Eastern European Stipa capillata-Festuca sulcata Steppe

Steppe grassland dominated by tussocks of Stipa capillata and Festuca sulcata appear to be largely confined to drier, usually south facing slopes, and can be seen, for example, in the rolling hills of Ukraine’s Kharkiv Province. Characteristic species also include Astragalis onoblychis and Bromopsis riparia. In slightly wetter areas shrubby species of Adonis vernalis, Agropyron intermedium, Calamagrostis epioides, Caragana frutex and Thalictrum minus become conspicuous. Endemic or near endemic species found here include Euphorbia stepposa (Euphorbiaceae), Lotus ukurainica (Fabaceae), Medicago romanica (Fabaceae), Melica transsilvanica (Poaceae), Plantago schwarzenbergiana (Plantaginaceae), Salvia nutans (Lamiaceae) and Syrenia cana (Brassicaceae).

Eastern European Poa angustifolia-Festuca sulcata Steppe

Like Stipa capillata – Festuca sulcata steppe, grasslands dominated by Poa angustifolia and Festuca sulcata can be seen in the hills of Ukraine’s Kharkiv Province, but require slightly wetter conditions and are mainly confined to north facing slopes. Characteristic species also include Achillea millefolium, Carex praecox, Euphorbia virgultosa, Falcaria vulgaris, Frangula vulgaris, Genista tinctoria, Hierachium pilosella, Knautia arvensis, Trifolium montanum and Veronica austriaca. In the wettest areas species such as Artemesia marschalliana, Asyneuma canescens, Bupleurum falcatum, Chamaecytisus ruthenicus, Inula ensifolia, Linum flavum, Polygala commosa and Seseli annum become more conspicuous. Endemic or near endemic species found here include Euphorbia stepposa (Euphorbiaceae), Lotus ukurainica (Fabaceae), Medicago romanica (Fabaceae), Melica transsilvanica (Poaceae), Plantago schwarzenbergiana (Plantaginaceae), Salvia nutans (Lamiaceae) and Silene ukurainica (Caryophyllaceae).

References

Cheng, Y. & Nakamura, T. 2006. Phytosociological study on the steppe vegetation in the vicinity of Kharkiv, Ukraine. Grassland Science, 52: 61-71.