Code Of Phytosociological Nomenclature Research Articles

Ranunculetum mongolicin — новая ассоциация водной растительности из Республики Алтай

In the framework of the project “Classification of Vegetation of the Russian Federation” (Plugatar et al., 2020; Kipriyanova et al., 2021), a revision of the modern coenotic diversity of Russia, including aquatic vegetation, is being carried out. It turned out that the types of some plant communities have not yet been described, including the association with the dominance of the Ranunculus mongolicus (Krylov) Serg. Ranunculus mongolicus was first reported in the Flora of West Siberia (Flora..., 1931) by P. N. Krylov as a subspecies of the water buttercup R. aquatilis ssp. mongolicus Kryl. (Krylov, 1931), L. P. Sergievskaya raised the taxon rank to species (Sergievskaya, 1964). In the modern monographic treatment of aquatic buttercups, this taxon is given at the species rank (Wiegleb et al., 2017). It indicates that Ranunculus mongolicus is habitually similar to R. aquatilis, although smaller in all parts. Lamellar leaves are deeply dissected, peduncles are long, all parts of the plant are densely hairy. In arid regions, it behaves like an annual (Wiegleb et al., 2017). In the course of expedition work in 2020 in the Ulagan district of the Republic of Altai, five geobotanical descriptions of communities dominated by the Mongolian buttercup (see Table) were performed, and it was decided to describe a new association. The classification was carried out on the principles of the ecological-floristic approach of J. Braun-Blanquet in accordance with the Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature (Theurillat et al., 2021). Ass. Ranunculetum mongolici ass. nov. unites the communities dominated by the Mongolian buttercup (Fig. 1, 2). The diagnostic species is Ranunculus mongolicus (= Batrachium mongolicum (Krylov) Krecz.). Nomenclature type of association (holotypus hoc loco) — relevé No 5 in the Table. Republic of Altai, Ulagan district, vicinity of the mouth of the Chulyshman River, the oxbow lake of the Chulyshman River, 21.08.2020, 51.33130 N 87.73750 E. Author — L. M. Kipriyanova. We attributed the new association to the alliance Batrachion aquatilis Passarge 1964 of the order Callitricho hamulatae–Ranunculetalia aquatilis Passarge ex Theurillat in Theurillat et al. 2015 of the class Potamogetonetea Klika in Klika et Novák 1941. The range of the community apparently coincides with the range of the species. In Asia, R. mongolicus is found in Siberia, the Russian Far East, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Mongolia, China, and Nepal (Wiegleb et al., 2017). It is found along the west coast of North America where it is confused with R. aquatilis (as R. aquatilis var. aquatilis and R. aquatilis var. hispidulus); likewise, most South American “R. aquatilis” refers to R. mongolicus. (Wiegleb et al., 2017). In Eastern Siberia, R. mongolicus is rare and does not form communities (Chepinoga, 2015). In addition to the Mongolian buttercup communities from Ulagan district, there are publicly available photographs of cenoses with R. mongolicus taken by A. I. Pyak in the Kosh-Agach district of the Republic of Altai (valley of the Kyzylchin (Buguzun) River, 49.992579° N, 89.088472° E, 15.07.2007, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/99636689) (see Fig. 3). There are also photos of Yu. O. Kopylov-Guskov with thickets of Mongolian buttercup from the Republic of Tuva (Mongun-Taiginskiy district, 50.180458° N, 90.136025° E, 15.07.2016, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/65270151) (see Fig. 4), such as A. L. Ebel photo from the Krasnoyarsk Territory (Kuraginskiy district, near the village of Kuragino, muddy bank of a channel of the Tuba River. 18.07.2018, 53.85932° N, 92.60829° E, https://www.plantarium.ru/page/image/id/719518.html) (see Fig. 5) In addition, R. mongolicus forms communities on the Taimyr Peninsula (Krasnoyarsk Territory, Khatanga River valley, Malaya Balakhnya oxbow lake, 22.08.2001, http://byrranga.ru/ranunculaceae/batrachium_aquatile/index.htm) (see Fig. 6). Thus, at the moment it is possible to speak about the communities of the Mongolian buttercup from the Republic of Altai, the Republic of Tuva and the Krasnoyarsk Territory. In the Republic of Altai, association communities are confined to flooded ecotopes, mainly with mineral (clay and sandy) silty substrates and depths from 20 to 60 cm in oligomesotrophic and mesotrophic cold-water reservoirs in the low-mountain and high-mountain belts of Altai, which makes it possible to attribute the association to the alliance Potamogetonion graminei Westhoff et Den Held 1969 combining the vegetation of rooted macrophytes of nutrient-poor (oligo-mesotrophic, sometimes dystrophic) shallow-water fresh water bodies of mountainous regions (Westhoff and Den Held, 1969; Mucina et al., 2016). However, the features of the ecology of communities throughout all the distribution area are not known yet, so for the time being we leave it in the alliance Batrachion aquatilis of the order Callitricho hamulatae–Ranunculetalia aquatilis.

Proposal (29) to conserve the name Omphalodo nitidae-Coryletum avellanae Amigo, G. Azcárate et Romero 1994 with a conserved type

The association Omphalodo nitidae-Coryletum avellanae was defined by assembling relevés on (mainly) Corylus avellana woods on nutrient-rich substrates in the westernmost part of the Cantabrian Range (NW Spain). However, a mesophytic oak forest dominated by Quercus robur (with noteworthy amount of Corylus avellana in the undercanopy) was selected as its holotype. The most common interpretation of this association in the subsequent literature has been as seral Corylus avellana forests. For this reason, we propose the application of article 53 of the ICPN (4th ed.), which allows the name to be maintained with a new nomenclatural type based on the more recent interpretation of this syntaxon. (29) Omphalodo nitidae-Coryletum avellanae Amigo, G. Azcárate et Romero 1994, typus cons. propos. Typus: Amigo et al. (1994), table 2: rel. 4 (typus cons. propos.) Taxonomic reference: Castroviejo et al. (1986–2020). Syntaxonomic reference: Rivas-Martínez (2011). Abbreviations: ICPN = International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature.

Endemic Hemicryptophyte Grasslands of the High Mountains of the Caribbean

Although there are numerous studies on the floristic composition of the Andean and Caribbean grasslands, there are limited information from a phytosociological point of view. This work therefore aims to highlight the differences in this important vegetation type in these two biodiversity hotspots to gain a better understanding of their floristic and vegetational richness. The floristic composition of Andean grasslands (Ecuador) and the island of Hispaniola is also studied. The reason for this comparative analysis of Andean and Caribbean territories is their tropical character and their bioclimatic similarities. The comparative analysis of Peruvian Andean and Colombian grasslands is based on floristic knowledge from the literature, our inventories on the island of Hispaniola, and the works of Peguero. We applied the phytosociological methodology of Braun-Blanquet and the code of phytosociological nomenclature. We performed a statistical analysis to verify the differences between both community types using the statistical packages PAST© and CAP3. The comparative analysis of Andean and Caribbean grasslands shows a clear floristic and biogeographical differentiation and reveals that the only ecological character they share is their high-mountain attribute. In the Caribbean these communities are found only on the island of Hispaniola (Dominican Republic) in the Central biogeographic sector, Central subprovince, Hispaniola province. These grasslands are exclusive to Hispaniola and have a high rate of endemics. We propose the following new syntaxa: the association Hyperico constanzae-Danthonietum domingensis, the alliance Hieracio domingensis-Deschampsion domingensis, the order Danthonietalia domingensis, and the class Deschampsio-Danthonietea domingensis. We found high biodiversity values for Andean and Caribbean areas. This is due to the intense anthropic activity on the island of Hispaniola, which has led to a high percentage of naturalized plants.

Report 2 of the Committee for Change and Conservation of Names (CCCN)

In this Report, three previously published nomenclatural proposals are discussed, and recommendations on acceptance or rejection of these proposals are provided. The proposals concern the following syntaxa: Berberidion Braun-Blanquet 1950, Aceretalia pseudoplataniMoor 1976 and Festucetalia valesiacae Braun-Blanquet et Tüxen ex Braun-Blanquet 1950. Abbreviations: CCCN = Committee for the Change and Conservation of Names; GPN = Working Group for Phytosociological Nomenclature; ICPN = International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature.

New syntaxa of tall-forb vegetation in the Pamir-Alai and western Tian Shan Mts. (Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, Middle Asia) – an addendum to Nowak et al. 2020

We validate eleven syntaxa (eight associations and three alliances) of tall-forb vegetation that were published earlier as nomina provisoria according to the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature. The validation concerns syntaxa of tall-forb vegetation of the class Prangetea ulopterae Klein 1987 reported from Pamir-Alai and western Tian Shan Mountains (Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan). Taxonomic reference: Cherepanov (1995). Abbreviations: ICPN = International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature.

Physiological-biotechnological aspects of drought resistance of narrow-leaved lavender (Lavandula angustifolia mill.)

National Nature Park “Pyryatynsky” is a valuable reserve of flora and vegetation of the Left-Bank Dnipro. The extensive hydrological network of the Udai River and the wide representation within this nature reserve of floodplain reservoirs are the reason for the high diversity of plant communities of higher aquatic vegetation. In this article we classified the communities of order Callitricho-Batrachietalia in National nature park "Pyryatynskyi" and identify the features of their syntaxonomic and ecological differentiation. Fragmentary and non-comlete information about this type of vegetation are existed in literature, however, without geobotanical releves and detailed characteristics of the structure of phytoceonoses, synecology and synchorology. All obtained results based on original field data. In total, 22 geobotanical releves were performed during the period 2010–2017. The description of communities was carried out within their natural boundaries. Treatment of fitosociological data was performed with the JUICE software package. The nomenclature of syntaxons was consistent with the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature (ICFN).The order of Callitricho-Batrachietalia on the territory of NPP "Pyriatynsky" is represented by alliance Batrachion aquatilis Gehu 1961 and 4 associations (Batrachietum aquatilis Gehu 1961, Potameto perfoliati–Batrachietum circinati Sauer 1937, Hottonietum palustris Sauer 1947, Veronico beccabungae–Callitrichetum stagnalis (Oberdorfer 1957) Th. Müller 1962). This is first prodrome of order Callitricho-Batrachietalia for territory of National Nature Park “Pyryatynskyi”. The communities of this syntaxon occupy small areas and have a limited distribution in the region. Most of them are rare and vulnerable to changes in environmental conditions. Monitoring of their structure, chorology and dynamics is an important task to maintain and preserve the species and coenotic diversity of NPP "Pyryatynsky".

Vegetation of Callitricho-Batrachietalia passarge 1978 in National nature park «Pyryatynskyi»

National Nature Park “Pyryatynsky” is a valuable reserve of flora and vegetation of the Left-Bank Dnipro. The extensive hydrological network of the Udai River and the wide representation within this nature reserve of floodplain reservoirs are the reason for the high diversity of plant communities of higher aquatic vegetation. In this article we classified the communities of order Callitricho-Batrachietalia in National nature park "Pyryatynskyi" and identify the features of their syntaxonomic and ecological differentiation. Fragmentary and non-comlete information about this type of vegetation are existed in literature, however, without geobotanical releves and detailed characteristics of the structure of phytoceonoses, synecology and synchorology. All obtained results based on original field data. In total, 22 geobotanical releves were performed during the period 2010–2017. The description of communities was carried out within their natural boundaries. Treatment of fitosociological data was performed with the JUICE software package. The nomenclature of syntaxons was consistent with the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature (ICFN).The order of Callitricho-Batrachietalia on the territory of NPP "Pyriatynsky" is represented by alliance Batrachion aquatilis Gehu 1961 and 4 associations (Batrachietum aquatilis Gehu 1961, Potameto perfoliati–Batrachietum circinati Sauer 1937, Hottonietum palustris Sauer 1947, Veronico beccabungae–Callitrichetum stagnalis (Oberdorfer 1957) Th. Müller 1962). This is first prodrome of order Callitricho-Batrachietalia for territory of National Nature Park “Pyryatynskyi”. The communities of this syntaxon occupy small areas and have a limited distribution in the region. Most of them are rare and vulnerable to changes in environmental conditions. Monitoring of their structure, chorology and dynamics is an important task to maintain and preserve the species and coenotic diversity of NPP "Pyryatynsky".

Requests (1–2) for a binding decision on the name-giving taxa in the names Isoeto-Cicendietum Br.-Bl. 1967 and Verbeno-Gnaphalietum Rivas Goday 1970

We propose to complete two association names of the class Isoeto-Nanojuncetea by selecting the name-giving taxa according to Art. 40 of the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature. Taxonomic reference: Euro+Med (2021).

Растительность газонов города Уфы (Республика Башкортостан)

Растительность газонов города Уфы (Республика Башкортостан)

Syntaxonomic diversity of dry grassland and phrygana vegetation of the Southern Crimea: preliminary analysis

The aim of the work is to revise the prodrome and diagnostic species of the classes of natural dry grassland and phrygana vegetation of the Southern Crimea based on own field studies and modern literature data. Methods. The work is based on the Braun-Blanquet approach to classification of vegetation communities. Higher syntaxonomy units and lists of diagnostic species are given in accordance with “Vegetation of Europe ...” (EuroVegChecklist), nomenclature of syntaxon according to the requirements of the “International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature”, nomenclature of taxon according to the Catalogue of Life and Euro + Med PlantBase international databases. Results. A preliminary version of the prodrome of natural dry grassland and phrygana vegetation of the Southern Crimea has been compiled. It was established that this vegetation type includes communities of 12 classes: Sedo-Scleranthetea , Trifolio-Geranietea sanguinei , Festuco-Brometea , Festuco-Puccinellietea , Kalidietea foliati , Ononido-Rosmarinetea , Cisto-Lavanduletea stoechadis , Helianthemetea guttati , Stipo-Trachynietea distachyae , Saginetea maritimae , Asplenietea trichomanis , Drypidetea spinosae. There are 14 orders, 14 alliances and 30 associations, three of which need to be validated. The classes of rock and scree vegetation ( Asplenietea trichomanis , Drypidetea spinosae ) are described in most detail. For most classes, a significant part of the classification units has not yet been established. Conclusion. The preliminary prodrome of the natural dry grassland and phrygana vegetation of the Southern Crimea includes 12 classes, 14 orders, 14 alliances and 30 associations. A great part of syntaxa has not yet been established. The composition of the diagnostic species indicates a significant floristic proximity of the classes Sedo-Scleranthetea - Helianthemetea guttati - Stipo-Trachynietea distachyae , Festuco-Puccinellietea - Kalidietea foliati , Ononido-Rosmarinetea - Cisto-Lavanduletea stoechadis .

Analyse phytosociologique et phytoécologique des formations forestières à pin laricio de Corse (Pinus nigra J.F. Arnold subsp. laricio Maire) – Addendum / Phytosociological and phytoecological survey of Corsican Pine forests – Addendum

In Ecologia Mediterranea issue 45 (1) – 2019, we published a phytosociological review article on the formations of Corsican Pine (Pinus nigra J. F. Arnold subsp. laricio Maire) (Gauberville et al. 2019). Since then, we found out that we did not scrupulously followed the code of phytosociological nomenclature (Weber et al. 2000). We had made a proposal for a new name for the climatophile mountain association, as Pinus poiretianae is now called Pinus laricio, and the old species name had not been used for more than 20 years. We now propose to reinstate the name initially given by Litardière & Malcuit (1929). Our name proposal was and is still correct (Pinetum laricionis (from Litardière & Malcuit 1926) Gauberville, Panaïotis, Bioret & Capelo nom. nov. prop.) but until the ad hoc committee has formally accepted it, the name should remain Pinetum poiretianae (from Litardière & Malcuit 1926). Furthermore, in order to validate our new syntaxons we here publish their typus relevés.

Diversity and Distribution of Plant Communities on the Ungok Wetland in Gochang.

The Ramsar protected area in Ungok wetland, which has been designated since 2011, was described by syntaxonomy and synchorology. Phytocoenon was identified and named by a traditional method of the Zurich- Montpellier School and Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature. Habitat-based vegetation classification has identified into twelve syntaxa consisting of 88 taxa in seven vegetation types: Juncus effusus var. decipiens- Salix koreensis community, Caricis-Salicetum subfragilis, Galium spurium var. echinospermon-Phragmites japonica community, Phragmitetum australis, Scirpetum fluviatilis, Leersia japonica-Typha angustifolia community, Juncus diastrophanthus-Juncus effusus var. decipiens community, Leersicetum japonicae, Nymphoido indicae-Trapetum japonicae (typicum, marsiletosum quadrifoliae subass. nova hoc loco, variante Euryale ferox), Nelumbo nucifera community, Utricularia tenuicaulis community, Potamogetonetum crispi. Actual vegetation map was made by using topographical map of scale 1 : 5,000. Habitat-based management on the Ungok wetland vegetation was required, in which there are composed of two major areas such as the backswamp vegetation and the limnetic vegetation zone.

Динамика активности синтаксономических центров России и процессы их интеграции

The history of «rooting» and current state of the Braun-Blanquet approach in Russia are discussed. The process began only in the 1960s, when a more favorable climate has developed in Soviet science, and researches showed interest in the following international principles of vegetation classification. However, at that time they used, as a rule, palliative options in which «Russian» criteria (dominants) were combined with «floristic» ones. As a rule, such schemes were not successful and gave rise to imbalances in syntaxonomy. After the year 1981, when the VI All-Union conference on the classification of vegetation was held in Ufa, Soviet geobotany moved to a «strict version» of the Braun-Blanquet approach. However, at that period there were no journals in the USSR that were ready to published papers with phytosociological tables. For this reason, phytocenologists have used the resources of All-Union Institute of scientific and technical information (VINITI), which provided a free-accepted manuscript deposit, published abstracts of these papers in Refereed journal and for a modest fee sent copies to all interested specialists. The data of the deposited papers became a base for the first variant of the Prodromus of vegetation of Russia, which included 72 classes, 148 orders, 309 alliances and 74 suballiances. Since the year 2001, when the journal «Vegetation of Russia» was organized in Saint-Petersburg, both the high professional level of editorial board and the competent reviewers provide the publication of papers in strict accordance with the Braun-Blanquet approach (including the «International code of phytosociological nomenclature»), that greatly stimulated the development of syntaxonomy in Russia. Five syntaxonomic centers (Far East-Siberia, Ufa, Saint-Petersburg, Togliatti, Bryansk) have been formed. The information of their publication activity (see Table) for the periods 2001–2005, 2006–2011 and 2012–2016 years in all centres (in particular in the Far East-Siberia and Ufa) shows the number of publications is constantly increasing. This gives the hope that in the foreseeable future the Russian syntaxonomists will be able to materialize the multi-volume edition «The Vegetation of Russia».

Nomenclatural remarks on the chasmophytic vegetation of the Centaureo-Campanuletalia

The thermophilous chasmophytic vegetation on limestone of the Adriatic Region has been arranged in the endemic order Centaureo-Campanuletalia (class Asplenietea trichomanis). The distribution range of the order covers a large area around the Adriatic Sea – from the south and north east of Italy to Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia i Hercegovina, Montenegro and Albania. The Centaureo-Campanuletalia or its subordinated syntaxa are quoted in the main syntaxonomic synopses of the Region as well as in technical reports. The critical analysis of the nomenclature of the order, based on the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature (ICPN), showed many invalid or incorrect names while it is evident that the usage of correct names in scientific literature is crucial, both for the advances of syntaxonomic knowledge and their application for practical purposes. This paper presents a revision of the nomenclature for the Centaureo-Campanuletalia and related syntaxa in order to stabilize this nomenclature at least at alliance level. As a result, three syntaxa were validated (Centaureo dalmaticae-Campanuletalia pyramidalis, Centaureo cuspidatae-Portenschlagiellion ramosissimae, Inulo verbascifoliae-Centaureetum cuspidatae) and five others were lectotypified.

Nomenclature adjustments to neglected syntaxa of the tall-herb hygrophilous communities of the SE-Europe

Background and Purpose: During the preparation of a coenological paper concerning the tall-herb vegetation of the Balkans, it emerged that some syntaxa were invalidly described in their original papers, while some other synataxa had been forgotten or considered invalid according to the current phytosociological literature even if they had been validly published in their original papers. The present study deals with the nomenclatural problems of the Rumicetalia balcanici Lakušić 1973, a neglected order of the montane tall-herb vegetation, and those of all its related lower-rank syntaxa.Materials and Methods: All published papers that treated the nomenclatural issues regarding the tall-herb vegetation in the Balkans were analysed. The nomenclature adjustments were made in accordance with the rules of the Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature (ICPN). The original relevés presented in this paper were carried out using the Braun-Blanquet phytosociological approach.Results and Conclusions: The nomenclature adjustments made in the paper result in the validation of the order Rumicetalia balcanicae and of four alliances: Rumicion balcanici, Ranunculion serbici, Cicerbition pancici and Petasition doerfleri. The validity of the alliance Cirsion appendiculati Horvat, Pawlowski et Walas 1937 was here confirmed while the name citation Geion coccinei Horvat in Quezel 1969 was here given for the first time. Finally several tall-herbs association were here validated and some others were proposed as new.

Validation of chasmophytic syntaxa of colline and montane zones in Tajikistan (Middle Asia)

Eight syntaxa are validated with the previous names regarded as invalidly published according to the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature. The validation concerns syntaxa of rock plant communities of the Campanuletalia incanescentis order reported from the Pamir Alai mountains in Tajikistan. The majority of validated syntaxa represents association level, one is an alliance. All validations are conducted due to the invalidity of tables with typus relevés according to art. 1 of the Code: they were not distributed as printed matter. The validated syntaxa are as follows: Caricion koshewnikowii, Scutellarietum hissaricae, Scutellarietum schugnanicae, Scutellarietum zaprjagaevii, Scutellarietum baldshuanicae, Tylospermetum lignosae, Nanorrhinetum ramosissimi, Campanuletum albertii.

Łąki selernicowe (związek Cnidion dubii Bal.-Tul. 1966) w Polsce [Meadow communities of Cnidion dubii Bal.-Tul. 1966 alliance in Poland

The paper contains a characterization of the alliance <em>Cnidion dubii</em> Bal.-Tul. 1966 and of the association<em> Violo-Cnidietum dubii</em> Walther in Tx. 1954, belonging to it, both of which so far unreported from Poland. The syntaxonomy of those units has been based on analytic-synthetical phytosociological studies with the use of numerical classification and ordination methods, mainly of the TWINSPAN program. To demonstrate the distinct character of the units under study from Poland, the alliance <em>Cnidion dubii</em> has been analysed in comparison with the alliances <em>Molinion caeruleae</em> and <em>Alopecurion pratensis</em>. The identify of the association has been established by analysing Polish and European materials. New criteria have been proposed for the diagnosis of the associations of the alliance <em>Cnidion dubii</em> in Central Europe. The rank of some diagnostic species of the association and of the alliance has been verified. The nomenclature of the units has been based on the principles of the Code of phytosociological nomenclature. The association <em>Violo-Cnidietum dubii</em> from the area of Poland has been characterized syntaxonomically, synchorologically and synecologically. Three subassociations have been described: <em>Violo-Cnidietum dubii</em> Walther in Tx. 1954 <em>typicum</em>, <em>V.-C.d. stellarietosum palustris</em> T. Załuski subass. nova, <em>V.-C.d. galietosum veris</em> T. Załuski subass. nova, including eight variants. At the same time, the distinct character of communities with <em>Cnidium dubium</em> and <em>Molinia caerulea</em> has been demonstrated, and they have been classified with <em>Molinietum caeruleae</em> W. Koch 1926 <em>cnidietosum dubii</em> T. Załuski subass. nova.

Validation of some syntaxa of Italian vegetation

In this study, we validated some syntaxa, the published names of which were regarded as invalid on the basis of the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature. The validations concern syntaxa of different hierarchical levels, belonging to different phytosociological classes. Most validations regard syntaxa that are invalid with respect to art. 5 of the Code. Indeed, the nomenclatural types were not indicated in the correct form (typus, holotypus, lectotypus, and neotypus).

Петрофитные сообщества высокогорных известняковых массивов Западного Кавказа

The paper presents description of new syntaxa of pertrophyte associations from West Caucasus lime­stone massifs. The work is based on the author’s long-term observations between years 1998 and 2003, made in the basins of the rivers Belaya, Bolshaja Laba and Malaya Laba within the National Nature Park «Bol­shoi Tkhach» and limestone massifs of Caucasian State Natural Biosphere Reserve. Original geobotanical rele­veйs have been used for the classification. Collec­tion and material processing involved Braun-Blanqet me­thod. The size of sampling plots varied from 4 to 25 m2. The paper is based upon 120 releveés. New syntaxa names have been given in accordance with the Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature (Weber et al., 2000). Ass. Veronica minutae—Chaerophylletum humilis Onipchenko 2002 is common for upper alpine belt of the Reserve and distributed over mobile calcareous screes at 2400—2800 m alt. occupying small areas of Oshten, Fisht, Pshekha-Su and Yatygvarta mountains. Ass. Helianthemetum cani ass. nov. includes open chionophobic groupings of alpine belt, developing on windward mountain slopes and crests at 2000—2800 m alt., occurs on rocky outcrops and dry sedentary screes, and covers significant areas of Lagonaki Pla­teau, mountains Bolshoi Tkhach, Yatygvarta and Snegovalka Ridge. These open associations preferen­tially occupy slopes of «warm» (southern, southern-west, southern-east) expositions of different abruptness from almost horizontal up to 70° (in average 25°). Ass. Saxifragetum sibiricae typicum Onipchenko et Lubez­nova 2002 includes chionophytic groupings of seden­tary screes, characterized by significant snow accu­mulation in winter, forms patches of vegetation around snowbeds and glaciers of Lagonaki Plateau in the Reserve, occurs sporadically on the studied territory. Ass. Saxifragetum sibiricae arabidetosum caucasicae subass. nov. combines open communities of alpine belt at unstable damp rocky substrates and predominantly occupies abrupt slopes (20—35°) of northern—nor­thern-east exposition of damp, slightly mobile screes close to glaciers at 2000—2700 м alt. on Lagonaki Plateau in the Reserve. Ass. Saxifrago cartilagineae—Asplenietum rutae-murariae ass. nov. occurs on rocks in subalpine belt predominantly on abrupt slopes (20—90°, average 69°) of different expositions at 1400—1700 m alt. on Lagonaki Plateau in the Reserve. Ass. Valeriana saxicolae—Helianthemetum cani ass. nov. includes plant communities of limestone rocks occupying abrupt slopes (20—70°, in average 53°) of predominantly southern expositions at 2000—2700 m alt. on Lagonaki Plateau, Triu-Yatygvarta massif, mountain Bolshoi Tkhach.

Contribution à une caractérisation de la végétation de la forêt de Ngotto (République Centrafricaine)

One part of Ngotto forest (south-west of Central—African Republic) was studied by the synusial approach in an unpublished thesis; eleven associations, ten subassociations and one provisional community were identified and described. The new syntaxa are validated here according to the International code of phytosociological nomenclature.