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

It is believed that the most typical steppes are formed in the interior regions of the continent. Steppe zones of the temperate zones of the northern and southern hemispheres, characterized by a dry climate, treeless watersheds, and the dominance of herbaceous, predominantly cereal vegetation on chernozem, dark chestnut and chestnut soils.

The area is dominated by steppes, which are modified by pasture digression and represent low-grass pasture communities dominated by fescue and wormwood. The haymaking variants of the steppe have been preserved in small fragments, among which there are the southern, northern and central variants, which represent the transition between the northern and the southern. In the steppes of the central variant, if they are not disturbed by grazing, feather feather grass, Zelesssky feather grass, and narrow-leaved feather grass are common. In addition, there is fescue and forbs are very abundantly represented. The steppe also includes shrubs - caragana, spirea, gorse, and broom.

In addition to the mountain steppes, solonetzic steppes have been preserved in small fragments on the plain, which usually include Lerch's wormwood, Gmelin's kermek, and false wheatgrass. It is typical for the steppe on gravelly soils

participation of species - petrophytes, i.e. stone lovers - protozoan onosma, thyme, mountain grate, Siberian cornflower and others. Such steppes are especially easily destroyed by pasture digression. The productivity of steppe hayfields is up to 4-5 c/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

for the entire grazing period. According to the classification, according to the research of Professor Mirkin B.M. , all 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 northern exposure.

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

Ball-headed Echinops

Biennial or perennial herbaceous plant 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 sessile, stem-embracing. They are green above and covered with white felt below, with small spines along the edges. The flowers are collected in spherical inflorescences and are bluish-white in color. The spherical heads have a diameter of 4-5 cm. Seed fruits. It grows in river valleys, among bushes, on the edges of island forests, and in wastelands.

The plant population on the Roman Mountain hill is represented by single plants. Occasionally there are “islands” of 5-10 plants. In general, the plants are in good living condition.

Yarrow

A perennial herbaceous plant from the Asteraceae family. A plant with an erect stem. In the conditions of the Republic of Belarus, its height ranges from 48 to 72 cm. Several shoots of stems extend from a thin creeping rhizome. The basal leaves are lanceolate, bipinnately dissected into narrow small lobules. Stem leaves are shorter, pinnately dissected.

The 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, mauve or reddish. It blooms in June-August for a very long time.

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

Asparagus officinalis

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

A perennial herbaceous plant from the buttercup family. Adonis has a push-pull development - at the beginning

Is different early flowering, and then the formation of the stem and leaves occurs. Blooms early in spring - from late April to May. A bush with up to 20-30 flowers blooms from 40 to 50 days. The very first flowers, as a rule, are large, but they are pale yellow, golden, apical, solitary, and are 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. Each bush has from 2 to 15 generative and from 4 to 23 vegetative shoots.

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

Budra ivy-shaped

A perennial herbaceous plant from the Lamiaceae 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. The pedicels are 4-5 times shorter than the calyx and are equipped with awl-shaped 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.

Grows along the ravine and on the southern side of the slope. Large population, studied during 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 edges. The leaves are oblong-ovate, entire, opposite, sessile. Translucent dotted containers that resemble holes are scattered on the leaves - hence the name - perforated.

The flowers are numerous, golden-yellow in color, collected in a wide paniculate, almost corymbose inflorescence. Sepals are sharp with a whole edge. The petals are twice as long as the sepals, blooms in June-July. The fruit is a three-lobed multi-seeded basket, opening with 3 valves. The rhizome is thin, several stems extend from it.

Found only in one place on the eastern flat side of the hill. Represented by 8-15 plants.

Veronica dubravnaya

Perennial herbaceous plant. Preserves green shoots all year round. The leaves are located opposite, in the axils of the racemes of irregular flowers. A flower has 2 stamens and 1 pistil. The fruit of Veronica is a flattened capsule.

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

Bonfire without bones

Belongs to the cereal family. It has smooth stems reaching one meter in height. The leaves are flat and wide. The spikelets are collected into an inflorescence - a spreading panicle. Bonfire is a good forage grass; it blooms from late May to June. Many tall, erect shoots of flower stalks extend from the creeping rhizome.

In plant communities of the hill it is an environment-forming species, because found evenly often almost everywhere.

knotweed

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

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

Common cress

Herbaceous plant from the cruciferous family. Bright green rosettes of colza made of fancy lyre-shaped ones. Large numbers of pinnately dissected leaves are visible in the fields plowed last fall. Blooms in May-June. With an abundance of sun and moisture from melted snow, the cress quickly develops a flowering shoot with a cluster of yellow flowers. The fruit is polyspermous, dehiscent by two valves. A good honey plant.

It grows unevenly in the vegetation cover of the hill and is found mostly on the side of the field located closer to the eastern slope.

Kozelets purple

Achenes at the base with a hollow, swollen stalk, 12 mm long, ribbed, light gray. Stems are straight and erect, furrowed, simple and branched. The basal leaves are on long petioles, pinnate and dissected, with narrow linear lateral segments. The baskets are cylindrical, the involucre is weakly arachnoid, then bare, its leaves are lanceolate, sometimes with a horn-like appendage. The flowers are yellow, the outer edges are reddish.

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 short distance from each other - from 40 to 60 cm.

Karagana

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

It grows mainly on the western slope of the mountain, in the ravine and the adjacent ravine on the northern side.

Nonea dark

Belongs to the borage family. The entire plant is covered with protruding stiff hairs and sparse glandular hairs. The leaves are oblong-lanceolate, the lower ones are narrowed in the petioles, the rest are sessile, semi-stem-encompassing. The bracts are lanceolate, longer than the flowers, dark red-brown in color. The calyx is bell-shaped, incised to one part. The calyx lobes are lanceolate. The nuts are net-wrinkled.

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

Bell

Belongs to the bellflower family. The flowers are numerous, in a large branched inflorescence. The corolla is 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 in the population.

Veronica longifolia

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

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

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

Violet is 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. The stipules of the stem leaves are large, entire, the stipules are large, rusty-red.

On a hill it grows in places with low grasses or among low grass cover, loves rocky surface areas.

Forest anemone

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

It grows in small “families” between pine rows of trees and separately on open slopes on the eastern and northern sides of the Roman Mountain hill.

Field bindweed

Belongs to the bindweed family. A bare or scatteredly drooping plant with recumbent, creeping or climbing shoots. Flowers are up to 3.5 cm in diameter, usually collected in groups of 2-3 or single. Bracts in the form of a pair of small linear leaves are located oppositely in the middle of the peduncle and do not reach the calyx. The corolla is pink, rarely white.

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

Onosma Preuralskaya

Belongs to the borage family. The pedicels are very short, much shorter than the bracts. The whole plant is hard and rough. The stem is straight, simple, less often branched, covered with hard, spaced bristles and thick down. The basal leaves are numerous, petiolate, linear, the stem leaves are sessile, linear-lanceolate.

Loves open sunny places with rocky soil. Grows in crowded bushes. Very interesting during the flowering period. On the Roman Mountain hill there are not many plants on the top on the south side. Numerical counting showed about 20 plants.

Lowland wormwood

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

Well expressed as a cover plant on the southern slope of the Roman Mountain hill. Plants are below normal size, indicating oppression from grazing pressure.

The world around us 4th grade

Steppe zone

In the past, the steppe zone had endless steppes. Now they are plowed almost everywhere, fields have taken their place. The remaining areas of the steppes with their wonderful flora and fauna must be protected.

Using the map in the textbook, shade on the outline map ( The world 4th grade, p.

Features of all kinds of plants in the steppe

36-37) steppe zone. To select a color, you can use the “key” below.

Which zone, located between the steppes and forest zones, remained unpainted? Paint it over at home.

Answer: Forest-steppe

Our inquisitive Parrot knows a thing or two about the steppes. Here are some of his statements. Are they true? Circle "Yes" or "No". If not, correct the mistakes (verbally).

a) The steppe zone is located south of the forest zones. Answer: Yes
b) The steppe zone has cold, rainy summers. Answer: No
c) The soils in the steppe zone are very fertile. Answer: Yes
d) Tulips bloom in the steppe at the height of summer. Answer: No
e) The bustard, one of the smallest birds in our country, is found in the steppe. Answer: No

Seryozha and Nadya’s mother wonders if you know steppe plants. Cut out the pictures from the Appendix and place them in the appropriate boxes. Test yourself using the textbook. After self-test, paste the pictures.

And this task was prepared for you by Seryozha and Nadya’s dad. Find out the animals of the steppe from fragments. Write the names of the animals. Ask the student sitting next to you to check on you.

Draw a diagram of the food chain characteristic of the steppe zone. Compare it with the diagram proposed by your desk neighbor. Using these diagrams, talk about the ecological connections in the steppe zone.

Feather grass - Filly - Steppe lark - Steppe eagle
Fescue - Hamster - Steppe viper

Think about what environmental problems of the steppe zone are expressed by these signs. Formulate and write down.

Suggest conservation measures for class discussion that would help solve these problems.

Continue filling out the poster “Red Book of Russia”, which was drawn by Seryozha and Nadya’s dad. Find the plants and animals of the steppe zone on the poster and write their names.

Thin-leaved peony, steppe eagle, bustard, steppe rack

8. According to the instructions in the textbook (p. 117), draw the steppe.

9. According to the instructions of the textbook (p. 117), prepare a report about the plants and animals of the steppe that particularly interested you.

Post subject: Bustard

Message plan:

1) Preface
2) Basic information
3) Conclusion

The bustard is recognized as the heaviest of the flying birds; this steppe inhabitant mainly moves on the ground and runs quickly in case of danger. Individuals are considered omnivores; their diet consists of plant foods (seeds, shoots, wild garlic) and animals (insects, rodents, frogs); during the mating season, males perform a spectacular dance.
Dimensions:
Length: males up to 105 cm, females from 75 to 80 cm
Weight: males up to 16 kg, females – up to 8 kg
Lifespan: 20-25 years
The bustard is primarily a steppe bird. It lives on open plains without copses, meadows and fields. This is explained by the caution of the birds, since the free space there is visible far away. During nesting, individuals stop in areas with high vegetation. There are also cases when bustards nest among crops of grain, sunflowers and other crops.

Source(s) of information: Internet, encyclopedia

Plants of the steppe zone: photos and names

What plants grow in the steppe?

• Mountain, steppes with lush alpine vegetation and high-mountain ones, characterized by sparse and inconspicuous vegetation, mainly consisting of grains and breakweed.
• Meadow. Steppes, characterized by the presence of small forests forming clearings and edges.
• Real ones. Steppes with a large predominance of feather grass and fescue growing on them. These are the most typical plants of the steppe.
• Saz - steppes, consisting of plants adapting to arid climates, shrubs.
• Desert steppes on which desert grasses grow: tumbleweed, wormwood, and twig
• It is also necessary to say a few words about forest-steppes, which are characterized by the alternation of deciduous forests and coniferous forests with areas of steppes, since steppe and forest-steppe plants differ only in subspecies.

The steppe has its embodiment on any continent except Antarctica, and on different continents it has its own name: in North America- this is the prairie, in South America - the pampas (pampas), in South America, Africa and Australia - this is the savannah. In New Zealand the steppe is called tussoki.

Let's take a closer look at what plants grow in the steppe.

Steppe plant species

• Krupka. This annual plant the cruciferous family, growing in the highlands and tundra. There are about 100 varieties of semolina, characteristic of our steppes. It is characterized by a branched stem with oblong leaves, topped with tassels of yellow flowers. Flowering period April - July. In folk herbal medicine, semolina is used as a hemostatic, expectorant and diuretic.
• Breaker. It is also an annual plant, approximately 25 cm long and has oblong leaves, many flower shoots, each of which ends in an inflorescence consisting of tiny white flowers. Prolomnik is used as an anti-inflammatory, analgesic, diuretic and hemostatic, as well as an anticonvulsant for epilepsy
• Poppy. Depending on the species, it is annual or perennial grass With flower buds on long peduncles. It grows on rocky slopes, near mountain streams and rivers, in fields, along roads. And although poppies are poisonous, they are widely used in herbal medicine as a sedative and hypnotic for insomnia, as well as for some diseases of the intestines and bladder.
• Tulips are perennial herbaceous plants of the steppe of the lily family with large and bright flowers. They mainly grow in semi-desert, desert and mountainous areas.
• Astragalus. There are more than 950 species of this plant of various colors and shades, growing in desert and dry steppes, in forest zones and alpine meadows. It is widely used for edema, dropsy, gastroenteritis, diseases of the spleen, as a tonic, as well as for headaches and hypertension.
• Feather grass. It is also a diverse herb. There are more than 60 of them, and the most common of them is feather feather grass. This is a perennial plant of the grass family. Feather grass grows up to 1 meter tall with smooth stems and spinous leaves. Feather grass is used as a decoction in milk for goiter and paralysis.
• Mullein. This is a large (up to 2 m) plant with hairy leaves and large yellow flowers. Studies of the plant have shown the presence of many useful substances in its flowers, such as flavonoids, saponins, coumarin, gum, essential oil, aucubin glycoside, ascorbic acid and carotene content. Therefore, the plant is actively used as a food additive in salads and hot dishes, in preparing drinks, and also eaten fresh.
• Melissa officinalis. This is a perennial tall herb with a distinct lemon scent. The stems of the plant are crowned with bluish-purple flowers, which are collected in false rings. Melissa leaves contain essential oil, ascorbic acid, some organic acids.
• Camel thorn is a subshrub, up to 1 meter in height, with a powerful root system, bare stems with long spines and red (pink) flowers. Camel thorn is widespread in the riverine area, growing along ditches and canals, in wastelands and irrigated lands. The plant contains many vitamins, some organic acids, rubber, resins, tannins, essential oil, as well as carotene and wax. A decoction of the plant is used for colitis, gastritis and stomach ulcers.
• Sagebrush. This is a herbaceous or subshrub plant found almost everywhere. The entire plant has a straight stem with thin pinnately divided leaves and yellowish flowers collected in inflorescences. Wormwood is used as spicy plant, and essential oil is used in perfumes and cosmetics. Wormwood is also important as a forage plant for livestock.
• So, we looked at only some types of steppe plants. And, of course, differences in the landscape leave their mark on appearance herbs growing on it, but, nevertheless, some general properties can be identified. So the steppe plants are characterized by:

• Branched root system
• Root bulbs
• Fleshy stems and thin, narrow leaves

Plants of the steppe zone

The VEGETATION of the steppes consists of various grasses that can tolerate drought. In some plants, the stems and leaves are heavily pubescent or have a developed waxy coating; others have tough stems covered with narrow leaves that roll up in the dry season (cereals); still others have fleshy and juicy stems and leaves with a reserve of moisture. Some plants have a root system that goes deep into the ground or forms tubers, bulbs, and rhizomes.

The steppe zone is one of the main land biomes. Under the influence, first of all, of climatic factors, the zonal features of biomes developed. The steppe zone is characterized by a hot and dry climate for most of the year, and in the spring there is a sufficient amount of moisture, so the steppes are characterized by the presence of a large number of ephemerals and ephemeroids among plant species, and many animals are also confined to a seasonal lifestyle, hibernating in dry conditions. and cold season.

Steppe almond. Photo: Sirpa Tähkämo

The 3 steppe zone is represented in Eurasia by steppes, in North America by prairies, in South America by pampas, and in New Zealand by Tussok communities. These are temperate zone spaces occupied by more or less xerophilic vegetation. From the point of view of the living conditions of the animal population of the steppe, they are characterized by the following features: good review, an abundance of plant food, a relatively dry summer period, the existence of a summer period of rest or, as it is now called, semi-rest. In this respect, steppe communities differ sharply from forest communities. Among the predominant life forms of steppe plants, grasses are distinguished, the stems of which are crowded into turf grasses - turf grasses. In the Southern Hemisphere, such turfs are called tussocks. Tussoks can be very tall and their leaves are less rigid than those of the tufted steppe grasses of the Northern Hemisphere, since the climate of communities close to the steppes of the Southern Hemisphere is milder.

Rhizome grasses that do not form turf, with single stems on creeping underground rhizomes, are more widespread in the northern steppes, in contrast to turf grasses, the role of which in the Northern Hemisphere increases to the south.
Among dicotyledonous herbaceous plants, two groups are distinguished - northern colorful forbs and southern colorless forbs. Colorful forbs are characterized by a mesophilic appearance and large bright flowers or inflorescences, while southern, colorless forbs have a more xerophilic appearance - pubescent stems into leaves, often the leaves are narrow or finely dissected, the flowers are inconspicuous, dim.
Typical for the steppes are annual ephemerals, which bloom in the spring after flowering and die, and perennial ephemeroids, in which tubers, bulbs, and underground rhizomes remain after the death of the above-ground parts. Colchicum is a peculiar species that develops foliage in the spring, when there is still a lot of moisture in the steppe soils, retains only underground organs for the summer, and in the fall, when the entire steppe looks lifeless and yellowed, produces bright lilac flowers (hence its name).

The steppe is characterized by shrubs, often growing in groups, sometimes solitary. These include spirea, caragana, steppe cherries, steppe almonds, and sometimes some types of juniper. The fruits of many shrubs are eaten by animals.
On the soil surface grow xerophilic mosses, fruticose and crustose lichens, and sometimes blue-green algae of the genus Nostoc. During the dry summer period they dry out, after the rains they come to life and assimilate.

In the steppe there are plants that are quite inconspicuous, which may be why they are unfamiliar to many: grains and breakers. They are one of the first to appear on dry ridges, sandy mounds, hills and mounds.

Beans from the cruciferous family are most often found in the highlands and tundra. The total number of its species in our country reaches one hundred. The most common are Siberian groats (found in meadows, dry tundras, alpine and subalpine lawns almost throughout the country, including the Arctic and mountain systems of Central Asia and Siberia), as well as oak groats (widely distributed, except in the Arctic, in fields, dry meadows and steppes). Externally, these grains are very similar to each other.

Oak groats are an annual plant with a branched, leafy stem up to 20 centimeters in height, in the lower part of which there is a basal rosette of oblong leaves, and in the upper part there are loose tassels of yellowish flowers. It blooms in April - July. The chemical composition of the grain has been poorly studied; it is only known that the aerial part contains alkaloids. The plant was used in folk herbal medicine as a hemostatic agent along with shepherd's purse. It is believed that the aerial part, together with the seeds, has an expectorant and antitussive effect, as a result of which it is used for whooping cough and various diseases bronchi, An infusion of the herb is popular as an external remedy for various skin diseases (rashes and others), especially of allergic origin in children (in this case, an infusion or decoction of the herb is taken externally and internally as a blood purifier) ​​o In Chinese medicine, the seeds of the plant are popular, which are used as an expectorant and diuretic.

Siberian Krupka is a perennial with dark yellow flowers. Like oak grain, it deserves study in medical purposes.
There are 35 species of primroses from the family of primroses in our country, distributed mainly in the mountains of the Caucasus, Central Asia and Siberia. The most common is the northern broom - a small, up to 25 centimeters, annual plant with a basal rosette of medium-sized oblong leaves and, as a rule, numerous, up to 20, flower shoots up to 25 centimeters high, each of which ends in an umbrella-shaped inflorescence consisting of 10-30 tiny white flowers. It is found almost throughout the country - in the forest-steppe, steppe, forest and polar-arctic zones: on dry and steppe meadows, rocky slopes, in sparse pine and other forests, and it especially loves.

Flora of the steppe

willingly occupies plowed clearings and deposits like a weed.

The plant has long been used in medicinal purposes the people of our country. Recently, medicine has been studying the possibility of obtaining contraceptive (contraceptive) drugs from it. The studies carried out gave good results- the centuries-old folk experience of using the breaker has been completely confirmed. It is believed that prolomnik has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties; its decoction or paste is used for leucorrhoea in women and gonorrhea in men, hernia and goiter, gastralgia, urolithiasis, especially widely - for sore throat (gargle and take orally). Prolomnik is known to be used as an anticonvulsant for epilepsy and eclampsia (seizure attacks, including in children), and also as a diuretic and hemostatic agent.

Oak wood grain. Photo: Matt Lavin

Tumbleweeds are a unique life form of steppe plants. This life form includes plants that break off at the root collar as a result of drying out, less often rotting, and are carried by the wind across the steppe; at the same time, either rising into the air or hitting the ground, they scatter the seeds. In general, wind plays a significant role in the transfer of seeds of steppe plants. There are a lot of plants with flowers here. The role of wind is great not only in plant pollination, but the number of species in which insects take part in pollination is smaller here than in forests.

Features of steppe plants:

a) Small leaves. The leaves of steppe grasses are narrow, no wider than 1.5-2 mm. In dry weather, they fold lengthwise, and their evaporating surface becomes even smaller (an adaptation to reduce evaporation). In some steppe plants, the leaf blades are very small (bedstraw, kachim, thyme, chickweed, saltwort), in others they are dissected into the thinnest lobules and segments (gills, adonis, etc.).
b) Pubescence. A whole group of steppe plants creates a special “microclimate” for themselves due to abundant pubescence. Many species of astragalus, sage and others use pubescence to protect themselves from sunlight and thus fight drought.
c) Waxy coating. Many people use a layer of wax or other waterproof substance secreted from the skin. This is another adaptation of steppe plants to drought. It is possessed by plants with a smooth, shiny leaf surface: euphorbia, gillweed, Russian cornflower, etc.
d) Special position of the leaves. To avoid overheating, some steppe grasses (naeovolata, serpuha, chondrillas) place their leaves with their edges facing the sun. And such a steppe weed as wild lettuce generally orients its leaves in a vertical north-south plane, representing a kind of living compass.
d) Coloring. Among the summer steppe grasses there are few bright green plants; the leaves and stems of most of them are colored in dull, faded tones. This is another adaptation of steppe plants that helps them protect themselves from excessive lighting and overheating (wormwood).
f) Powerful root system. The root system is 10-20 times larger in mass than the above-ground organs. There are many so-called turf grasses in the steppe. These are feather grass, fescue, thin-legged grass, and wheatgrass. They form dense turfs 10 cm or more in diameter. The turf contains many remnants of old stems and leaves and has the remarkable property of intensively absorbing melt and rainwater and hold it for a long time.
g) Ephemera and ephemeroids. These plants develop in the spring, when the soil is sufficiently moist. Thus, they have time to bloom and bear fruit before the onset of the dry period (tulips, irises, crocuses, goose onions, adonis, etc.).

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Steppe plants

Steppe plants are extremely diverse, but many of them have common characteristics. Among them are small, narrow leaves. In some species, they have the ability to curl up during drought to protect themselves from excessive evaporation of moisture. The color of the leaves is often grayish or bluish-green: the usual bright green foliage can rarely be found here. Steppe plants tolerate heat and lack of rain well.

According to various reference books, about 220 different plant species can be seen in the steppe. Many steppe plants have an extensive root system, allowing them to extract moisture from the ground. In the floodplains of flowing rivers you can find willows, and in those places where groundwater comes close to the surface of the earth - other trees and shrubs: hawthorn, Tatarian maple, wild grapes, blackthorn, etc. In places with saline soil, special steppe plants grow: saline wormwood, kermek, sweda, and saltwort.

Inhospitable most of the year in early spring the steppe is transforming. At this time, before the start of the dry season, it is covered with a colorful carpet of early flowering plants: tulips, irises, hyacinths, crocuses, poppies. These steppe plants differ from cultivated varieties primarily in their smaller size. At the same time, their shape can be more bizarre - such as, for example, the Schrenck tulip, one of the ancestors of the cultivated varieties of this flower. Due to the plowing of the steppe, as well as the ruthless collection of flowers, this species is listed in the Red Book of Russia. The dwarf steppe iris, like the Schrenck tulip, can have flowers of various shades, from yellow to purple. This species is also listed as endangered.

Before the heat sets in, the bright steppe flowers already have time to produce seeds. Their tubers are stocked nutrients, which will allow them to bloom next year. Now comes the turn of plants accustomed to drought: fescue, feather grass, wormwood. Fescue (Valis fescue) is an erect grass up to half a meter high. This plant serves as food for horses and small livestock and is one of the main pasture plants in the steppe zone (fescue is not suitable for harvesting for future use). Feather grass, a typical representative of the steppe flora, is a perennial grass with a short rhizome and narrow, long leaves resembling wire. There are about 400 species in this genus, some of which are protected. The main enemy of feather grass is uncontrolled grazing, during which this plant is simply trampled. As for wormwood, in the steppe, along with other plants, almost all of its species are found (more than 180 in total). Continuous wormwood thickets are usually formed by low varieties - for example, drooping wormwood, seaside wormwood and others.

Individual steppe plants (for example, kermek) after drying form the so-called tumbleweed. At the end of summer, a dried stem of kermek is torn from the roots by a gust of wind and rolls along the ground, scattering seeds along the way. Other stems and twigs can cling to it: the result is a rather impressive dry lump. Common Kermek blooms with pink, purple or yellow small flowers. Based on it, many cultivated varieties have now been bred, which are widely used in landscape design. Species of the genus Sweda, small-leaved and creeping, widespread on saline soils, are, respectively, a small shrub and an annual plant with reddening stems. They are readily eaten by camels.

What plants are typical for the steppe zone

Like them, saltwort also serves as livestock feed in the autumn-winter season. Soda was previously extracted from its ashes.

All steppe plants have their own characteristics that allow them to survive in conditions of heat and lack of moisture. These include powerful roots, early flowering in certain species, narrow leaves, etc.

Geobotany

Topic 4

Lecture 2

Lecture Questions

Steppe zone

Desert zone

Steppe zone.

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

The steppe zone is defined as an area where zonal vegetation consists of communities of herbaceous xerophytes. It is xerophilic grasses that tolerate drought well that form the basis of steppe phytocenoses. Currently, within the steppe zone one can find only relatively small areas of steppes (for example, in nature reserves). Huge areas are plowed 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 is 300-500 mm/year, sometimes less. A characteristic feature of the steppe climate is that the amount of precipitation is significantly less than evaporation. During the warm season, plants almost constantly experience a lack of moisture. The bulk of precipitation falls in mid-summer, during the hot period, and in the form of short-term heavy downpours. This makes it difficult for plants to use moisture, since water quickly flows over the surface of the soil, and some of it evaporates before it has time to penetrate the soil layer. In the open spaces of the steppes, winds blow almost constantly, which increase the evaporation of water from the above-ground organs of plants. At times there are hot winds - hot, drying winds that are especially dangerous.

Soils of the steppe zone- various types of chernozems (typical, podzolized, leached, ordinary, southern, etc.). In the south of the zone, chestnut soils are common.

Steppe plants. The steppes are dominated by herbaceous xerophytes. Particularly characteristic of the steppes are turfgrass (dense bush) grasses with very narrow leaf blades. Among them it is necessary to mention first of all different kinds feather grass ( Stipa). Feather grasses grow in fairly large, dense “bushes” (slide 6). Their leaves are almost always folded lengthwise. Stomata, through which water evaporates, are located on the inner surface of the leaf, which reduces moisture loss (this is important in arid climates). The lower flower scales of feather grasses are equipped with a very long awn, which is geniculate and covered with hairs in many species (pinnate feather grasses).

Narrow-leaved turf grasses also include 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 and tolerate a lack of moisture well.

Forbs - representatives of various families of dicotyledonous plants (except legumes) - play a significant role in steppe phytocenoses. As an example, we can name the types of zopnik ( Phlomis), sage ( Salvia), bruise ( Echium) and others (slides 12-14).

A special group consists of steppe ephemeroids - perennial herbaceous plants that develop only in the spring, when there is enough moisture in the soil. By summer, their aboveground part dries out completely. An example of plants of this type would be Poa bulbosa ( Poa bulbosa) (slide 15), various types of tulip ( Tulipa) (slide 16).

Ephemera are also characteristic of the steppe - annual plants that complete their entire life cycle within a few weeks. They emerge from seeds in early spring, develop quickly, begin flowering and manage to form new seeds before the onset of summer drought. The plants themselves die off completely. Among the steppe ephemerals one can name Horny crescent ( Ceratocephala falcata), Bed bug ( Lepidium perfoliatum), some types of semolina ( Draba) etc. (slides 17-19) These small plants are most abundant in the southern steppes, where 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 between the steppe and 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), caraganas ( Caragana) (slides 20-23).

Subzones. Let's 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 the deciduous forests, is the most humid, while to the south the climate becomes increasingly arid. As a result, the vegetation cover also changes in the direction from north to south. The steppe zone in this region is usually divided into three subzones.

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

The second, more southern, subzone - forb-turf-grasssteppes. Here, only steppe vegetation absolutely dominates the watersheds, and the drier version of the steppes is common. Forest areas are found only along gullies and depressions, where Better conditions hydration. The situation is similar in the third, southernmost, subzoneturf-grass steppes. However, here the watersheds are dominated by an even drier version of the steppes.

Options in the steppes starting with the most humid.

Meadow, or northern, steppes have a fairly 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-petalled meadowsweet ( Filipendula vulgaris), Bruise red ( Echium rubrum), meadow sage ( Salvia pratensis), Kozelets purple ( Scorzonera purpurea) and many others (slides 24-27). In addition to forbs, there are also grasses, but mainly broad-leaved ones - Coastal brome ( Bromopsis riparia), sheep pubescent ( Helictotrichon pubescens), wheatgrass medium ( Agropyron intermedium) and others (slides 28-30). On the contrary, there are quite a few typically steppe narrow-leaved grasses. This is mainly Welsh fescue, or fescue. (Festuca valesiaca) and feather feather grass ( Stipa pennata) - one of the most moisture-loving feather grasses (slides 31-32).

A remarkable feature of meadow steppes is their very high species richness. Thus, in the meadow steppe in the Central Black Earth 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 first one or another plant blooms in the mass, giving the steppe one or another color (yellow, white, blue, indigo, etc.).

A more southern version of the steppe - forb-fescue-feather grass. It is distinguished by a noticeably sparser and lower grass cover. Here the role of narrow-leaved turf grasses sharply increases. Fescue and various feather grasses dominate, and not the same species as in the meadow steppe, but others, more drought-resistant. At the same time, the role of forbs is quite large. But among this group of plants, more drought-resistant species are also common - drooping sage ( Salvia nutans), Zopnik prickly ( Phlomis pungens) and some others (slides 33-34). The species richness is less than in the meadow steppe.

The southernmost, fescue-feather grass steppes differ even more from meadow steppes. The grass cover here is especially sparse 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 forbs. Between the tufts of fescue and feather grass, in the spring, various ephemeral annuals appear: Bedbug, crescent-leaved hornwort, etc. There are also ephemeral perennials - bulbous bluegrass, various types of tulip, etc.

In terms of species richness, the southern steppes are significantly inferior to other steppe variants. Here, at 1 m you can find no more than 10-15 species.

For southern steppe characteristic plants are called “tumbleweeds”. 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 comes off the soil and rolls with the wind across the expanses of the steppe. An example of such plants would be Kachim paniculata ( Gypsophila paniculata), Eryngium plain ( Eryngium campestre), Goniolimon Tatarian ( Goniolimon tataricum) and others (slides 33-34).

CTepi, located in the Asian part of Russia and neighboring countries.

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

In Eastern Siberia, only isolated 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. Special Mongolian elements, for example, are widespread here. However, there is also common plants, especially some cereals: Welsh fescue, or fescue (Festuca valesiaca) and thin-legged slender ( Koeleria cristata), Feather grass, etc. (slide 39-41).

It is noteworthy that in the East Siberian steppes, even the southernmost ones, there are no or very few ephemeral perennials (such as tulips, poultry plants, crocuses, etc.). Ephemeral annuals, so common in the southern Russian steppes, are extremely rare. The basis of the grass stand is made up of perennial grasses and forbs.

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 (the lower reaches of the Terek, Volga and Ural) to the eastern limits of Central Asia and Kazakhstan. There is also a small area of ​​deserts in Transbaikalia, on the border with Mongolia and China.

The zonal vegetation of deserts is unique. The most drought-resistant xerophytes, most often subshrubs, dominate, and the plant cover is more or less sparse and open. Sparse 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 temperature in July reaches 25 °C. In winter, the thermometer can drop significantly below zero. Temperature fluctuations are also very large throughout the day in the summer. An unbearably hot day gives way to a rather cold night. All this is typical for a sharply continental climate.

In deserts in summer the soil surface heats up to 60-70 °C. Only the most heat-resistant plants can tolerate such temperatures. High temperatures are dangerous for plants not only in themselves, but also because they sharply increase transpiration. Strong winds, common in the desert, also contribute to moisture loss.

Deserts are characterized by extremely dry climates. The annual amount of precipitation does not exceed 200-300 mm, and evaporation is several times greater. In the summer, with intense heat, plants receive almost no moisture and 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 distinguished between sandy, clayey, saline and rocky (gravelly). Each of these edaphic types of deserts has a special, unique vegetation cover. Sandy deserts are the most common in Russia and neighboring countries; clay deserts are quite large. Other types are less common.

There are two climate type deserts: deserts where precipitation falls little by little more or less evenly throughout 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. Subshrubs are especially characteristic. In these plants, the lower part is lignified, perennial, and the shoots current year They die off almost throughout their entire length by winter. Subshrubs are represented in the deserts of the territory we are considering by various types of wormwood and plants from the Chenopodiaceae family. True shrubs are found mainly in sandy deserts. Herbaceous plants include primarily ephemeral perennials (for example, some grasses and sedges) and ephemeral annuals. Of the trees in deserts, only some types of saxaul are common (slide 42).

Many of the most common desert plants belong to the Chenopoaceae family. This characteristic feature desert flora of Russia and neighboring countries. Species of this family do not play a major role in the vegetation cover of all other natural zones of our country.

Almost all desert plants are able to tolerate prolonged and severe drought. The ways of adaptation to drought are different for different plants.

One of these adaptations is leaflessness (aphylly). 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 withstanding drought is shedding the current year's shoots and leaves with the onset of summer heat (this phenomenon is observed, for example, in some wormwoods). This also greatly reduces evaporation.

Succulents adapt to drought in a unique way: they accumulate water reserves in their above-ground parts (a special water-bearing tissue is used for this).

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

A specific group of desert plants are phreatophytes (pump plants). They develop normally only if their roots reach the groundwater level. Freatophytes do not suffer at all from summer drought, as they are always provided with moisture. They turn green and bloom in the heat of summer. An example of plants of this type would be the camel thorn subshrub ( Alhagi pseudalhagi), the roots of which are capable of penetrating into the soil to a depth of 10-15 m (slide 43).

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

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

Subzones. Within the desert zone, three subzones are distinguished: semi-deserts, northern clayey deserts, southern clayey deserts.

Semi-desert subzone- the most northern. It represents a transitional zone between the steppe and the desert. Phytocenoses are formed by both steppe narrow-leaved turf grasses (for example, feather grass) and desert subshrubs (species of wormwood, etc.). Both grow together.

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

Northern clayey subzonedeserts characterized by the fact that precipitation falls here little by little and more or less evenly throughout the year. The vegetation cover is sparse; the soil surface not covered with plants is visible everywhere. Subshrubs dominate, growing in the form of low, squat, round-shaped cushions. This group of plants is represented by various wormwoods and species of the goosefoot family (they are called “solyankas”). Of the wormwoods, the most common is White Earth Wormwood ( Artemisia terrae- albae), growing in the form of pillows of a dull grayish-greenish color (slide 44).

In the group of hodgepodges one can name 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 as cushions. 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. Solyankas are good forage plants; they are readily eaten by livestock (sheep and camels). Due to the characteristics of the vegetation cover, northern clayey deserts are called wormwood-salt deserts. Deserts of this type are widespread in southern Kazakhstan.

Southern clay desert subzone characterized by the fact that the bulk of precipitation falls here in the spring, while in the summer it does not occur at all for 3-4 months. Winter in this subzone is relatively warm, sunny, and usually snowless. 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 an excellent pasture for livestock. With the onset of summer drought, the aboveground part of the plants dies and the soil is exposed. In summer, no plants are visible here. In this type of desert, the grasses Poa bulbulosa and Short-columnar sedge are especially common. (Carex pachystylis) (slides 48-49) . Both plants are quite small and low. During the summer drought, only underground organs located shallow in the soil remain alive. Southern clayey deserts are called ephemeral. They are distributed only in the extreme south of Central Asia, and in a relatively small area.

They are a very special, unique type. 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 consists of many large dunes covered with bushes. The bushes are relatively dense and often reach the height of a man. Sands in desert conditions contain more moisture than loamy and clay soils, as a result of which the flora here is especially rich.

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

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

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

In spring, in the sandy desert, a continuous green cover of grass develops on the soil. Swollen sedge is especially abundant here , or ilak (Carex physodes), - a relatively small plant. A distinctive feature of this sedge is large reddish-brown oval sacs located in a small group at the end of the stem (slide 55). Sedge inflated is one of the ephemeroids. It turns green only in spring, and by summer its above-ground part dries out. This plant has important nutritional value.

In the sandy desert there are also annual ephemerals, for example, the grass Mortuk Bonaparte ( Eremopyrum bonaepartis), Malcolmia grandiflora ( Malcolmia grandiflora), Cornea crescent ( Ceratocephala falcata), Veronica bowlegged ( Veronica campylopoda) (slides 56-59). All these plants dry up with the onset of summer, completing their life cycle and dispersing their seeds.

This is, in general terms, the flora of the sandy desert. It should be emphasized that we were talking only about stationary, fixed sands, where the vegetation cover is in its natural state. When overgrazed by livestock, the plant cover is destroyed and the sand begins to move. The final stage of this process is exposed shifting sand blown by the wind. Over time, some specific pioneer plants settle on such mobile dunes, which help to fix the sand, for example, Celine grass ( Aristida karelinii) (slide 60). However, restoration of vegetation occurs very slowly and with great difficulty.

Also common in our country saline or succulent salt marsh deserts, which do not occupy large areas. They develop on highly saline, moist soils in depressions, drainless basins, etc. Succulent halophytes from the goosefoot family predominate here: Sarsazan ( Halocnemum strobilaceum), Soleros ( Salicornia europaea), potashnik ( Kalidium caspicum), some types of Sweda (Suaeda), etc. (slides 61-64). These plants are called succulent solyankas. The vegetation cover of a 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 grow from spring to late autumn. They die off only with the onset of frost.

Questions from the seminar session

Vegetation cover of Russia and neighboring countries

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. Forb-turf-grass steppes;

1.5. 3. Turf-grass 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.

Plan

1. Location
2. Climate
3. Soil
4 Flora
5. Animal world
6. Power circuits
7. Environmental issues

8.Reserves

1. Location

The steppe zone on the map is highlighted in yellow

Steppe zone located south of the forest zone; steppe zone is much less zone forests Most of the steppe zone is located on the East European Plain, and it is also found in Western and Eastern Siberia. The surface relief is smooth. The steppe zone is located in the temperate climate zone.

2. K lim at

To the south of the forest zone there is even more heat, but less precipitation falls. Summer is long and dry. In July + 22 - + 25 degrees, the heat can reach up to 40 degrees. The weather is dry and sunny. They often blow dry hot winds - hot winds . Sometimes hot winds turn into dust storms.

Winter is short and warm, but there are cold temperatures down to -20 -30 degrees.

In spring, the steppe comes to life and is covered with a carpet of tulips and irises. Spring is short with a lot of moisture in the soil. The rains are torrential in nature. The rain passes quickly, and most of the water, not having time to saturate the soil, flows in streams into the lowlands and evaporates.

3. Soil

Soils in the steppe fertile, covered with black soil. Grasses grow in the steppe; every year their dying stems and leaves increase the fertile layer.

4. Flora

The lack of moisture does not create conditions for tree growth.

Grow tulips, irises, feather grass, fescue, timothy grass, fine-leaved peony .

The shape of the leaves is narrow so that less moisture evaporates; the color is light, because prevents the sheet from getting too hot. Light colors reflect the sun's rays better.

Root system: bulb, bunch, rhizome.
Nutrients are stored in the bulb. A fibrous root system better collects and retains moisture from the surface of the earth. U tall plants The root system goes deep into the soil.

All steppe plants are herbaceous and grow on fertile soil. Plants adapt to life in the steppe in different ways: for example, tulips, which have beautiful flowers, after flowering, the leaves and stems die off, and the bulb remains in the ground with a supply of nutrients until next spring. Irises and meadowsweet have also adapted. Meadowsweet has tuberous thickenings on its roots; reserve nutrients are deposited there; they can even be eaten. Feather grass and fescue have adapted in a completely different way. They grow in the form of a large dense bush. Below, near the ground, numerous shoots are pressed tightly against each other. The leaves of feather grass and fescue are narrow so that less moisture evaporates; the roots go deep into the ground.

5. Animal world

There are no trees in the steppes, but there is grass cover. Therefore, many insects live in the grass: grasshopper, grasshopper, bumblebee, and others. If there are insects, it means there are a lot of birds here: steppe lark, bustard, gray partridge, demoiselle crane. Steppe birds make nests right on the ground. Animals of the steppe are small, their life is connected with the ground in which they make holes. Gophers, hamsters, and field mice live in the steppe. And, of course, there are predators in the steppe: the steppe eagle, the steppe ferret, the steppe viper. The color of steppe animals often matches the color of the vegetation.

steppe eagle - predatory bird. It nests on the ground. The fingers are weak, the claws are short, it feeds on small animals (rodents, birds). Wingspan up to two meters.

Kestrel - bird of prey.

Steppe Lark “We’ve been hearing his song since early spring.” Only the male sings. They feed on insects and carrion.

Bustard - the largest bird, weighing from 16 to 21 kg. Runs well and flies well. It rises into the air with difficulty from a running start. It flies against the wind, low, gradually gaining altitude. There are no sweat glands, it is difficult in the heat, there is no fatty lubrication.

Gray partridge - looks like a small chicken, also clucks and rakes the ground with its paws. Destroys many harmful insects. The meat is very tender and tasty.

Gophers - They don’t go far from their holes. Rising on their hind legs, they look around all the time, and noticing a person or animal, they hide in a hole with a squeak. In dry years, with the onset of lack of food, they hibernate. They can spend up to 9 months sleeping.

Steppe vipers - in weeds and ditches. They feed on rodents and insects.

6. Power circuits

Plants—> Filly—> Partridge—> Steppe Eagles
—> Foxes
—> Wolves

Plants—> Jerboa—> Steppe Eagle

7. Environmental issues

Many plants and animals of the steppe zone are in danger of extinction. The main reason is plowing steppe lands . People turned the steppes into fields. Another reason: livestock graze in unplowed areas of the steppes; excessive grazing leads to soil destruction. The following animals are included in the Red Book: steppe eagle, crane, bustard, grasshopper, steppe rack. Plants: thin-leaved peony.

There is another problem - this poaching . To preserve the nature of the steppes, it is necessary to limit its plowing, limit grazing, fight poaching, and create nature reserves.

How to solve environmental problems?

• Limit plowing of steppes:
• Limit livestock grazing;
• Fight poaching;
• Create nature reserves;

Before plowing the fields, collect bustard eggs and raise them in special incubators. And then release him onto the field.

8. Reserves

Central Chernozem Reserve named after V.V. Alekhine - in the strip of northern steppe of the Kursk and Belgorod regions. Founded in 1935 and named after the famous geobotanist, professor at Moscow University. Area over 4 thousand hectares. The areas of greatest interest are the Streletskaya, Kozatskaya and Yamskaya steppes. There are 31 species of mammals recorded in the reserve, but if we exclude some visiting animals (elk, roe deer, wolf, etc.) and acclimatized ones (raccoon dog), then about 25 native species remain. The typical inhabitant of the virgin steppe, the marmot-baibak, was exterminated in the last century. Traces of his stay are still preserved in the steppes in the form of small mounds (surochin), overgrown steppe vegetation. In addition, speckled ground squirrels, mole rats and a number of other species of fauna can be found here.

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The steppe is a flat landscape zone located in the temperate and subtropical zones of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Steppes are common on all continents, with the exception of Antarctica.

Unfortunately, this type of natural landscape is gradually disappearing from the face of the earth. There are many reasons: plowing of the land, poaching, intensive grazing, fires.

General characteristics of the steppe

It is practically typical for steppes complete absence trees. The exceptions are artificial plantings along paved roads and forest belts near water bodies. But it grows in the steppe a large number of herbaceous plants and shrubs.

However, it is worth remembering that a flat treeless area with a humid climate is no longer a steppe. This is a zone of swampy meadows, and in the north, under such conditions, tundras are formed.

Natural areas of the steppes

The steppe natural zone is located between forest-steppe and semi-desert. The steppe is a treeless space completely covered with grass. The grasses form an almost closed carpet.

Steppe plants are distinguished by their ability to tolerate drought and heat. As a rule, the leaves of steppe plants are small, grayish or bluish-green. Many plants have the ability to curl up their leaves during drought to prevent evaporation.

Since the steppes occupy vast areas, plant species are very diverse. First of all, forage plants are of great importance for humans: clover, alfalfa, corn, sunflower, Jerusalem artichoke. Beets, potatoes, as well as grains: oats, barley, millet.

Among steppe plants there are also medicinal herbs and honey plants.

Animals of the steppes are not much different from the fauna of deserts and semi-deserts. They also have to adapt to hot summers and frosty winters. The most common ungulates are antelopes and saigas, and the most common predators are foxes, wolves and manulas. There are many rodents (gophers, jerboas, marmots), reptiles and insects. Steppe eagles, bustards, larks, and harriers are commonly found among steppe birds. Most bird species fly to warmer climes in winter.

Many steppe animals and birds are on the verge of extinction and are listed in the Red Book.

Types of steppes

Types of steppes are distinguished depending on the ratio of cereals and herbaceous plants.

. Mountain- characterized by lush forbs. An example is the mountain steppes of the Caucasus and Crimea.

. Meadow, or forbs - the largest number of species of steppe plants grow here. Meadow steppes are in contact with forests, and their soils are rich in black soil. Most of the steppes of the European part of Russia and Western Siberia belong to this species.

. Xerophilous- with an abundance of turf grasses, mainly feather grass. This type of steppe is often called feather grass. For example, the southern steppes in the Orenburg region.

. Desert, or deserted. There is a lot of wormwood, tumbleweed, twigs and ephemerals here. This is how the once rich, mixed-grass steppes of Kalmykia became, which as a result of human activity are gradually turning into deserts.

Steppe climate

The main feature of all steppes is aridity. The climate type is from moderate continental to sharply continental. The average annual precipitation rarely exceeds 400 mm. Windy weather prevails in the steppes, and summer is characterized by a large number of sunny days. Winters have little snow, but snowstorms and blizzards are frequent.

Another feature of the steppes is the sharp difference in day and night temperatures, since at night the temperature can drop by 15-20ºC. These conditions make steppes similar to deserts.

Dust storms often occur in the steppes, which affect soil erosion and lead to the formation of gullies and ravines.

The soils of the steppes located in the temperate climate zone are very fertile and are actively used in agriculture. The basis is black soil, only closer to the southern latitudes chestnut soils are found.

IN different countries the steppes have their own name. In Australia and Africa it is savannah, in South America it is llanos and pampas, or pampas, in North America it is prairie, and in New Zealand it is tussock.

In Europe, steppes have been preserved mainly in protected areas. But in Siberia there are still virgin steppes - Kuraiskaya, Chuiskaya.

For 1 sq. km of steppe space is inhabited by more insects than people in the whole world.

The largest birds live in the steppes. In Russia there are bustards, and in Africa there are ostriches.

IN old times The steppe was called a wild field, but nowadays, unfortunately, wild nature remains only in protected areas. Many years ago, the fields were covered with silver blankets, and feather grass was distributed throughout the steppe by the wind. Now most of the fields are plowed and sown with agricultural crops, because the golden value of the steppe is the fertile black soil.

The steppe world is beautiful and very rich in vegetation:

• violets;
• yellow tulips;
• feather grass;
• iris;
• sage;
• parsnip.

The vegetation of these zones is very diverse. Steppe species differ from forest species in that they are characterized by higher frost resistance and drought tolerance. Their usual leaf color is grayish or gray-greenish. The leaves themselves are narrow and thin, but at the same time the cuticle is thick. During drought, most steppe plants curl up into a tube; this property gives them the opportunity to survive in the harsh conditions of the steppe. All vegetation is divided into subspecies:

• medicinal herbal;
• fodder purpose;
• honey;
• cereal

More popular are white sweet clover, wild strawberries, creeping thyme, and cornflower. The following species are slightly less valued: licorice, steppe carnation, gorichnik, starodubka.

Description of steppe plants

The flora of steppe zones is very rich. This article discusses only the most famous of them. But such species can be found in any steppe.

Field sow thistle (yellow sow thistle, garden)

This type is difficult to remove weed. It grows in fields, along roads, near ditches and in many other places. He is a very strong lover of bees, but he produces nectar only in the morning, in the second half the sow thistle closes its flowers. Honey from pure thistle has a rich amber color. The stems and leaves contain a large amount of white, viscous juice. The leaves themselves are slightly prickly, and the flowers are bright yellow. Flowering time is summer.

Meadow cornflower, sandy tsmin and common cornflower

Cornflower is a perennial species, represented from the Asteraceae family. It can reach up to one meter in height. Grows in all meadows, fields, next to roads. Absolutely not a capricious plant. It is medicinal and is used as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic. A good honey plant, a favorite of bees.

In common people sandy tsmin is called immortelle. It is a perennial that grows on sandy and rocky surfaces. The inflorescences have dry scales; when cut, the flower does not fade and remains in one pore. Because of this, it is called immortelle. Flowers are collected for medicinal purposes.

In the ordinary understanding, nivyanik - this is an ordinary chamomile. Belongs to the Asteraceae, from the group of Asteraceae. It grows in meadows, usually likes more humid and shady places, and prefers well-drained soils. Chamomile blooms in June, and its fruits ripen in August. She has medicinal properties and is a honey-bearing flower. The stem is thin, with narrow leaves. The flowers are small, white, and have a yellow center inside.

Elecampane, saxifrage and tenacious sedum

Perennial plant, Compositae. Grows in steppes and forest-steppes. Selects damp areas and grows where there are rivers and ponds. And also a lover of getting lost in tall grasses. Flowering lasts one month, from August to September. It grows more than one and a half meters in height. A long and thin stem, with a yellow flower at the top.

Bedrenets - perennial herbaceous plant. For himself, he chooses hilly places, sunny meadows, and forest edges. Loves the sunny side. The height of the plant reaches 30 cm, the plant is branched with small white flowers.

sedum belongs to the Crassulaceae family, a perennial species. Grows on hillsides with tall grass, in dead thickets. Plant height 50–60 cm. Small inflorescences yellow color. It is very actively visited by bees, as it is an excellent honey plant. Blooms from early June and lasts until September.

Forest parsnip and meadowsweet

Species - biennial plant, family - umbelliferae. It can be found in the field, in vegetable gardens, near roads. The stem length is approximately 1–1.2 meters in height. The leaves, although large, are feathery. The flowers are very small, collected in umbrellas. It is pollinated not by bees, but by flies.

Meadowsweet, herbaceous, perennial. Represented from the Rosaceae family. This flowering grass can be found in summer in mixed-grass meadows and on the outskirts of deciduous forests. The leaves of this plant contain a huge amount of vitamin C. That is why the collected flowers are brewed into tea, and in the spring, the newly grown sprouts are cut for salads. The flowers are small, pink in color, with a pleasant light scent of honey. If you rub the leaves, you can smell the smell of fresh cucumber.

Burnet

From the herbaceous species of the Rosaceae family. Is perennial plant, grows in densely planted shrubs, as well as on dead forest edges.

The height of the plant reaches up to 60 cm, closer to the root the foliage is larger than at the top. Burnet - a plant with straight branched stems, with a lot of foliage and have slight pubescence. Small flowers in dark color(red or black). Blooms in mid-summer and continues until early autumn. Flowers produce a huge amount of pollen and very little nectar.

Is medicinal plant from a long time ago. Its root system is used in folk medicine, as an excellent anti-inflammatory drug. A good decoction of burnet roots prevents the appearance of microbes in the body.

Lemon catnip or catnip

The plant got its name “lemon catnip” due to the strong rich lemon smell. A plant from the Lamiaceae family. Valued by its own essential oils. Is a favorite of bees. Often, beekeepers make plantings of catnip near their apiaries, thus attracting swarms of bees. How wild plant is now very rare. In the regions of Western Siberia it is very common and grows well. The height of the branched, tetrahedral stem sometimes reaches up to half a meter. The leaves are triangular in shape, the flowers are small and pink. It begins to bloom from the beginning of June to the end of September.

Prairie sage

It is a perennial plant (family Lamiaceae). It is found in the steppe, on damp slopes, and also on forest edges. Sage is not tall, growing up to 25 cm in total, sometimes growing with several stems at once. Its leaves are elongated and ovate. Flowers are blue or purple, collected in inflorescences. There are hard hairs throughout the plant. It blooms only in mid-summer - from late June to late July.

Green strawberries

From the Rosaceae family, a popular perennial plant. It can be found in various steppe zones, forest-steppe and moist slopes. The plant is completely unpretentious, so it can adapt to any terrain.

It grows as a mundane bush, the leaves are directed in different directions, the flowers are white, from which after a while delicious bright red fruits ripen. They bloom in mid-May until the end of June.

Zopnik tuberiferous

People sometimes call it "grandmother". It belongs to the Lamiaceae family and is a perennial plant. Very common in the steppes. The plant is quite tall, its dark red trunk reaches a height of up to one meter. The leaves are large, elongated shape, wrinkled with small hairs. The flowers have a pink tint and bloom at the ends of the stems in 2-3 pieces. In the south of the steppes of Western Siberia it begins to bloom at the end of June, and in other areas flowering occurs until the last days of August.

This article presents only a short list of steppe plants. Our steppe is huge and vast, rich in diverse flora, and it is essentially impossible to describe all the steppe plants in one article.