Lazu S. et al. PHYTOCOENOTIC DIVERSITY OF GRASSLANDS WITH BORTHRIOCHLOA ISCHAEMUM (L.) KENG IN EURASIA
LAZU Ş.*, TITICA Gh.*, TALMACI Ludmila*,**
*National Botanical Garden (Institute) “Alexandru Ciubotaru”, MD 2002, Republic of Moldova, Chişinău, 18 Pădurii str. **Corresponding author e-mail: [email protected]
Abstract The phytocoenoses of the grasslands with Bothriochloa ischaemum (L.) Keng var. ischaemum are common in the Eurasian territory and form the ass. Bothriochloetum ischaemii Krist 1937 Pop 1977. The analysis of the synthetic lists, presented by many authors, from various biogeographical regions of the Eurasian area, revealed the presence of discrete communities dominated by yellow bluestem, due to the diversified habitat and the floristic composition appropriate to the given locality. Thus, we have found that, in the steppe biogeographical region, at the altitude of 100-350 m, on soil consisting of chernozem and clay, the association Euphorbio (seguieriana) Bothriochloetum ischaemum n.n develops; in the continental one – at the altitude of 100-800 m, on calcareous and gravelly soil, there are phytocoenoses of the association Asperulo (cynanchica) - Bothriochloetum ischaemii n.n; in the Pannonian region – the grasslands of the northern part of the Pannonian Basin, at the altitude of 130 m, on sandy soil, there are phytocoenoses of the ass. Teucrio (botryos) - Bothriochloetum ischaemium n.n.; and in the floodplain of the Danube River, at the altitude of 135 m, on sandy alluvial soil – the ass. Syntrichio(ruralis)-Bothriochloetum ischaemii n. n.; in the alpine region – the mountains of south-eastern Caucasus and Central Asia (Pamir-Alay Mountains), Bothriochloa ischaemum, at high altitudes (1500-2000 m), forms vegetation belts with the stable phytocoenoses of the ass. Glycyrrizo (glabra) - Bothriochloetum ischaemii n. n., on kastanozem soil. All the above-mentioned associations fit into the phytocoentic hierarchy with the range of plant species characteristic of cl. Festuco- Brometea Br.-Bl. et R. Tx. ex Klika et Hadač 1944; ord. Festucetalia Br.-Bl. et R. Tx. ex Br.-Bl. 1949, all. Festucion valesiacae Klika 1930. In the Mediterranean biogeographical region, the plant communities that include yellow bluestem populate various altitudes – from the lowest ones (20-250 m), on the Iberian Peninsula, to the highest ones (610-1050 m), in the Apennine Mountains, that’s why there is a great variety of phytocoenoses: ass. Elymo(hispidus) - Bothriochloetum ischaemii n. n.; Festuco (inops)- Bothriochloetum ischaemii n. n. and Melico (ciliata) - Bothriochloetum ischaemii n. n. The plant communities with Bothriochloa ischaemum found in the Mediterranean biogeographical region are components of the al. Bromion erectus; ord. Brometalia erecti Br.-Bl. 1936; cl. Festuco-Brometea Br.-Bl. et R. Tx. Klika et Hadač 1944. The phytocoenoses with Bothriochloa ischaemum are savannah-like grasslands, which occupy vast areas in the northern hemisphere and make stable, expanding communities supported by the climatic impact of global warming.
Romanian Journal of Grassland and Forage Crops (2018)18 15 Lazu S. et al. Keywords: biogeographical region, Eurasian territory, savanoid grassland, boreal grassland, arid grassland.
INTRODUCTION
Bothriochloa ischaemum calcareous, thermal areas with (L.) Keng. var. ischaemum is a nutrient-poor and alkaline soils. species of savannoid grass, which Within the natural range of yellow originates from subtropical bluestem, there are such varieties mountain areas (Цбелев Н.Н., as Bothriocloa ischaemum var. 1969) and is widespread in areas songarica with a restricted range – with warm climate of the northern southern China, Taiwan and hemisphere. The current northern Myanmar, and phytocoenoses with yellow Bothriocloa ischaemum var. bluestem are found at the ischaemum, which is native to a “interference” of the boreal larger area – from Japan to steppes with the tropical Portugal (Compedium…, 2015). (savannoid) ones, forming diverse The study of natural plant communities in Eurasia, in pastures, including the evaluation numerous biogeographical regions of the specific components (Рубцов Н.И., 1956). appropriate to the pedoclimatic The grasslands with conditions of the habitat, is the Bothriochloa ischaemum (L.) primary task in the planning, use Keng. var. ischaemum cover large and sustainable development of areas in Europe and Asia. The grassland ecosystems with the phytocoenoses that contain this purpose of increasing the species and its natural range, in productivity and the quality of latitude, start from the Atlantic forage, but the understanding of Ocean and extend to the Pacific. In the strong connection of the North and South America, dominant species, yellow Australia and New Zealand, it is bluestem, with the faithful species an introduced plant, and in Puerto of the natural habitat of the given Rico – an invasive one. biogeographic region is even more Everywhere, it needs sunny, dry, important.
MATERIAL AND METHOD
While studying the well as literature data (Săvulescu grasslands with Bothriochloa T., 1927; Гейдеман Т.С., 1959; ischaemum in the Republic of Постолаке Г.Г.and Истратий Moldova, we used relevés (26), А.И., 1991, 1992, Рущук А.Д., which fixed the years 1989-2002, 2008; Шабанова Г.А., 2012, in the Bugeac and Bălţi Plains, as 2014; Lazu Şt., 2014-2016 and
Romanian Journal of Grassland and Forage Crops (2018)18 16 Lazu S. et al. synthetic lists of grasslands ischaemum, according to the dominated by Bothriochloa phytosociological classification ischaemum from Romania (Braun-Blanquet J., 1964), are part (Puşcaru-Soroceanu Evd. et al., of the ass. Bothiochloetum 1963; Dihoru Gh. and Doniţă N., ischaemi (Kristiansen 1937) I. Pop 1970; Cristea V.and Csuros Şt., 1977, al. Festucion valesiacae 1979; Ivan D. and Doniţă N. et al., Klika 1931; ord. Festucetalia 1963; Chifu T., 2014; Oroianu S. valesiacae Br.-Bl. et. R.Tx. 1943 et al., 2007); Bulgaria (Apostolova and cl. Festuco-Brometea Br.-Bl. I. and Meshinev T., 2006; et. R. Tx. 1943, and the faithful Sopotleva D. and Apostolova I., and characteristic species are 2014); Ukraine (Solomakha V.A., represented by the title species of 1996; Коротченко И.А. et al., the plant association. 2009); Georgia (Nackhutsrishvili In the alpine area (the I., 2013); Tajikistan (Сафаров Pamir-Alay Mountains and the Н.М., 2015); Spain (Miquel de south-east Caucasus), the Caceres Ainsa, 1991-2001); Italy vegetation of the grasslands with (Florineth Florin, 1974; Taffetani Bothriochloa ischaemum is F.et al., 2004; Faggi B. et al., presented by authors according to 2014); Slovakia (Dubravkova D. et the concept of the ecological- al., 2010); Serbia (Mirjana phytocoenological school, which Kristivojevic Cuk et al., 2015). consists in describing the Thus, there are phytocenoses with associations based on the Bothriochloa ischaemum in five dominant species. Thus in the biogeographical regions: Pamir-Alay Mountains, at the Mediterranean, alpine, Pannonian, altitude of 1500-2000 m, the continental and steppe (figure 1 grasslands with yellow bluestem and 2, table 1). are mentioned as Bothriochloa The phytocenotic ischaemum formations, which evaluation of grasslands with comprise two groups of Bothriochloa ischaemum in associations – Bothriochloa Eurasia is not homogeneous. In the ischaemum with Glycyrrhiza European area, the phytocenotic glabra and Bothriochloa classification is carried out ischaemum dominated by according to the principles of the ephemeral species (Inula Braun-Blanquet J. floristic school, macrophylla, Poa bulbosa, 1933, 1964, i.e. the concept of Eremurus olgae, Carex constancy or fidelity of the species pachystylis, Ferula gigantea and is used for defining in the Glycyrrhiza glabra with lower phytocoenotic nomenclature. abundance). Each group includes Currently, the plant numerous associations dominated communities with Bothriochloa by one of them.
Romanian Journal of Grassland and Forage Crops (2018)18 17 Lazu S. et al. According to the same in the natural range revealed a principle, the evaluation of the great diversity of phytocoenoses vegetation with yellow bluestem with Bothriochloa ischaemum as was carried out in the southeastern dominant species, but the constant Caucasus, at the altitude of 500- species, which are the exponents 600 m, where the formation of the conditions of the area, Bothriochloa ischaemum with which in the given article are to be Glycyrrihiza glabra was found. identified and laid at the base the The analysis of the relevés made phytocoenostic diversity.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The phytocoenoses of "Iagorlâc"). The grasslands with xerophytic grasses including yellow bluestem from Bălţi Plain yellow bluestem (Bothriochloa (at the north) differ from those ischaemum) are very common in found in the Bugeac Plain (the the Republic of Moldova. On south of Moldova), according to T. 65,000 ha of land (Teleuţă, 2000) Săvulescu [10], in the floristic with steppe vegetation, plant composition and in their communities with yellow bluestem quantitative ratio. The author occur almost everywhere. identified, in the Northern Plain of Depending on the abundance, it Bălţi, meadow steppes with grows in the communities of Bothriochloa ischaemum, and in Agropyron repens, Stipa pennata, the Bugeac Plain – xerophytic Poa pratensis and Chrysopogon steppes with Euphorbia gryllus as a co-occurring species. seguieriana (figure 2). In this article, we will treat it as Гейдеман Т. С. (1959) dominant species that forms stable studying the yellow bluestem associations in various conditions communities in the Moldavian of the vast Eurasian territory, and S.S.R., mentioned that this the species with status of xerophilous species did not have a “constant” defines the area. distinct zonal range in the hilly In the Republic of landscape of this territory, as it Moldova, it is widespread in the was noted in the North Caucasus south (Bugeac Plain), in the centre and Central Asia. and the north (Bălţi Plain), but on The author observed that highly eroded slopes, it can form by restoring the steppe vegetation monodominant communities. In in the fallowed sectors, the rocky regions on the banks of Bothriochloa ischaemum Prut and Dniester rivers, it is more associated with the grass species abundant, as well as on the left that grew in the natural bank of Dniester (the nature phytocoenoses in the centre of the reserve with steppe vegetation area. Romanian Journal of Grassland and Forage Crops (2018)18 18 Lazu S. et al.
Fig. 1. The distribution of the studied phytocoenoses dominated by Bothriochloa ischaemum in Europe
Romanian Journal of Grassland and Forage Crops (2018)18 19 Lazu S. et al. The author studied the Republic of Moldova represent phytocoenoses with yellow primary and anthropized bluestem (Bothriochloa phytocoenoses affected by ischaemum) as dominant species overgrazing, but all occur on and found that it was adapted to sunny slopes with calcareous, the aridized climate (it formed rocky, dry and nutrient-poor soil. large and compact bushes, based The formations with Bothriochloa on vegetative reproduction (by ischaemum of primary type occur rhizomes)) and expanded to new in the Central Asia, Anatolia (Asia areas that had become available as Minor), the Caucasus and the a result of erosion, superficial eastern part of the Mediterranean landslides or deforestation. Basin, but in the rest, including the The grass communities Republic of Moldova, they expand with yellow bluestem in the due to the favourable conditions.
Fig. 2. Bothriochloa ischaemum (v.Vrăneşti, district Sângerei, continental biogeographical region
In the Republic of affinities for a habitat with more Moldova, there are primary and calcareous soils, with such species secondary phytocenoses with as Gypsophylla collina, yellow bluestem, which obviously Cephalaria uralensis, Thymus differ in the floristic composition marschallianus, Teucrium (Шабанова Г.А., 2012). chamaedrys, Genista tetragona, The essence of the Chamaecytisus ratisbonensis, structure of the first ones has Heliantheum numularium.
Romanian Journal of Grassland and Forage Crops (2018)18 20 Lazu S. et al. Table 1 Syntaxonomy of the sectors with the association Bothriochloa ischaemum in Eurasia Numb Bio- № Diagnostic species and Name of the Bibliographic Altitud er of № geographic on the Locality Author's association frequency, according to proposed source e (m) relevé al region map the author association s 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ass. Asperulo (cynanchica) Puşcaru-Sorocianu 200- Asperula cynanchica L. 1 Banat (Romania) - ass. Andropogon ischaemum Bothriochloet E., 1963 350 (+) um ischaemii n.n. Puşcaru-Sorocianu 350- Asperula cynanchica L. 2 Braşov (Romania) - ass. Andropogon ischaemum - " - E., 1963 700 (+) Cristea V. et al., Transylvanian 400- ass. Botriochloa ischaemii (Krist. Asperula cynanchica L. 3 13 - " - 1979 plateau (Romania) 500 1937) I. Pop 1977 (III)
Doina Ivan et al., Dobrogea 100- ass. Botriochloa ischaemii (Krist. Asperula cynanchica L. 4 219 - " - 1993 (Romania) 150 1937) I. Pop 1977 (II) ass. Bothriochloetum ischaemii (Krist Solomaha V.А., Western Podolia 5 - - 1937) Pop 1977 - - 1996 (Ukraine) 1 Continental Apostolova I. et ass. Bothriochloetum ischaemii Pop NE Balkans 122- Asperula cynanchica L. 6 col., 2006 172 1977 (typicum), subass. nov - " - (Bulgaria) 333 (IV) Thymetosum pannonici Рущчук А.D. et Iagorlîc 100- ass. Bothriochloetum ischaemii (Krist Asperula cynanchica 7 - - " - al., 2006 R.Moldova 160 1937) Pop 1977 L. (IV) Oroian S. et al., Transylvanian 472- ass. Bothriochloetum ischaemii (Krist Asperula cynanchica L. 8 6 - " - 2007 plateau (Romania) 598 1937) Pop 1977 (V)
Carpathians 280- ass. Bothriochloetum ischaemii (Krist Asperula cynanchica L. 9 Chifu T., 2014 54 - " - (Romania) 800 1937) Pop 1977 (I)
Sopotleva D. et SE Balkans ass. Bothriochloetum ischaemii (Krist Asperula cynanchica 10 88-350 176 - " - al., 2014 (Bulgaria) 1937) Pop 1977 (III)
Romanian Journal of Grassland and Forage Crops (2018)18 21 Lazu S. et al.
Lazu Şt. et al., Bălţi Plain 200- ass. Bothriochloetum ischaemii (Krist Asperula cynanchica 11 13 - " - 2016 (R.Moldova) 250 1937) Pop 1977 (II) ass. Euphorbio Muntenia, southern Euphorbia seguieriana Puşcaru-Sorocianu 100- (seguieriana) 12 Moldova - ass. Andropogon ischaemum Neck E. et al., 1963 200 Bothriochloet (Romania) (±2) um ischaemii n.n. Euphorbia seguieriana Dihoru G. et col., Babadag 200- ass. Bombicyleno-Botriochloetum 13 81 Neck - " - 1970 (Romania) 350 ischaemii Dihoru 1970 2 Steppe (+) Коротченко И.А. Northwestern ass. Bothriochloetum ischaemii (Krist Centaurea scabiosa L. 14 - 5 - et al. 2009 steppe (Ukraine) 1937) Pop 1977 (IV)
Lazu Şt. et al., Bugeac 150- 12 ass. Bothriochloetum ischaemii (Krist Euphorbia seguieriana 15 - " - 2016 (R.Moldova) 200 1937) Pop 1977 Neck. (III)
Western ass. Teucrio Carpathians and ass. Teucrio(botryos) (botryos) – Dubrovkova D. et 16 Northern 130 25 Andropogonetum ischaemii Sauberer Teucrium botryos L. Bothriochloet 3 Pannonian col., 2010 Pannonian Basin et Wagner în Sauberer 1942 um ischaemii (Slovakia) n.n. ass. Syntrichia ruralis (25) The floodplain of Syntrichio Euphorbia seguieriana Danube, with dry (ruralis) Mirjana Kristivoj ass. Bothriochloetum ischaemii (Krist Neck. L. sands (Vojvodina, 135 2 Bothriochloet 17 Cuk et col., 2015 1937) Pop 1977 (20) Serbia) um ischaemii
n.n variants: Florineth Florin, Alps, 960- - Festuca valesiaca- 18 16 Ass. Bothriochloa ischaemum - 1974 South Tyrol (Italy) 1410 Gaudin; - Stipa capillata L.;
ass.
South-eastern Glycyrrhizo 4 Alpine Nakhutsrishvili Caucasus 500- Group ass. Glycyrrhizeto (glabra) + (glabra)- 19 - Glycyrrhiza glabra L. G., 2013 Mountains 600 Bothriochloa ischaemum Bothriochloet (Georgia) um ischaemii n.n
Romanian Journal of Grassland and Forage Crops (2018)18 22 Lazu S. et al.
Pamir-Alay Сафаров Н.М., 1500- Group ass. Glycyrrhizieto (glabra) + 20 Mountains - Glycyrrhiza glabra L. - " - 2015 2000 Bothriochloa ischaemum (Tajikistan) - Elymus hispidus (Opiz) Melderi; ass. Melico - Allium spheocephalon (ciliata)- Miquel de Caceres The plain of ass. Lactuco (vimineae) - L.; 21 10-250 26 Bothriochloet Ainsa, 1999-2001 Barcelona (Spain) Bothriochloetum ischaemii - Onobrychis um ischaemii arenaria/tommasinii Kit. n.n DC - Melica ciliata L. Central Apennine - Dichanthium ass. Festuco Mediterran Mountains with ischaemum (L.) Beauv. (inops) - 5 Taffetani E. et al., ean 22 Adriatic exposure 455 2 ass. Dichanthium ischaemum - Plantago argintea Bothriochloet 2004 (Italy) Chaix um ischaemii - Festuca inops De Not. n.n
- Melica ciliata L. ass. Melico Northern - Avena barbata Pott ex. (ciliata)-
Faggi B. et al., Apennines – 610- ass. Bothriochloa ischaemum + Link Bothriochloet 23 71 2014 Tuscany (Italy) 1060 Melica ciliata - Galactites tomentosus um ischaemii Moench n.n
Romanian Journal of Grassland and Forage Crops (2018)18 23 Lazu S. et al. The author (Шабанова These species are: Achillea Г.А., 2012) points out that in large millefolium, Artemisia austriaca, areas covered with yellow Berteroa incana, Caragana mollis, bluestem from the "Iagorlâc" Carduus themeri, Centaurea Reserve, in sectors with lime-rich diffusa, Eryngium campestre, soil, stony at the surface, or with Galium verum, Inula britanica, carbonate clays, components of Iris halophila, Potentilla impolita, these phytocoenoses appear or the Salvia austriaca, Salvia nemorosa, abundance of some calcicole Phleum tuberosus, Nepeta species increases, for example: parviflora, Plantago lanceolata, Astragalus pseudoglaucus, Carex Verbascum phoenaceum, humilis, Centaurea marschalliana, Bromopsis inermis, Campanula Cephalaria uralensis, sibirica, Elytrigia intermedia, Chamaecytisus ratisbonensis, Hypericum perforatum, Jurnea Cleistogenes bulgarica, Euphorbia calcarea, Medicago romanica, glareosa, Euphorbia stepposa, Melilotus officinalis, Potentilla Genista tetragona, Gypsophylla argintea, Potentilla recta, Salvia collina, Haplophyllum suavolens, verticilata, Thymus Heliantheum nummularium, marschalianus, Trifolium medium. Jurinea stochadifolia, Koeleria On the left bank of moldavica, Linum austriacum, Dniester River (“Iagorlâc” Nature Linum linerifolium, Linum Reserve), Шабанова Г. A. (2012) tenuifolium, Minuartia setacea, pointed out phytocoenoses with Onosma macrochaeta, Seseli yellow bluestem that were a annuum, Seseli tortuosum, Silene variant of the more xerophytic exaltata, Thymus marschallianus, steppes, which included numerous Thymus moldavicus. By analyzing petrophilic species, characterized the plant lists published by T. by higher abundance – Thymus Săvulescu (1927), Гейдеман Т. С. marschalianus, Thymus (1959), Постолаке Г. Г., moldavicus, Teucrium Истратий А. И., 1991, 1992, chamaedrys, Gypsophylla collina, Шабанова Г. Г., 2012, 2014, as Jurinea stoechadifolia, Koeleria well as our lists (Lazu Şt. et al. moldavica, Carex humilis, 2015, Lazu et al. 2016), we would Chamaecytisus ratisbonensis, like to mention that the meadow Genista tetragona. Ephemeroid steppes of the North Moldavian and ephemeral grass species stand Plain (Bălţi), with Bothriochloa out in spring – Androsace ischaemum as dominant species, elongata, Androsace maxima, include species that do not occur Euphorbia verna, Hyacinthella in the Bugeac Steppe or have leucophaea, Meniocus linifolius, lower abundance-dominance. Muscari neglecta, as well as the
Romanian Journal of Grassland and Forage Crops (2018)18 24 Lazu S. et al. species of the genera Gagea, falcata (III), Eryngium campestre Thlaspi, Veronica etc. (IV), Teucrium chamedrys, The continental Plantago lanceolata (III), biogeographical region (according Potentilla argentea (III), to Europeus biodiversity – Medicago lupulina (II), Thymus Biogeographical regions and seas pannonicus (III), Cynodon – 2002 – further on EB-BR-2002) dactylon (II), Artemisia austriaca – the grassy vegetation constitutes (II), Trifolium montanum (II), 14 % and tends to decrease. Campanula sibirica (II), Coronilla It occurs on hilly areas and varia (II), Fragaria viridis (II), plateaus with altitudes of 100-500 Chondrilla juncea (III), Adonis m. The soil – chernozem on clay vernalis (IV), Veronica prostrata and loess. This type of vegetation (I), Onobrychis arenaria (I), Iris is found mostly in the central part pumila (I), Achillea setacea (II), of Europe. Linum tenuifolium (I), Galium The grasslands with verum (II), Euphorbia cyparissias Bothriochloa ischaemum on Bălţi (II), Sanguisorba minor (II), plain (on the Map and in the Table Caragana molis etc. (figure 2, 3). – 11) (Lazu et al., 2016) and The study of yellow “Iagorlâc” Nature Reserve (Map, bluestem grasslands included table 7) (Рущчук А. О. et al., synthetic lists of plants found in 2006) have many floristic areas with hilly relief and altitudes similarities to those in the of 100-350 m from R. Moldova, continental biogeographical Western Podolia, Dobrogea, region. The characteristic and Banat, Balkans (Map and table 1, faithful species of the association 4-7, 10, 11) and the Transylvanian with Bothriochloa ischaemum (V) Plateau with altitudes of 350-700 was identified – Asperula m (Map and table 2, 3, 8) and the cynanchica (I-V), and we propose Carpathian Mountains – 800 m the ass. Asperulo (cynanchica)- (Map and table 9). Bothriochloetum ischaemii n.n; of The steppe biogeographical the alliance Festucion valesiacae region, in Europe, comprises 17% Klika 1931; order Festucetalia of the area covered with grasses Br.-Bl. et R.Tx. 1943 and cl. (Stipa lessingiana, S. capillata, Festuco-Brometea Br.-Bl. et R.Tx. Festuca valesiaca). In this area, 1943. grasses are found on chernozem The most frequent plant soil, at altitudes of 100-350 m, the species of this community – climate is warm and droughty Festuca valesiaca (IV), Medicago (EB-BR-2002).
Romanian Journal of Grassland and Forage Crops (2018)18 25 Lazu S. et al.
Fig. 3. Grassland with Bothriocloa ischaemum in Bălţi Plain (v. Nihoreni, d. Râşcani). Continental biogeographical region
In the Republic of which include the savanoid species Moldova, the steppes are Bothriochloa ischaemum (figure characterised by true vegetation of 4). xerophilic grasses and include the In the Southern Moldavian whole Bugeac, which is totally Plain (Bugeac), on the map and in assimilated by agriculture, and the the table – 15 (Lazu et al., 2016), present pastures are degraded the grasslands with yellow grasslands or abandoned bluestem are characterized by the agricultural land (fallow land). The presence of herbaceous species current meadows with xeric that give them a southern, more grasses are the result of the xerophilous peculiarity: Ajuga interaction of the regional climatic laxmani, Asperula glauca, conditions with the vegetation, and Echinops retro, Erysinum the sectors with steppe vegetation Marschalianum, Euphorbia protected by the state, such as the seguieriana, Euphorbia stepposa, "Bugeac" Nature Reserve – 60 ha, Isatis tinctoria, Knautia arvensis, " Dezghingea" – 15 ha, "Ciumai" – Kochia prostrata, Koeleria 50 ha and the representative sector cristata, Linaria vulgaris, Nepeta "Andriaşevca nouă" – 71 ha, parviflora, Phlomis pungens, Poa demonstrate the pedoclimatic angustifolia, Poa bulbosa, capacities of these communities, Potentilla arenaria, Poterium
Romanian Journal of Grassland and Forage Crops (2018)18 26 Lazu S. et al. polyganum, Pyretrum millefolium, seguieriana also occurs. This fact Salvia austriaca, Teucrium confirms the statement of T. chamaedrys, Thymus pannonicus, Savulescu that Euphorbia Vinca herbacea, Caragana frutex, seguieriana is a characteristic Achillea ochroleuca, Achillea species of the steppes from setacea, Acinos arvensis, Bugeac. Thus, such phytocoenoses Campanula sibirica, Carex could be included in the ass. liparicarpus, Carex michelii, Euphorbio (seguieriana) - Cleistogenes bulgarica, Crepis Bothriochloetum ischaemum n.n. rhoedifolia, Crepis tinctorium, The phytocoenoses with Eremogone bibersteinii, Bothriochloa ischaemum in the Euphorbia glareosa, Festuca steppe biogeographical region rupicoa, Filago arvensis, constitute communities of the ass. Onobrychis arenaria, Pleconax Euphorbio (seguieriana) - conica, Poa compressa, Bothriochloetum ischaemii n. n., Ranuunculus arvensis, Rumex which was treated differently by fascilobus, Tanacetum millefolium, various authors. Puşcaru-Sorocian Taraxacum erythrospermum, E. et al. (1963) (Map and table – Thymus demorphus, Trifolium 12) identified grasslands with arvensis, Vicia angustifolia. In the Andropogon ischaemum, found in grasslands with Bothriochloa Muntenian and southern part of ischaeumum found in Bugeac (the Moldova at the altitude of 100-200 nature reserve, Bugeac, Ciumai, m, where Euphorbia seguieriana, Dezghingea), Euphorbia was also present.
Fig. 4. Grassland with Bothriochloa ischaemum in Bugeac (v. Larguţa, d. Cantemir). Steppe biogeographical region
Romanian Journal of Grassland and Forage Crops (2018)18 27 Lazu S. et al. Dihoru G. et al. (1970; contemporary nomenclature is also Map and table 13) mentioned suitable, with the ass. Teucrio Bombycilaena erecta (L.) Smolj. (botryos) - Bothriochloetum (Micropus erectus L.) as a ischaemii n. n. constant species in the xeric In the floodplain of grasslands with Bothriochloa Danube, with dry sands, ischaemum, on the Babadag Bothriochloa ischaemum (Map Plateau, at the altitude 200-350 m. and table 25 and 7) forms Bombycilaena erecta (L.) Smolj. is communities with Syntrichia a therophyte that remains after ruralis (25) and Euphorbia intensive grazing, but Euphorbia seguieriana (20), Stipa seguieriana is also present in these borysthenica (5), Festuca rupicola pastures. (3), Cynodon dactylon (5), Festuca The phytocoenoses with vaginata (1, 5), Carex Bothriochloa ischaemum in the lyparocarpus (5). The authors steppe biogeographical region Mirjana Kristivojcuk et al. (2015) correspond to the ass. Euphorbio (Map and table 17) identified (seguieriana)-Bothriochloetum communities with yellow bluestem ischaemii n. n. of the ass. Bothriocloetum In the Pannonian ischaemii (Krist 1937) Pop (1977); biogeographical region, the habitat al. Festucion vaginatae ord. Sedo of the steppe grasses constitute acris – Festucetalia vaginnata Tx. 8%, 30% of which are alkaline 1951 cl. Festuco-Brometea. steppes on dry sands. However, the presence of The Western Carpathians Euphorbia seguieriana (20) and the north of the Pannonian together with Bothriocloa Basin (table and Map – 16) ischaemum (25) convinces us that include areas with the lowest Euphorbia seguieriana (20) and altitude (130-135 m), and the Syntrichia ruralis (25) are xerophytic grassy vegetation diagnostic species and helps us usually grows on higher land. identify ass. Syntrichio (ruralis) – Yellow bluestem grows in warm Bothriocloetum ischaemii n. n. or and sunny areas and prefers soils Euphorbio (seguieriana)- that have been formed on alluvial Bothriochloetum ischaemii. sands. In Western Carpathians and In the alpine in the northern part of the biogeographical region (Map and Pannonian Basin (Dubrovkova D. table 18-20), the grass vegetation et. al. 2010) (table and Map – 16), covers 25% of the territory, 90% there are phytocoenoses of the ass. of which constitute natural and Teucrio (botrys) - Andropogontum semi-natural habitats dominated by ischaemii Sauberer et Wagner in Bothriocloa ischaemum. At Sauberer 1942, but the altitudes of 300-600 m (North
Romanian Journal of Grassland and Forage Crops (2018)18 28 Lazu S. et al. Caucasus, Stavropol), yellow al. Festucion valesiaca; ord. bluestem forms vegetation belts on Festucetalia valesiaca and cl. kastanozem and loess. Besides, in Festuco-Brometea. the Pamir-Alay Mountains, The Mediterranean Bothriochloa ischaemum forms biogeographical region, where belts at higher altitudes (1500- grassy vegetation constitutes about 2000 m). 11 % of the European territory, Florineth Florin (1974) includes plains and hills with mentioned that, in the Alps, at the sandy soil, loess, dry and very altitude of 960-1410 m, there were warm climate with constant phytocoenoses of the ass. temperatures above 30 °C, Bothriochloa ischaemum. precipitation of 600-1200 The author made a mm/year, but there are regions distinction between two variants of with 350-100 mm annually. At dominant species – Festuca various altitudes from 10-250 m valesiaca Gaudin (960-1350 m (Spain) to 610-1060 m (the altitude) and Stipa capillata L. Apennines, Italy) (Map and table (1020-1410 m altitude), known as 21-23), there are communities with steppe-forming species, Bothriochloa ischaemum. In the widespread throughout the plain of Barcelona, at the altitude Eurasian territory. of 20-250 m, Miquel de Caceres In the southeast of the Ainsa (1999-2001) identified Caucasus Mountains, communities of the ass. Lactuco Nakhutsrishvili G. (2013) (Map (viminae) Bothriochloetum and table 19), at the altitude of ischaemum with the variants 500-600 m, and Сафаров Н.М. Elymus hispidus (10-20 m altitude) (2015), at the altitude of 1500- and Allium spherocephalon (20- 2000 m, mentioned the presence of 250 m altitude) and Onobrychis vegetation belts with Bothriochloa arenaria (tomasinii (2-50 m ischaemum + Glycyrrhiza glabra altitude). If we give priority to L. the authors mentioned the grasses (Poaceae), then in this list, presence of the group of ass. Melica ciliata stands out as a Bothriocloa ischaemum, characteristic species and the ass. Glycyrrhiza glabra with the Melico (ciliata)-Bothriochloetum ephemerals – Inula macrophylla, ischaemum n. n. would result. Poa bulbosa, Eremurus olgae, In the Central Apennine Carex pachystylis, Ferula Mountains with Adriatic exposure, gigantea, but among the presented at the altitude of 455 m, the species, the faithful species of this communities with yellow bluestem mountain grassland stands out and have as differential species forms the ass. Glycyrrhizo (glabra) Plantago argintea Chaix and - Bothriochloetum ischaemii n. n. Festuca inops De Not. Taffetani E.
Romanian Journal of Grassland and Forage Crops (2018)18 29 Lazu S. et al. et al. (2004) distinguish the ass. Bothriochloetum ischaemum n.n. Dichanthium ischaemum with the are formed. differential species Plantago All the associations of the argintea Chaix and Festuca inops Mediterranean biogeographical De Not. The ass. Festuco (inops) region highlighted above are part Bothriochloetum ischaemum n.n. of the al. Bromion erectus, ord. could be considered here. Brometalia, cl. Festuco-Brometea, On a sandy and sandy- which indicate specific conditions clayey substrate, in the Northern for the development of Apennines (Tuscany), at altitudes spontaneous flora and vegetation, of 610-1060 m, communities of and especially grasslands with the ass. Melico (ciliata)- Bothriocloa ischaemum.
CONCLUSIONS
The phytocoenoses of the the characteristic species for the grasslands dominated by plant association. The grasslands Bothriochloa ischaemum (L.) with Bothriochloa ischaemum (L.) Keng, which occur in the Eurasian Keng, according to the results of territory, differ depending on the the phytocenotic analysis, include biogeographical region, the Asperula cynanchica as faithful location in the relief and the species and Jurinea calcarea, interaction with the local flora. Potentilla arenaria, Hypericum These phytocoenoses are found in perforatum, Salvia nemorosa, areas with hot and dry climate, Salvia austriaca, Trifolium limestone, clay and sand substrates campestre, Ajuga chia, Teucrium and that meet the ecological needs polium, Caragana molis have of xerophilic, heliophilic, higher frequency. In the oligotrophic, alkaliphilic and continental biogeographical thermophilic plants and are region, the meadow steppes of situated at high altitudes Bălţi form stable communities, at (highlands). medium altitudes (250-400 m) and By analysing the synthetic on calcareous chernozem soil, with lists of phytocoenoses dominated the association Asperulo by Bothriochloa ischaemum in (cynanchica) - Bothriochloetum various biogeographical regions, ischaemum n.n. the following features were In the steppe identified: the phytocoenoses with biogeographical region (Bugeac), yellow bluestem, in the Republic the following species are more of Moldova, are severely affected frequent: Dianthus carbonatus, by anthropogenic factors; Caragana frutex, Euphorbia therefore, it is difficult to identify seguieriana, Verbascum
Romanian Journal of Grassland and Forage Crops (2018)18 30 Lazu S. et al. phoeniceum, Alyssum calycinum, ischaemum are found in areas Taraxacum serotinum, Linum situated at various altitudes, with hirsutum, Anthemis ruthenicum, dry and warm climate and Poa bulbosa, Dianthus barbasii, nutrient-poor substrate. The Euphorbia stepposa and altitude: 2-250 m. It forms the ass. Borhriochloa ischaemum of the Lactuco vimineae - Bothriochloa ass. Euphorbio (seguieriana) - ischaemii with the variants Bothriochloetum ischaemii n. n. Onobrychis arenaria tomasini (2- They grow mostly on chernozem 50 m altitude), Elymus hispidus and sandy soil. (10-20 m altitude) and Allium In the Pannonian spherocephalon (2-250 m biogeographical region, the yellow altitude). bluestem communities grow on In the Apennine sandy, dry soils, forming, in the Mountains, at the altitude of 610- northeast, the ass. Teucrio 1060 m – the ass. Festuco (inops) - (botryos) - Bothriochloetum Bothriochloetum ischaemii n. n. ischaemii Sausberer et Wagnez in and ass. Melico(ciliata) - Sausberer 1942 and the ass. Bothriochloa ischaemii. Syntrichio (ruralis) - Of all the biogeographical Bothriochloetum ischaemii n. n., regions, the most favourable on Danubian alluvia. climatic conditions for the In the alpine phytocoenoses with Bothriochloa biogeographical region, in the ischaemum are in the Caucasus Mountains, on Mediterranean, which directly kastanozem soil, there are contacts with savanoid meadows phytocoenoses of the ass. and tropical prairies, then the Glycyrrhizo (glabra) - alpine region follows, where at Bothriochloetum ischaemii n. n. high altitudes there are stable with numerous species of the local communities, forming vegetation flora: Teucrium montanum, belts; then steppe, continental and Hieracium pilosella, Carex Pannonian biographical regions humilis, Phleum phleoides. In the follow. Pamir-Alay Mountains (Central The wide phytocoenotic Asia), at the altitude of 1300-1600 diversity with the dominance of m, it forms belts of steppe Bothriochloa ischaemum in all the vegetation with phytocoenoses of analyzed biogeographical regions the ass. Glycyrrhiza (glabra) – (continental, steppe, Pannonian, Bothriochloetum ischaemii n. n. alpine and Mediterranean) In the Mediterranean expresses the need to approach the biogeographical region with alliance Bothriochloion calcareous soils (Barcelona), the (ischaemum) n. n. with the above- communities with Bothriochloa mentioned associations.
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