Now on the territory of our homeland it is difficult to find pristine places untouched by man. Most of the plains suitable for agriculture are plowed up, forests are cut down, water bodies are polluted and blocked by dams and other structures. Pure nature is now a rarity. The same can be said about the real Russian steppe, which has remained untouched only in some places in Siberia and the European zone of Russia. But such areas are of great interest to botanists and amateurs, because their flora can amaze the imagination. What plants grow in the steppes?
Forbs
The most diverse and, undoubtedly, the most beautiful is the mixed-grass steppe. She can surprise with her appearance literally from the very beginning of spring, when the snow has just melted. At this time, this area is brown in color due to the remnants of last year's grasses. But after just a couple of days, you can see large lumbago bells on the ground; they look pubescent and have a purple color. This culture is still familiar to many as dream grass. Also in early spring Small green seedlings of cereals and sedges appear in the steppe.
After another couple of weeks, beautiful golden Adonis flowers appear among the greenery, which are visible like stars or lights in the still sparse grass. Hyacinth flowers are also opening; they are pale blue in color.
Over time, the green grasses rise higher and higher, in such greenery one can only occasionally see small whitish anemone stars, as well as nomadic brushes. In mid-summer, the steppe turns purple—sage blooms en masse. It is replaced by white - flowers of chamomile, mountain clover and fluffy cream meadowsweet.
The mixed-grass steppe can amaze the imagination at any time. In some areas, rarer and interesting plants, for example, crocuses, snowdrops, hyacinths and tulips. But it doesn’t take long to admire their blossoms. By the way, such crops are interesting in that all the nutrients stored in the fall are stored in their bulbs, which allows the flowers to delight us with their beauty almost immediately after the snow has parted.
Feather grass steppe
Such steppes are occasionally found in the south of Russia, but feather grass used to be the main plant of our steppes. This crop is usually adjacent to cereals: fescue, keleria, wheatgrass, etc. Such plants have an abundant fibrous root system that penetrates very deep underground, trying to get water. Also in the feather grass steppe, quite large dicotyledonous crops are often found - purple mullein, kermek, and yellow pyrethrum. Such individuals have even longer roots, which allows them to reach even groundwater.
Very interesting are the small plants that live in the most upper layers soil. They are called ephemera, and they root system often does not even reach ten centimeters. Such plants do not live long while there is still moisture in the soil from melting snow. Ephemera have a very short life cycle and a long period of rest.
The feather grass itself is a very interesting crop. This is a drought-resistant grass that has a bunch of cord-like roots. Such a root system spreads widely and deeply throughout the soil, sucking out all possible moisture. During flowering, the feather grass forms a special feather, which is fluffy and light. Its awn is attached to a tiny caryopsis. After the seeds ripen, the grain is carried by such a feather along with the wind over very long distances. Afterwards, it carefully lowers behind the ground and with its sharp end easily penetrates the ground. Changes in air humidity in the morning and evening lead to the fact that the feathery awn on the grain slowly rotates, as if burying planting material into the ground. If the grains get on the animal’s fur, they will behave the same way - penetrating into the skin and muscles, which is fraught with illness and even death.
Towards the end of summer, as well as in autumn, in the feather grass steppe during windy times you can see a very interesting phenomenon. A light and almost transparent ball bounces over the brown and yellowed grass. It can land, push off from the ground and fly again with the wind over very long distances. This phenomenon is called tumbleweed; the ball consists of several plants (for example, cachima, kermek, zopnik, etc.), interlocked with dried stems and leaves. Thanks to this property, these steppe crops reproduce, because as the ball moves, seeds fall from it, which next year will become new plants.
The southern steppes are located over large areas in Western Siberia. Here the grass stand mostly consists of grasses: feather grass, wheatgrass, sheep and fescue. However, other feather grass species are found in this region. In addition, in such a steppe you can find astragalus, china, and crescent alfalfa. Many dicotyledonous plants can grow in the Siberian steppes, but they are not capable of producing such a bright change of colors as in European forbs.
So, we can conclude that not all plants are found in the steppes. Most of the plant crops in the steppe are highly resistant to drought. They can easily withstand difficult weather conditions and are characterized by interesting methods of reproduction. And in the warm season, the steppe is an incredibly beautiful sight.
- Prairie sage;
- Datura;
- Red clover;
- Common Dubrovnik;
- Common toadflax;
- Prairie sage;
- Zopnik tuberiferous;
- Spiny curly, etc.
I live in a steppe area.
I really like the flowering feather grass. It grows on the Arabat Spit of the Azov Sea.
At the end of April - beginning of May, blooming tulips are beautiful.
How useful is sage! And how wonderful he looks!
And look at the red clover! I was once visiting beekeepers, and we went to clover fields. The sight of the clover and the mass of bees above them was breathtaking.
Or you may also encounter dope.
And how touching is the vitality of the knotweed grass.
Steppe refers to flat areas with predominant grassy vegetation (almost complete absence of trees and shrubs, with the exception of artificial plantings). The steppe zone is located in the temperate and subtropical zones.
The steppes are dominated by cereal plants (feather grass, fescue, bluegrass, tonkonog, and sheep).
Also in the steppes, the following plants are often found: immortelle, astragalus, bean grass, speedwell, kermek, wormwood, plantain, sage, yarrow, eryngium, tsmin, bruise, thyme.
The steppe has a fairly wide variety of plants. Mostly herbaceous plants grow there: clover, sweet clover, wheatgrass, sage, tulips, poppy, feather grass, angelica, thyme, wormwood, bellflower, yarrow, mullein, semolina, thyme and much more.
They grow: sage, tulip, astragalus, cutter. These are the plants, I answered 5 myself!
Plants growing in the steppes are very diverse, but they have common characteristics - they are dry-resistant, can tolerate heat, and have relatively small leaves. The flora of the steppes is mainly represented by herbaceous plants. Among them there are food plants:
Honey-bearing herbs, such as budra, speedwell, heather, knotweed and so on.
Many medicinal plants.
Trees do not grow in the steppe and even shrubs cannot survive there. It's all about the winds, and because of them, moisture from the ground evaporates very quickly, without reaching the deep layers of the soil, so there is only enough water for herbs.
The growth of steppe grasses can reach a height of more than 1 meter.
These plants are: dream grass, poppy, crocuses, feather grass, blackthorn, etc.
In the steppe grow those plants that can live for a long time without moisture, afraid of the scorching sun, drought, strong winds. These include: self-seeded poppy, handsome tulip, feather grass, angelica, thyme, yarrow, wormwood, fluffy cream meadowsweet, bellflower, prickly grasshopper, mountain clover, adonis.
Many different plants grow in the steppe, here are some of them.
Common mullein has large yellow flowers and can reach 2 meters in height. IN folk medicine flowers are used for coughs.
Wormwood is a perennial herb that has a thick woody root.
And also white clover, breaker, poppy, semolina, tulips, astragalus, fescue, thyme and many others.
A huge variety of plant species grows in the steppe. The landscape of the steppes, of course, affects appearance plants. For steppe plants, the following similar characteristics can be distinguished:
1) branched root system;
2) roots in the form of bulbs;
3) narrow leaves;
4) mostly fleshy stems.
So, the following plants grow in the steppe:
- Krupka. An annual plant with a branched stem and oblong leaves with yellow flowers. Blooms in April-July;
- Breaker. An annual plant with oblong leaves and many flower shoots ending in inflorescences with small white flowers;
- Poppy. It can be annual or perennial on long stalks with flower buds.
- Tulips. Perennial plants with large flowers and fleshy stems;
- Astragalus. Grows even in the driest steppes, its flowers can have more than 950 types of shades.
- Feather grass. A perennial plant with a smooth stem (up to 1 meter tall) and spinous leaves.
Also known to everyone, lemon balm, camel thorn and wormwood grow in the steppe.
I only provided short list steppe plants.
The steppe is an almost endless expanse in which tall and not so tall grasses grow and very rarely you can find thickets of bushes or a lonely group of trees. There are steppes on all continents and therefore steppe plants can vary greatly, but let's focus on the plants growing in our steppes. First of all, the most common steppe plant can be called Feather grass, which in some places is called Tyrsa:
A beautiful steppe plant is astragalus, whose relatives with long thin roots cause a lot of trouble for gardeners:
An even more interesting steppe grass is the cutter grass, which blooms with small white flowers, but is notable not for this, but for the fact that closer to autumn its roots dry out and tear off, and the wind begins to drive a small ball of dry cutter across the steppe, scattering the seeds.
It is impossible not to mention such a useful medicinal plant as sage, which is also common in our steppes.
And of course, the obligatory flower of the steppes, the tulip, which makes huge fields bloom in a variety of colors:
Previously even more frequent flower There were poppies in the steppes, but now I don’t even know if poppy steppes have survived anywhere.
Grows in the steppes a large number of a variety of plants such as:
The steppe is 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
The steppes are characterized by an almost complete absence of trees. The exceptions are artificial plantings along paved roads and forest belts near water bodies. But in the steppe a large number of herbaceous plants and shrubs grow.
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. Great value For humans, they have, first of all, forage plants: clover, alfalfa, corn, sunflower, Jerusalem artichoke. Beets, potatoes, as well as grains: oats, barley, millet.
Among the 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 what the once rich, mixed-grass steppes of Kalmykia have become, 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 the savannah, in South America it is the llanos and pampas, or pampas, in North America- prairies, and in New Zealand - tussoki.
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.
The Don steppes are, first of all, mysterious world herbs As you know, each blade of grass is a unique healing wizard, you just need to know the right spell. Surely you would like to eat a magic leaf or drink a miraculous decoction for all ailments and misfortunes, but only a real herbalist can understand all the nuances of this ancient art. Traditional medicine has long been used by humanity from ancient times to the present day.
Healing with medicinal plants is perhaps one of the oldest methods of treatment. Even our great-grandmothers, long before the advent and development of medicine, brewed decoctions and made infusions for all diseases; the first healers used the healing powers of herbs in their mixtures. It is sad to note that in our age of cybernetic technology and crazy inventions, we are increasingly turning to Mother Nature for help, relying on pills and potions created in laboratories.
(trampling grass, ant grass, goose grass). Knotweed (knotweed) is a herbaceous annual plant, belongs to the buckwheat family, with the stem lying on the ground, the nodes are located,membranous, dissected, small trumpets of a whitish color. The root is typically taproot. The leaves are alternate, small, oval. The flowers are small, light green or slightly pink, located in the axils of the leaves. Flowering time: early summer - autumn. Knotweed can be found in wastelands, near roads, and in river valleys. Used for medicinal purposes flowering grass as a means to stop bleeding in the postpartum period or after an abortion, as well as for kidney diseases.
Sweet clover(yellow) is a herbaceous biennial plant that belongs to the legume family. The flowers are small, yellow, moth-like, held in a raceme. The plant usually blooms all summer. It can be found in ravines, ravine slopes, forest edges, among bushes and tall grass in the steppe, and in meadows. Sweet clover is used for nervous diseases, cardiospasms, migraines, menopause, as an expectorant, laxative, insomnia, headache, melancholy, menstruation disorder, ascites, pain in bladder, intestines, flatulence and for nursing mothers. A decoction, infusion of sweet clover and ointment from its flowers are recommended for the treatment of purulent wounds, mastitis, furunculosis, and otitis media. Do not use during pregnancy or kidney disease. Sweet clover is a poisonous plant. It is advisable to use it only in training camps.
Oregano- a herbaceous perennial plant. The flowers are small, lilac-pink color, form a panicle. Flowering time July-September. Found on forest edges, meadows, and river valleys. Oregano has a high bactericidal effect, normalizes the activity of nervous system body, effective against inflammatory processes, ensures normal functioning of the intestinal tract, diuretic and choleretic agent. Oregano herb is recommended for use in sore throat, delayed menstruation, hypersexual excitability, colds, pulmonary and heart diseases, diathesis, epilepsy, scrofula, intestinal and stomach diseases, and problems with the gall bladder and liver. The infusion is used in the form of baths, lotions, and wet compresses for skin diseases. They sniff dry flower tops and worn leaves for headaches and runny nose, and wash their hair with the decoction to combat dandruff and hair loss.
St. John's wort- herbaceous perennial plant. The flowers of the plant are golden yellow with characteristic black dots. Flowering continues throughout the summer. St. John's wort is found on the edges, in meadows, in rare pine and deciduous forests on fallow lands, clearings, and sandy slopes. St. John's wort is used for chronic disorders and diseases of the stomach, for periodontal disease, stomatitis, colitis, diarrhea, chronic inflammatory kidney diseases, cholelithiasis, in gynecology, gingivitis, rheumatism, for unpleasant breath, for nervous diseases, arthritis, radiculitis, for the treatment of diseases heart disease, for colds, liver diseases, bladder diseases, hemorrhoids, headaches, bedwetting.
Clover- a herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the legume family. The erect stems of meadow clover are slightly pubescent. The leaves with wide, triangle-shaped stipules are long-petioled. Clover flowers are dark red in color, small, and collected in an inflorescence head. Blooms actively in the second half of summer (July - August). It grows in fields, wet meadows, grassy slopes of forest edges, along roads and paths. The plant has long been used in folk medicine for mild diseases (as an expectorant), tinnitus, low hemoglobin levels, angina pectoris, appetite disorders, painful critical days and as a diuretic, dizziness. Inflammation of the eyes is treated with decoction and infusion of clover inflorescences. In the form of lotions, they are used for tumors, wounds, burns, and scrofula. Clover inflorescences are used to make tea, and delicious salads are prepared from the young leaves of the plant.
Horse sorrel- a herbaceous perennial plant, belongs to the buckwheat family. Blooms in early and mid-summer. It is found along river banks, in meadows, on hillsides, as well as in dense groves, forest clearings or near roads. It has bactericidal properties; in small doses, horse sorrel has astringent properties, in large doses it has a laxative effect, and the laxative effect occurs 10-12 hours after administration. Horse sorrel is used in the form of a decoction, infusion or extract in the treatment of diseases such as colitis and its varieties, hemorrhoids, when anal fissures occur, and can be used as an antiputrefactive, hemostatic agent. Horse sorrel is contraindicated during pregnancy or kidney disease.
Nettle - dioecious plant herbaceous, perennial, belonging to the nettle family. The flowers have a greenish color. Blooms from mid-June until autumn. Reduces blood clotting time, increases the amount of hemoglobin and red blood cells in the blood, improves metabolism, reduces blood sugar, normalizes the menstrual cycle, tones the muscles of the uterus and intestines, and is a strong anti-inflammatory and healing agent. It is used in cases of internal bleeding, anemia, subserous fibroids, menopause, in the early stages of diabetes mellitus, constipation. Nettle can also be used for diseases of the biliary tract and liver, to eliminate nervous disorders, fever, obesity, and as a milk extractor. A decoction, or perhaps an infusion of nettle roots, is recommended to be drunk as a blood purifier for skin diseases, as well as for helminthic infestations; compresses are made from a decoction of the whole plant for tumors. An aqueous infusion of flowers is used for pulmonary diseases. A strong infusion of nettle leaves is used to make lotions for wounds, ulcers and burns. effective means for dandruff, hair loss. For bleeding, the juice of fresh leaves can be dropped into the nose. Brooms are made from pre-boiled nettles and steamed in baths for pain in the lumbar region or rheumatism of the joints. Powder from dried leaves can be sprinkled on ulcers and ulcers. Nettle, among other things, is also used to prepare tonic salads and even soups or borscht.
Burdock(burdock) - a plant belonging to the Asteraceae family, herbaceous, biennial, widely used since the time of our great-grandmothers. A decoction and infusion of the roots are known for their strong diuretic and diaphoretic effects. Burdock is used for diabetes, gout, kidney stones and rheumatism, ascites, hemorrhoids, skin diseases, constipation, in case of poisoning, for venereal diseases, joint pain, to get rid of purulent old wounds, tumors, and is often used as a remedy that can improve metabolism substances for stone disease of the kidneys and bladder, for stomach diseases, to strengthen hair. Early burdock leaves are good to use for preparing delicious salads and soups, and the roots of one year of life can be eaten raw, boiled, baked, fried, and can also replace potatoes in soup.
Elf angustifolia- a shrub with red-brown branches. The flowers are white, located in the axils of the leaves. In folk medicine, products obtained from the fruits of the oleaster are used as an astringent for colitis, diarrhea and respiratory diseases. Cardiac remedies are made from flower infusions, particularly for hypertension.
Coltsfoot- a plant belonging to the Asteraceae family, herbaceous, perennial. The leaves grow from the root, are quite large in size, round in shape, green on top, pubescent, bare below. Flowering begins in spring in April - May and is classified as ephemeral. The plant is different strong effect anti-inflammatory and emollient during expectoration, as well as an effective diaphoretic, coltsfoot is actively used for respiratory diseases, sore throat, pain in the gastrointestinal tract, appetite disorders and skin diseases, effective for inflammation of the veins of the legs, hoarseness. Compresses from a decoction or from crushed leaves can be used externally for abscesses, tumors, inflammation of the veins, burns, wounds; gargles are recommended for sore throats; enemas are recommended for intestinal diseases.
Peppermint- a herbaceous, perennial plant belonging to the Lamiaceae family. It blooms almost all summer, extending into autumn. Since ancient times, mint leaves have been recommended for use for stomach and intestinal spasms, diarrhea, flatulence, nausea and vomiting, effective as a choleretic agent, for gallstones, for jaundice, as a pain reliever for hepatic colic, and also as a cardiac stimulant and as a remedy for headaches, in case of nervous diseases and as a result of insomnia, with inflammatory processes in the periosteum of the middle ear, with kidney stones. In an alcohol solution of 1:4, essential oil is rubbed into the scalp for migraines, it is very effective for skin inflammation and is indispensable for inhalation for respiratory diseases.
Dandelion officinalis- a herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. Flowering lasts from May to August. Dandelion root and herb are effective for diseases of the gallbladder, liver, jaundice, cholelithiasis, for disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, namely colitis and constipation, for hemorrhoids, improves the quality of digestion and has a stimulating effect on appetite, is indispensable in the treatment of atherosclerosis, anemia, for skin diseases. Young leaves of freshly picked dandelion are used as an ingredient in salad.
Shepherd's Purse- an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the cruciferous family. The flowers are small in size, white, collected in an elongated raceme. Contraindicated for pregnant women. The herb is a hemostatic agent, promotes contraction of the uterine muscles, reduces blood pressure, is used to stop internal bleeding, for wounds, to treat fever, diarrhea; A decoction or juice of a fresh plant, diluted with water, is recommended for use for liver diseases, hepatic colic, kidney and bladder diseases, and metabolic disorders. An infusion of shepherd's purse is prescribed as a hemostatic agent for uterine cancer. The leaves of the plant are used fresh for food, making salads and soups; The seeds taste like mustard.
Tansy(Wild mountain ash) is a herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. The stem is tall, erect, the leaves have a pinnate dissection, they smell strongly when rubbed, the flowers are yellow, small in size, in the form of tubes, collected in an inflorescence called a basket. Blooms almost all summer. Tansy is used for helminthic diseases, such as ascariasis and pinworms, for liver diseases, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, for nervous disorders, inflammatory processes in the bladder and kidneys, kidney stones, for gout, headaches, malaria, as a menstruation stimulant, for feverish conditions, pulmonary tuberculosis, jaundice, rheumatism of the joints, jaundice, dislocations and wounds, as well as in case of epilepsy.
Large plantain- a widely known herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the plantain family. The inflorescence is a long, thick spike in the form of a cylinder, made up of small brownish flowers. Flowering continues all summer until autumn. Plantain has a hemostatic, bactericidal, good wound healing, and is characterized by an expectorant and blood pressure-lowering effect. The juice of plantain leaves is used to treat patients with chronic disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, is actively used for acute and chronic enteritis, for dysentery and chronic nephritis, for pulmonary diseases, is effective in the fight against boils and other unpleasant skin diseases, has the ability to hemostatic and wound healing, widely used as a diuretic, as well as for chronic pulmonary diseases, effective for dyspepsia, diabetes, helps with male and female infertility, recommended for eye diseases, cancer treatment, liver disease. It is recommended to use it externally for erysipelas, ulcers, carbuncles and wounds; freshly picked, washed in boiled water, crushed leaves are placed on the affected parts of the skin or washed with a tincture of the leaves.
Wormwood- tincture, decoction and extract of the plant are most often used as a source of bitterness to develop appetite and activate the functioning of the digestive organs. Contraindicated during pregnancy. Wormwood is used for diseases of the biliary tract, pancreas, colitis, helminthiasis, bad breath, various pulmonary diseases, including whooping cough, tuberculosis, acute respiratory diseases, sexual indifference, problems with the menstrual cycle, disorders of sexual development, amenorrhea, infertility.
Wheatgrass- the rhizome contains sugar-containing elements, glycosides, alcohols, a large amount of vitamins, fatty and essential oils, useful organic acids. Use is recommended in the treatment of the urinary and biliary tract, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, and they also treat furunculosis, rickets, chronic constipation, and hemorrhoids.
Chamomile officinalis- a herbaceous, annual plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. White flowers are collected in a basket inflorescence. Flowering continues for a long time from spring to late summer. Chamomile inflorescences, as a rule, without stems, with a pedicel length not exceeding 3 cm, are collected at the beginning of flowering, during the period when the ligulate marginal flowers in the baskets are horizontal. Chamomile essential oils are a strong disinfectant and diaphoretic, help reduce gas formation, provide pain relief, prevent inflammatory processes, chamomile is recommended for normalizing the activity of the gastrointestinal tract, activates the functioning of the central nervous system, speeding up breathing, increasing the number of heart contractions several times, has a vasodilator effect, especially for the brain. Large quantities essential oil may provoke headache and a general state of weakness. Chamomile preparations affect the increase in the secretion of gastric and intestinal juices; increase bile secretion and increase appetite. Chamomile has a great effect in the treatment of bronchial asthma, rheumatism, skin diseases, burns, stomach diseases, colitis, colds, malaria, diseases associated with fever, scrofula, diseases of the nervous system, insomnia, in addition to excessive excitability, neuralgia pain, painful critical days, uterine bleeding, fatigue. Externally, this plant is recommended for use in cases of hemorrhoids, excessive sweating of the feet, chamomile has proven itself well in matters of hair care, good therapeutic effect It helps with gynecological diseases, trichomonas colpitis. If you have the flu, it is recommended to inhale hot steam from chamomile infusion. For slow-healing wounds, use externally, as well as for infantile colic. For gout, ulcers and boils, preferably in the form of a decoction mixed with salt.
Tatarnik prickly- a biennial herbaceous prickly plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. Flowering continues all summer. In folk medicine, tartar is used as a decoction in the treatment of malignant tumors, purulent wounds, is effective in the treatment of tetanus, ulcers, skin cancer, lupus and scrofulosis, for vascular rheumatism, is indispensable as a diuretic, for painful sensations in the bladder, and recommended for colds for use in the form of a decoction or powder.
Creeping thyme(Thyme, or Common Thyme, or Bogorodskaya grass?) - a perennial subshrub up to 15 cm high, the shoot spreads along the ground, only the flowering stems are raised or even erect. Depending on the habitat, flowering continues from late spring throughout the summer, but fruit ripening occurs in mid-summer until September. Is one of the best honey plants. Young leaves and shoots of thyme are great for salads and even for pickling cucumbers. All kinds of infusions, decoctions and thyme extract are recommended for diseases of acute and chronic respiratory tracts, tuberculosis and bronchial asthma. Creeping thyme is characterized by an antimicrobial, sedative, effective against convulsions, a strong analgesic that promotes wound healing and a wide spectrum of action against helminthiasis. The aerial part of the plant is used for expectorant preparations, astringent and choleretic preparations, also preparations for baths for inflammatory processes in the joints, it is also recommended for nervous diseases, as a diuretic, diaphoretic and antihypertensive agent. When used externally, it is used in the form of compresses, soothing baths and lotions for painful sensations in the muscles. It is advisable to use ointments and lotions made from thyme for rheumatism of the joints; it heals wounds and skin diseases well.
Yarrow- a herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. It blooms all summer, extending into the autumn months. As a rule, the upper parts of a flowering plant are used for treatment, which should be collected during the flowering period. Yarrow has pronounced anti-inflammatory and bactericidal properties. Yarrow preparations increase the rate of blood clotting and are characterized as a powerful means of combating inflammatory and allergic reactions of the body, as well as rapid healing of wounds. In addition, yarrow increases the contractility of the uterine muscles, which explains frequent use it is used for uterine bleeding, the plant has a vasodilating effect and analgesic for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Yarrow is recommended for use in stopping internal bleeding - pulmonary, intestinal, uterine, hemorrhoidal, nasal, bleeding from gums and wounds. In addition, preparations from yarrow are also effective as a sedative. For inflammation of the respiratory tract, yarrow is used in the form of an infusion, as well as to improve appetite and overall digestion, for problems with the menstrual cycle, and to increase the amount of milk in nursing mothers.
Common hop - climbing plant, belonging to the mulberry family, dioecious, perennial, even poisonous if used improperly, length can be up to 3-6 m, root is fleshy, simple. The flowers are small, inconspicuous, unisexual, the fruits are round in shape, in the form of single-seeded nuts, which are united into yellowish-green fruit in the form of cones. Flowering continues almost all summer, fruiting occurs in late summer, usually in autumn. Common hops grow along the banks of lakes, rivers, in well-moistened deciduous forests, in clearings, forest edges, in forest and forest-steppe zones, most often among shrubs. Preparations of hop cones are used as a sedative, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and analgesic. They are used for excessive nervous and sexual excitability, sleep disorders, nervous diseases, radiculitis, kidney diseases, painful critical days, nocturnal emissions, menopause. Hop “cones” are especially effective for cystitis and urethritis.
Chicory- a herbaceous plant belonging to the Asteraceae family, perennial. The flowers are blue, although they are also found in pink or white, collected in a basket inflorescence. Flowering continues throughout the summer until September. Chicory is used as a stomachic, choleretic, laxative and is used to treat diseases of the liver, spleen, kidneys, and skin diseases. The hypoglycemic effect of chicory in diabetes mellitus has been determined. Decoctions of roots and inflorescences have a bactericidal, soothing and astringent effect, enhance the secretion of gastric and intestinal juices, peristalsis of the gastrointestinal tract, increase appetite, choleretic and diuretic, immunomodulatory, antiallergic agent.
Celandine- a herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the poppy family. The straight stem of the plant is branched, with small hairs. Celandine, unlike many other plants, contains yellow-orange milky sap. Flowering continues almost all summer. The herb is characterized by a bactericidal, pronounced antitumor effect, is effective in the fight against fungal diseases, tones the smooth muscles of the uterus, affects blood pressure, lowering it, and has a choleretic effect. In addition, celandine is often used for heart diseases, liver and gallbladder diseases, stomach cancer, and colon polyposis. The juice of fresh celandine grass is used to burn or remove warts and condylomas. Recommended for use in the treatment of gout and rheumatism of the joints, skin tuberculosis, dry calluses, skin diseases, and ascites.
Salvia officinalis- a subshrub belonging to the Lamiaceae family, perennial. Sage flowers produce a pleasantly smelling sweet nectar. Flowering lasts from June to July. The leaves of this shrub are characterized by anti-inflammatory, disinfectant, astringent, emollient and sweat-limiting effects, and the ability to stop bleeding. It is used in the form of infusion or decoction of leaves for stomatitis, catarrh of the upper respiratory tract, in the form of medicinal douching in case of sore throat and gynecological diseases, it is effective as a means of reducing sweating - the effect of this plant occurs after 1-2 hours, and the inhibition of sweating processes can continue sometimes all day, it is also recommended during menopause for women, and even as a means of reducing lactation in nursing mothers.
The steppes are the main value for which the reserve was created. The steppes represented on its territory are classified as northern, or meadow. This means that they are located at the northern limit of the distribution of steppe vegetation.
Among other types of steppes, meadow steppes have suffered from economic development person most strongly. The main spaces once occupied by them turned into arable land. All survivors in Eastern Europe areas of meadow steppes lying on watersheds (plakors) can currently be counted on one hand. The Central Black Earth Reserve includes the largest of them - the Streletskaya (730 hectares) and Kozatskaya (720 hectares) steppes. Other more or less large surviving areas of the meadow steppes of Russia are the Yamskaya steppe of the Belogorye nature reserve (Belgorod region, 410 hectares), the Kuncherovskaya forest-steppe and Poperechenskaya steppe of the Privolzhskaya forest-steppe nature reserve (Penza region, together 450 hectares).
The Streletskaya and Cossack steppes represent the never-plowed (virgin) most typical meadow steppes in their best expression. These steppes avoided plowing due to the fact that since the 17th century they were in the communal use of archers and Cossacks and were intended only for haymaking and, partly, grazing. They have survived to this day because... in 1935 they became part of the Central Black Earth Reserve, created thanks to the efforts of Professor V.V. Alekhine, who made a huge contribution to the study of the steppes of the entire Central Black Earth Region and especially the Kursk region.
The conservation of steppe areas is not yet a complete solution to the problem of preserving their biodiversity. Meadow steppes retain their basic qualities only with the alienation of above-ground phytomass. The main role in this process in pre-agricultural times (before the start of agricultural development of the land by humans) was played by large herd ungulates grazing in the steppes in significant quantities: wild horses - tarpans, saigas, aurochs. Large rodents such as gophers and marmots were found in abundance, as well as some herbivorous birds: bustards, bustards, etc. Steppe fires apparently played a significant role, destroying rags. Steppe vegetation in modern absolutely protected conditions, i.e. with complete non-interference of humans in the ongoing processes, it is gradually giving way to meadow, and the introduction of tree and shrub species is observed. The main reason for this is the intensive accumulation of rags and long-term non-decomposing litter, the so-called “steppe felt”. This is due to the absence of large phytophagous animals - consumers of green phytomass, which, dying annually, lies on the soil surface. Under the influence of litter, the temperature, water and light conditions of the upper soil horizons change. Under these new conditions, long-rhizome meadow species become more competitive, and steppe forbs gradually disappear from the grass stand; The structure of the vegetation cover changes, and species richness decreases. In order to avoid such undesirable changes, it is necessary to find a suitable replacement for the impact on the steppe grass that wild animals and steppe fires previously had. Such measures can be haymaking or grazing of domestic animals, or a combination of both: mowing and then grazing after the end. When choosing a conservation strategy, one must be guided by the goal of preserving maximum biodiversity. This goal is best achieved by combining different modes, when each of them makes its own contribution. Currently, the steppes of the reserve are maintained thanks to human activities: haymaking with different terms mowing and different rotations and grazing livestock with moderate load. The haymaking regime has options: annual mowing, hay rotation with a five-year rotation, when the area is mowed for four years in a row, and in the fifth year it “rests” to replenish the seed bank in the soil, hay rotation with a ten-year rotation and grazing after the end (nine years of mowing and rest on the tenth year). Immediately after the organization of the reserve, special experimental areas were also allocated - absolutely protected areas where there is no mowing or grazing. On the main area of the flat steppe in the Central Chernozem Reserve, a hay rotation regime is used.
At the beginning of the 20th century, only mown variants of meadow steppes were represented on the plains of the Streletskaya and Cossack steppes. It was they who were proposed for conservation as having outstanding characteristics, which are now listed as the main “reference” for the northern steppes. Professor V.V. called it “Kursk botanical anomaly”. Alekhine these steppes.
The meadow steppes of the reserve are characterized by a rapid change of colors, outstanding species richness and richness of floristic composition, dense grass stand in which several species play a significant role, which is why these steppes are called polydominant. Many species of steppe plants grow here, which have become rare outside the reserve due to the destruction of their habitats and are included in the Red Book of the Kursk Region (2001). In the reserve, populations of these species are usually quite numerous and reliably preserved. In the steppes of the Streletsky and Kozatsky areas such rare plants grow steppe plants: thin-leaved peony, pinnate feather grass, beautiful, narrow-leaved and pubescent-leaved, leafless iris, whitish hyacinth, sumsky cornflower, spring adonis, yellow flax, perennial, veined, purple kozel, etc.
At the beginning of the last century, the steppes had a clearly expressed mixed-grass character, i.e. Dicotyledonous plants noticeably predominated in the grass stand, both in terms of their role in aspects and the number of species, as well as in terms of weight in the hay. Cereals also played a very large, but less noticeable role in the composition of the grass stand compared to forbs. Among the cereals, there was a predominance of species with more or less wide leaves, as well as a predominance of rhizomatous and loose-bush types (non-turf), which, combined with the abundance of dicotyledons, allowed V.V. Alekhine (1934, p. 28) called the northern steppes steppes of “colorful herbs with broad-leaved grasses.”
The northern steppes are characterized by a rapid change in physiognomic pictures (aspects) vegetation associated with the sequential flowering of different plant species, which represents one of distinctive properties meadow-steppe phytocenoses. In the meadows north of the forest-steppe zone and in the true steppes south of it, the colorfulness of herbaceous communities decreases. The change of aspects in the Streletskaya steppe was first described in 1907 by V.V. Alekhine (1909). Later, this description was included in many popular scientific, methodological, and reference publications to characterize the “classical” picture of colorful changes occurring in the vegetation of meadow steppes. “Such a change of phases is undoubtedly the result of adaptation of steppe plants in the sense of their placement along various parts growing season: each species found a certain place for itself, not being greatly constrained by others and competing less with them” (Alekhine, 1934, p. 23).
After the snow melts, which usually happens in the steppe at the end of March, the brown background of last year's grass dominates. In mid-April, the first flowering species begin to appear, the most noticeable of which is open lumbago, or sleep-grass with large purple flowers. Almost simultaneously with it, spring adonis, or adonis, blooms. This species is more abundant and, in combination with Siberian coarse grain, forms a bright golden-yellow aspect of the steppe by the beginning of May. Yellow tones continue to dominate in mid-May, but now thanks to the flowering of other species: spring primrose and Russian broom. By this time, the young grass is already growing well, creating a fresh green background. Against this background, by the end of May the yellow flowers bright white and purple spots of blooming wood anemone, milky white china and leafless iris come. At the beginning of June, the lilac-blue aspect of meadow sage and fine-leaved peas is established, and early grasses also bloom: pinnate and pubescent feather grass, downy sheep. By mid-June the picture becomes very motley, because... blooms at this time maximum amount species of forbs and most grasses. These are species such as mountain and alpine clover, common cornflower, purple kozel, elecampane, blood-red geranium, common meadowsweet, coastal brome, etc. Later, by the end of June, the predominant color will be pink - this is sandy sainfoin blooming en masse; The bedstraw with its yellow, honey-smelling inflorescences also plays a significant role. The grass stand reaches greatest height and density, the time for haymaking is approaching. Beginning in July, the steppe already noticeably fades, most species fade, and the rising grasses obscure the still remaining colors. However, some species only now, in the midst of summer, carry their flowering shoots high, which are clearly visible against the background of the becoming straw-colored steppe: Litvinov's larkspur with blue flowers, black hellebore with dark cherry flowers. In unmown areas of the steppe, a straw-brownish background from dying shoots of cereals remains until late autumn. In mown areas, many species experience secondary flowering; in favorable years, some plants even manage to produce a second crop of seeds. More and more new flowering species can be observed until mid-October. Secondary flowering, however, cannot compare with normal flowering in terms of richness of colors and number of flowering plants.
Changes in colorful pictures can vary from year to year: there are “feather grass” years, when from mid-May to mid-June the steppe resembles a swaying silver sea, and there are years when the feather grass aspect is not expressed at all. Most other species also do not form well-defined aspects annually. The change in aspects over the years is associated, on the one hand, with fluctuations in meteorological conditions, and on the other, with the periodicity of flowering inherent in many herbaceous plants. By highlighting certain phases or aspects, we greatly simplify the observed phenomena. In fact, each phase contains dozens of flowering, fading and flowering plants, which overall creates an extremely complex picture. The steppe changes its appearance not only from day to day, but it does not remain unchanged during the day, because... some species open their inflorescences in the morning, and with the onset of the hottest time they close until next day. These are, for example, plants such as purple goat and eastern salsify. Other species open their flowers for only a few hours, and then their petals fall off (perennial and veined flax).
In absolutely protected areas, the development of plants in the spring is noticeably delayed due to the large amount of dead plant residues, which contribute to the accumulation of a larger supply of snow, which later melts. The vegetation is significantly inferior in variety of colors and richness of colors to the mown areas of the steppe. A whole range of species with bright colors and avoids unmown areas with large inflorescences; Here you can rarely find meadow sage, sandy sainfoin, purple goat, rouge and many other species that are common and abundant in the mown and grazed steppe.
Higher plants can be divided into biomorphs based on their general structure, frequency of fruiting and life expectancy: trees, shrubs, subshrubs and subshrubs, perennial herbs, annuals. In terms of the composition of the main biomorphs, meadow steppes are characterized by the predominance of perennial grasses capable of bearing fruit multiple times during their lifetime - these are polycarpics. Thus, among the main components of the grass stand in the Streletskaya steppe, their share is about 80%. Among them there are very few ephemeroids, i.e. plants that grow in a short time spring period bloom and bear fruit, after which their above-ground organs die, and bulbs or tubers remain in the soil: whitish hyacinth, Russian hazel grouse, red onion. Such rapid development of ephemeroids is an adaptation to have time to take advantage of the spring reserves of moisture in the soil before it begins to dry out; this life form is represented in the more southern variants of the steppes much more widely than in the meadows, where drought and heat are not so frequent. In second place are perennial and biennial herbs that bear fruit once in a lifetime and die off after that - these are monocarpics; they make up about 10% of the species composition of upland steppes. The role of ephemeral annuals is small both in the number of species and in abundance; found in small quantities are woolly krupka, northern breaker, and ferruginous gerbil and etc . Also, a small role is played by subshrubs and subshrubs, in which the lower parts of the stems do not die off in winter, these are plants such as Marshall thyme, some types of wormwood. In the plain steppe, the spread of trees and shrubs is inhibited by mowing. In the absence of mowing (pasture and absolutely reserved regimes), trees and shrubs are represented by a fairly large number of species, and some of them are very numerous (thorns, pears, apple trees, hawthorns, rose hips, etc.).
Steppes are open spaces where strong winds often blow. Under such conditions, dispersing fruits and seeds by wind is the most successful way to conquer new territories. In the forest-steppe zone, open areas of herbaceous vegetation are combined with tracts of forests and thickets of shrubs that prevent the long-distance spread of steppe plants, and among them there are not many species whose fruits are equipped with effective flying devices. Such plants are called anemochores; they primarily include feather grasses, the fruits of which (caryopsis) are equipped with long awns up to 40-50 cm. By the time of ripening, these awns become clearly feathery, due to which the fruits can be carried by the wind over distances of up to 100 m or more. A very interesting form of plants is tumbleweed; it is represented by a small number of species. In plants of this form, by the time the seeds ripen, the aerial part takes the shape of a ball, which breaks off at the root collar and rolls with the wind, spreading the seeds along the way. Most a prominent representative This form in the Central Black Earth Reserve is the Tatarian katran. The steppe slopes in the Bukreevy Barmy area, where it grows in significant abundance, during the period of its mass flowering are covered with large white balls and look as if a flock of sheep is grazing on them (Photo). Other representatives of this form are trinia multistem and common cutter. In many species, the flight properties of seeds or fruits are weakly expressed; the role of the wind is that it only shakes the stems of these plants and thus contributes to seeding. In this case, the seeds scatter from the mother plant only tens of centimeters (Levina, 1956). The fruits of some species crack when ripening and drying, and the seeds are scattered around with force (fine-leaved peas, milky white peas, etc.); such plants are called autochores. The radius of expansion is also measured only in tens of centimeters or a few meters. The dispersal of seeds and fruits with the help of animals (zoochory) in the steppe apparently plays a subordinate role (Levina, 1965), which, however, increases with penetration into the steppe woody plants with fruits edible for animals; Myrmecochores are richer than others - plants whose fruits are taken away by ants (fragrant and rock violets, crested violet, nun).
Due to the high floristic richness, uniform distribution of many species and their great abundance, meadow steppes are characterized by extremely high species and specimen richness. Species or floristic saturation is the number of species in a certain area. V.V. Alekhine (1935) recorded up to 77 species of vascular plants per 1 m2 and up to 120 species per 100 m2 in the Streletskaya steppe. “Such richness of the Streletskaya steppe is absolutely exceptional and represents a kind of “vegetative Kursk anomaly” (Alekhine, 1934, p. 65). Later, censuses at meter sites carried out by V.N. Golubev (1962a) gave even more striking results. On the six surveyed meters, 87, 80, 61, 77, 80 and 84 species were recorded. Apparently, such a high species richness of vascular plants does not occur anywhere else in the temperate zone.
Trying to find an explanation for the “Kursk plant anomaly”, V.V. Alekhine wrote that “a connection may arise between the exceptional richness and antiquity of a given territory, because the Kursk steppes lie on the Central Russian Upland, which was not under the glacier” (1934, p. 65).
ON THE. Prozorovsky (1948), objecting to V.V. Alekhine, emphasized that the high species richness of the Kursk steppes is explained by a particularly favorable combination of climatic conditions in this zone, and not by the antiquity of the territory that has not experienced glaciation, evidence of which is the gradual change in species richness in east direction, which manifests itself both in the territory that was and was not under the glacier.
G.I. Dokhman (1968, p. 97) believed that optimal hydrothermal and edaphic conditions of existence in the forest-steppe lead to maximum saturation of individuals, i.e. to high specimen saturation, and the high number of species per unit area “should be partly explained by the heterogeneity of the microenvironment, which provides the opportunity for the settlement of ecologically diverse plant species per unit area.”
A.M. Semenova-Tyan-Shanskaya (1966), who also noted that the species richness of meadow steppes and steppe meadows of the forest-steppe differs from all grass watershed communities of the Russian Plain, saw the reasons for this phenomenon in the variable nature of moisture, which explains the existence of small areas species different in their ecology: drought-resistant steppe, true meadow and forest-meadow mesophytes, as well as meadow-steppe plants in the broad sense that are most characteristic of the forest-steppe.
A.M. Krasnitsky (1983) explained the reasons for the signs of the botanical anomaly of the Streletskaya steppe by the regime of anthropogenic protection - mowing. However, mowing alone would not lead to such indicators in any natural conditions. The species richness of the Kursk meadow steppes, unique for the Holarctic, can apparently only be explained by a combination of the above-mentioned reasons: natural-historical, physical-geographical and anthropogenic.
Mowing weakens the competitive power of dominant species, because a significant part of the assimilating organs is alienated, this deprives them of their dominant position in intercepting light. After mowing, new ecological niches are formed, as a result of which such a large number of species of vascular plants can grow together in a small area, while the individual role of each species, even the dominant one, is not very high, i.e. the degree of dominance in mown meadow steppes is low, and most grass stands are characterized by polydominance; The projective coverage of dominants, as a rule, does not exceed 10-15, and more often it is at the level of 5-8%.
The richness of the floristic composition and high species richness of the upland meadow steppe entail a complex vertical structure. The herbaceous layer is characterized by high density; the soil uncovered by plants can only be seen by the emissions of mole rats or other smaller rodents. The projective cover of plants can reach 90-100%, on average no less than 70-80%. The herbage during the period of its maximum development (June - early August) is usually divided into several sublayers (different researchers have identified from 4 to 6 sublayers of the herbage). The layering changes during the growing season: it becomes more complex (the number of sublayers increases) from early spring to summer and becomes simpler in autumn. The highest sublayer, composed of coastal brome, tall ryegrass, rough cornflower, gilly grass, mealy mullein and other plants in a wet year exceeds 100 cm. The ground layer is typical, consisting mainly of one type of green moss - Tuidium spruceous, which can cover more than half of the surface soil.
The layering of the grass stand is accompanied by underground layering. Based on the depth of root penetration, all plants can be divided into three groups: shallow-rooted (up to 100 cm), medium-rooted (up to 200 cm) and deep-rooted (over 200 cm). It must be said that not all researchers share this point of view. There is also a directly opposite view: in meadow-steppe communities there is no real tiered structure in the underground parts of the communities.
The uppermost layer of soil, most densely intertwined with roots, forms a dense turf that protects the soil well from erosion. The total size of the root layer reaches a record depth of 6 m, and possibly more (Golubev, 1962b). Exclusively high depth penetration of the roots of meadow steppe plants is determined by the properties of the soil: good aeration and porosity, sufficient moisture in the lower horizons, starting from 1.8 m, deep groundwater, absence of salinity, etc.
The total underground phytomass in meadow steppes exceeds the above-ground phytomass by 2-3 times, the bulk of the roots and rhizomes are located in a soil layer 0-50 cm deep. The yield of above-ground phytomass is subject to significant year-to-year fluctuations. In the total above-ground phytomass, green and dead parts (rags and litter) are distinguished. According to the results of long-term studies in the Streletskaya steppe, the green part of the above-ground phytomass ranged from 16 to 62 c/ha under hay rotation regime, averaging 32 c/ha, and the total above-ground phytomass - from 21 to 94 c/ha, on average - 49 c/ha. ha. Under an absolutely reserved regime, the green part of the above-ground phytomass ranged from 23 to 55 c/ha, averaging 37 c/ha, and the total above-ground phytomass - from 50 to 135 c/ha, on average 91 c/ha (Sobakinskikh, 2000) . Thus, under an absolutely protected regime, the total above-ground phytomass almost doubles, but this increase is mainly due to the dead part.
Over the past century, some changes have occurred in the vegetation of the Streletskaya steppe. A decrease in the participation in the structure of meadow steppe grass stands of a group of dicotyledonous plants, which determined the high colorfulness of meadow steppes at the beginning of the century, was noted. The abundance of broad-leaved grasses has increased significantly, among them the coastal brome still plays the largest role, but relatively recently tall ryegrass has penetrated into the upland steppes from meadows and forest edges and has gained a strong position; its generative shoots can reach a height of 1.3-1.5 m in wet summers. Poa angustifolia, downy sheep's grass, Syreyshchikov's bentgrass, hedgehog's grass, steppe and meadow timothy grass are quite abundant.
Of the large-turf grasses, the most characteristic and abundant is feathery feather grass; angustifolia and pubescent feather grass are less common; of the small-turf species - fescue, thin-legged comb.
In the first half of the last century, a special characteristic feature of the meadow steppes was given by the high participation of low sedge, tufts of which were found on almost every square meter. V.V. Alekhine considered it an indispensable member of the northern steppes, even writing about meadow steppes with low sedge undergrowth. In the second half of the 20th century, its abundance and occurrence significantly decreased in the upland steppes.
The abundance of whitish hyacinth also decreases. If earlier it was mentioned that this species took part in the formation of aspects together with adonis and primrose, now it can be difficult to count several dozen flowering specimens per hectare.
All observers until the end of the 1980s noted the forget-me-not aspect of Popov. S.S. Levitsky (1968) wrote that mass flowering Forget-me-nots sometimes give some areas of the steppe such a bright blue color that from a distance these places can be mistaken for expanses of water reflecting the azure sky. To date, this species has lost its role in the creation of the aspect and is now recorded in the steppe only in small numbers.
While some species are decreasing in abundance, others are increasing their abundance. We have already mentioned above the mass introduction of tall ryegrass, which in the first half of the twentieth century was completely uncharacteristic of grass stands of upland steppes. The second half of the 20th century in the Streletskaya steppe is characterized by the appearance in places of the Siberian grain aspect; before that it was known that it was rare in the steppe, only a few clumps were noted. Rough cornflower has also become more widespread.
The horizontal structure of the vegetation cover is complex; identifying individual communities (phytocenoses) in it presents serious difficulties, since herbaceous vegetation is characterized by a continuum, i.e. the smooth transition of one community to another, which is explained by the rather homogeneous environmental conditions on the flats, the richness of the species composition and the predominance of species with a wide ecological amplitude. However, on the other hand, meadow steppes are characterized by complexity, due to a well-developed microrelief and the complexity of the soil cover. On microelevations of various shapes, in a circumference of up to 1 m or more, with a height of up to 20-40 cm, as a rule, groups develop with a large participation of dry-loving (xerophilic) plants. In small, gentle, rounded depressions called saucers, more moisture-loving (mesophilic) species are more abundantly represented. The heterogeneity of vegetation cover is more noticeable under absolutely protected conditions. The mown steppe is characterized by a uniformly diffuse distribution of most plant species, which leads to a monotonous pattern in the vegetation cover, because mowing is a powerful leveling factor.
The classification of plant communities of meadow steppes is also associated with problems due to the rich species composition, polydominance, and the difficulty of distinguishing between meadow steppes and steppe meadows. Until recently, the ecological-phytocenotic approach to classification prevailed, mainly based on taking into account dominants. This led to the identification of a large number of small and inexpressive plant associations, often differing only in the ratio of abundances of the same dominant species, which can vary greatly not only from place to place, but also within the same community from year to year and even within one growing season.
Recently, the floristic approach has become increasingly used. Its use for classifying the vegetation of the Streletskaya steppe made it possible to classify all communities of the upland mowing part as one association (Averinova, 2005).
We can say that now the vegetation of the upland meadow steppes of the reserve is represented mainly by forb-broad-leaved grass communities with a significant participation of dense turf grasses and legumes. Among the forbs, the following species are especially abundant: spring adonis, spring primrose, multifloral buttercup, green strawberry, meadowsweet, meadow sage, Kaufmann's grass, rough cornflower, true bedstraw, common cutter, mountain gourd, etc. Of the legumes, the most noticeable role is played by: clover mountain and alpine, thin-leaved peas, sandy sainfoin, etc.
Meadow-steppe vegetation is represented not only on the plains of the Streletskaya and Cossack steppes, but also on the slopes of lairs (gulls) of predominantly southern exposure, where it often has a more steppe character than the plain steppe itself due to the greater aridity of such habitats. On the southern slopes one can find plant groups that include species that are not found in the flat conditions of these areas and are more xerophilic in nature. The vegetation no longer forms a continuous cover; in places the subsoil is exposed. Mainly associated with the southern slopes are drooping sage and feather grass, as well as crescent grass, Russian Echinops, white broomrape, Siberian istod, chamomile aster, tall and some other plants. It is on the southern slopes that the presence of thickets of steppe shrubs, the so-called dereznyaks, is typical, consisting mainly of steppe cherry, low almond, called bobovnik, blackthorn, less often meadowsweet (spirea) Litvinov, and some types of rose hips. At the beginning of May, when the sloe and almond trees bloom at the same time, some slopes become very picturesque thanks to the combination of white, pink and green flowers. The wolfberry itself (caragana shrub), from which the name of these thickets comes, is currently found on the territory of the reserve only in the Barkalovka section. On the northern slopes, phytocenoses contain many mesophilic species and the vegetation is close to meadow. Outside the Central Chernozem Reserve, remnants of steppe vegetation are still preserved precisely on the slopes of ravines and along the steep banks of rivers, i.e. in places inconvenient for plowing.
Meadow-steppe vegetation can be restored in place of arable land if there are favorable conditions for this: the proximity of virgin steppes, which act as sources of seeds, suitable terrain and soil, and the use of haymaking. Positive examples Such restoration exists in several areas of the reserve, but this is a slow process. If a steppe ecosystem can be destroyed in a matter of hours by plowing, it will take decades for nature to recover. Thus, on the Kozatsky site there is an old 70-year-old deposit “Far Field” with an area of 290 hectares. On its mown areas, the vegetation is currently represented by meadow-steppe communities, which in their properties and appearance are close to virgin steppes. However, even after such a long period of time, experts note some differences between these restored communities and those that were not subject to destructive anthropogenic impacts. In that part of the “Far Field” deposit, where the regime of absolute conservation was practiced, areas of steppe vegetation with well-developed feather grass communities have also been restored, but a significant introduction of shrubs and trees, meadow and even forest species. At the Bukreevy Barmy site, a 40-year-old deposit with an area of 20 hectares is an example of the relatively rapid and successful restoration of feather grass steppes on southern-facing slopes with Cretaceous deposits close to the surface. In such drier conditions, the total phytomass decreases, a less significant layer of litter is formed, and the feather feather grass gains an advantage in comparison with the more mesophilic broad-leaved grasses that predominate on the flats (coastal and awnless brome, tall ryegrass, meadow timothy, etc.).
Where there is no steppe for natural restoration suitable conditions, steppe vegetation can be recreated using specially developed methods. The Zorinsky site became part of the Central Chernobyl Plant in 1998; More than 200 hectares of it were occupied by former arable land, which by the time the reserve was organized was gradually overgrown with weeds and meadow vegetation, and part of the land was still used for arable land. The possibilities of restoring steppe vegetation here naturally were very limited, because Very few areas were preserved in which steppe species grew, and the range of these species was rather poor.
To create more favorable conditions restoration of steppe vegetation on fallow lands and arable land in 1999, the staff of the reserve conducted an experiment on 6 hectares on the restoration of steppes using a grass-seed mixture from the virgin Streletskaya steppe. This mixture was prepared by mowing different areas at several times, so that seeds of species that ripen in different time, and then introduced into the experimental area. This recovery method was developed by D.S. Dzybov and received the name of the agrosteppe method.
Over the years since the experiment, specimens of more than 80 species of plants have been discovered, about which there is reason to say that they appeared from the introduced material, including 46 species noted on the experimental area that were not previously part of the local flora, of which 23 species - these are rare steppe plants from the Red Book list of the Kursk region (2001). Species such as coastal brome, slender-legged comb, perennial flax, and sandy sainfoin have become quite widespread in the experimental area, blooming and bearing fruit well. The first specimens of feather grass began to enter the generative phase in 2002; to date, there are hundreds of fruiting turfs of feather grass and feather grass.
Overall, we assess the results of this experiment as modest, because It was not possible to achieve close similarity of the reconstructed communities with those represented in the Streletskaya steppe. If in the future steppe species become established in the plant communities of the Zorinsky site, become their significant components and spread far beyond the experimental area, then the experiment will be justified.
In 2010, on the Streletsky site, on an area of 7 hectares of a former potato field, a new experiment was launched to recreate meadow-steppe vegetation: wide-row sowing of several species of feathery feather grass was carried out on half of the field; In the future, it is planned to sow the row spacing with seeds of steppe forbs. This method was developed by V.I. Danilov and is used to restore the historical appearance of the Kulikovo Field landscape in the Tula region. In the second half, the agrosteppe method will be applied again.
The text was prepared by Ph.D. T.D. Filatova