Abstract
The area of the Belaya River basin (Western Caucasus) within the altitudinal ranges of 700 to 2100 m is covered with beech-fir forests, composed of Fagus orientalis and Abies nordmanniana, which occur in slopes of various exposure and inclination. Syntaxonomic diversity of these communities is represented by four associations: 1. Sambuco nigrae—Fagetum orientalis ass. nov.; the diagnostic species set includes Sambucus nigra, Symphytum grandiflorum, Pachyphragma macrophyllum, Paris incompleta, Acer pseudoplatanus, Philadelphus caucasicus, Hedera helix; 2. Festuco drymejae—Abietetum nordmannianae ass. nov.; the diagnostic species are Festuca drymeja, Sanicula europaea, Solidago virgaurea, Galium rotundifolium, Mycelis muralis, Lathyrus aureus, Calamintha grandiflora; 3. Rhododendro pontici—Fagetum orientalis ass. nov.; the diagnostic species is Rhododendron ponticum; 4. Petasito albae—Abietetum nordmannianae ass. nov.; the diagnostic species are Acer trautvetteri, Petasites albus, Symphytum asperum, Aconitum orientale, Adenostyles macrophylla, Geranium sylvaticum, Myosotis amoena, Valeriana officinalis. The associations are subordinated to the alliance Abieti—Fagion orientalis Korotkov et Belonovskaja 1987 of the order Rhododendro pontici—Fagetalia orientalis Passarge 1981 and the class Querco-Fagetea Br.-Bl. et Vlieger 1937. The results, together with those obtained by Korotkov & Belonovskaya (1987), allow us to assume that all the dark coniferous forest units of the Caucasus Range could be included into this single alliance.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
