Ephemeroid vegetation of the Kulan Plateau in the Badhyz Reserve (Turkmenistan)

Abstract

The results of long-terms vegetation studies of the Kulan plateau, which is located in the Badhyz reserve in the southeastern Turkmenistan, are presented. The geographical position of the region and the diversity of landscapes promoted to the formation of the specific flora, represented by various groups of Mediterranean, Iranian, Turanian, as well as Middle and Central Asian species. Very specific ephemeroid plant communities with Poa bulbosa и Carex pachystylis dominated in lower layer were syntaxonomically studied for the first time. The upper layer includes the tall herbs, especially Ferula badrakema, an endemic species of Badhyz. Communities were classified as the suballiance Poo bulbosae– Ferulenion badrakemii suball. nov. of the alliance Vulpio persicae–Caricion pachystylidis Świerszcz et al. 2020 of the order Cymbopogono–Brachypodietalia ramosi Horvatič 1963 of the class Lygeo sparti–Stipetea tenacissimae Rivas-Mart. 1978 nom. conserv. propos. Сommunities of grasses on slight turf sands are classified as part of the provisional alliance Stipagrostion pennati prov. The position of the alliance in the system of high-rank syntaxa has not yet been determined. The 5 new associations and 6 subassociations were allocated.