is considered a weed plant, its favorite habitat is rye crops. The fruits of the cornflower are smooth achenes with a red tuft. Marginal flowers, colored blue, are often harvested and dried. They are the basis for various medicinal fees. Seed powder is used to treat skin inflammations.

Bluegrass meadow

A perennial plant from the grass family very quickly builds up a dense turf. Withstands waterlogging, severe frosts and drought. Bluegrass reaches full development in the fourth year of life. The rhizome of the plant does not penetrate deeper than 100 cm, so bluegrass forms loose sods. The bright green leaves are narrow and rough. Spikelets form a pyramidal panicle. Meadow grass meadow is a valuable pasture plant. It is high-yielding, rich in proteins and vitamins.

White sweet clover

A biennial from the legume family reaches a height of 2 m. The root is taproot, up to two meters deep. Excellent honey plant. The plant is photophilous and very cold-resistant. The leaves are trifoliate, small white flowers are collected in brushes. The plant does not tolerate waterlogging and acidic soils, arid, stony and saline steppes are an ideal habitat for sweet clover. The flowering period falls on June - August, even in dry summers the plant produces a lot of nectar. White sweet clover is widely used in medicine as an antiseptic, anticonvulsant, analgesic and hypotensive agent.

steppe sage

The perennial plant prefers meadows and grassy slopes of the steppe and. The height of the pubescent stems is 80 cm. It blooms in the second year after planting. Violet flowers are collected in a tall inflorescence. These bright brushes stand out noticeably against the background of green grass. Sage blooms from May to July. Aboveground part plants are used in medicine and cosmetology. The leaves of the plant are used as a medicinal raw material. They have anti-inflammatory, disinfectant and antimicrobial properties. In folk medicine, it is used in the treatment of inflammatory diseases of internal organs.

Feather grass

A perennial herbaceous plant belongs to the grass family. The height of an adult plant is 80 cm. A special feature is silver panicle inflorescences. The feather grass forms a thick turf. The plant has succulent stems, so it is actively used as feed for sheep and horses. The fruit, a caryopsis, is equipped with upwardly directed hairs and a special awn. It spreads seeds hundreds of meters from the mother plant.

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How many poems and stories have been written about the steppe, about its pristine beauty. I live in East Kazakhstan, and we have a lot of steppes. The most beautiful time of the year here is spring. Everything starts to come alive and bloom. So, I will tell you what plants grow in this natural area, go!

What grows in the steppe

Herbaceous plants grow here, few shrubs and trees. Tulip, iris, feather grass, kermek, etc. are found here.

For example, iris blooms in early spring. It can be immediately recognized by the elongated stem and the flower of a twisted shape. They come in the following colors:

• blue;
• yellow;
• purple;
• white.

True, the duration of flowering is only 2 weeks. But another plant - feather grass. It can be recognized by its panicle inflorescences. Seeing a feather grass on the field, you might think that this is one giant blanket. While the plant is young, the hairs are soft, and livestock eats it. But, no matter how beautiful the feather grass would look, it harms agriculture. When the seeds ripen, they scatter along with these hairs throughout the steppe, picked up by the wind.

And steppe cherry grows in the steppe. In height, it reaches about the waist of a person. Ripens already in June. The fruits do not differ in taste from ordinary cherries, and the inhabitants of the steppe eat its berries with pleasure.

What medicinal plants are in the steppe

grow in the steppe and medicinal plants:

• cornflower;
• skewer;
• immortelle;
• chamomile;
• sagebrush;
• hemorrhagic pharmacy.

Cornflower and burnet are used as an anti-inflammatory agent, and can also be used as an anesthetic. Wormwood is used as a disinfectant and tonic. Well, such a flower as chamomile does have several properties. Although at first glance it seems that this is the most common plant. So, chamomile is used as an antiseptic and hemostatic agent. Does not allow inflammation to spread. Improves liver function and relieves convulsions.

Steppe plants are beautiful. Here you rarely see a tree or a bush, but the whole earth under your feet and for several kilometers ahead is covered with a wide variety of herbs and flowers.