The steppe vegetation of the North Caucasus, under centuries of human influence, has been almost completely replaced by croplands, orchards, and pastures. This has raised the important challenge of identifying plant communities and habitats of rare and endangered plant species in need of protection. The objective of this article is to present data on plant communities with the rare and protected species Eremurus spectabilis M. Bieb. growing in the Mineralovodskaya slopping plain and Lesisty Ridge in Stavropol Territory, North Caucasus. This study is based on 24 relevés of plant communities with E. spectabilis, carried out in 2019–2021 and 2023–2025 within the Predgorny and Andropovsky administrative districts of Stavropol Territory, on the magmatic mountains Zolotoy Kurgan, Dzhutsa, Sheludivaya, Yutsa, and Lysaya, as well as on the residual hills of the cuesta of the Lesisty ridge, referred to as the Sychevy mountains. Relevés were conducted within plant communities on sample plots 50 and 100 m2, with estimation (in %) the projective cover, total and of each species. In laboratory plant species coverage data were converted into scores using B. Mirkin scale: + — less than 1 % cover, 1 — 1–5 %, 2 — 6–15 %, 3 — 16–25 %, 4 — 26–50 %, and 5 — more than 50 %. Relevés were incorporated into the database “Vegetation of the Central Caucasus Laccolith Mountains”, developed using the TURBOVEG software and processed with the Juice program (Tichý, 2002). The syntaxonomic analysis was performed according to the Braun-Blanquet approach; the names of new syntaxa were assigned in accordance with the “International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature” (2021). Differences in constancy were used when identifying diagnostic species of new associations and subassociations. The system of higher syntaxa is presented according to the compilation “Vegetation of Europe…” (2016) with additions. Soil descriptions of 4 profiles were conducted and 12 samples within soil profiles were collected to determine the soil physical properties, and chemical composition. Soil nomenclature is presented in accordance with the “Classification and diagnostics of Russian Soils” (2004) and the “Field Guide to Soils of Russia” (2008). Eremurus spectabilis is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Asphodelaceae family originally described in the Stavropol Territory. It is a xerothermic relict and a medium-duration ephemeral, up to height of 1–2 m. Its habitats are associated with dry, well-heated steppe rocky slopes, cliffs, and scree deposits. Eremurus spectabilis predominantly occurs within montane herbaceous-sward-grass steppes, in petrophytic vegetation assemblages, and in meadow-steppe communities. It also grows among shrubs and valley oak groves, juniper sparse woodlands, at forest edges, and in open woodlands. The species range extends from the Donbas, Crimea, and the North Caucasus to Lebanon, Iraq, southern Turkmenistan, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Within the Russian Federation, the species exhibits a fragmented distribution. Its disjunctive areal indicates the relict nature of the current populations. Currently, the species population area is steadily declining due to habitat destruction and harvesting by local populations. It may be classified among species threatened with extinction. It is listed in the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation (2024) under conservation category 2 (species with declining population and/or distribution), with the status of a vulnerable species. Within its range in Russia, it is included in all regional Red Data Books. Syntaxonomic analysis revealed that plant communities with E. spectabilis posess block of diagnostic species that clearly distinguish them from communities of other syntaxa. Consequently, one new association and one new subassociation have been established. Nepeto pannonicae–Eremuretum spectabilis ass. nov. Holotypus — rel. 3, Table 2. Stavropol Territory, Predgornyy Disrict, 2 km W of v. Etoka, SE slope of the Dzhuza Mounthin. Coordinates, degrees (Crd) 43.918N, 42.98572E. Date: 04.06.2021. Plot size — 100 m2. Authors – T. M. Lysenko, K. V. Shchukina, V. Yu. Neshataeva. Diagnostis species — Delphinium schmalhausenii, Elytrigia trichophora, Eremurus spectabilis (dom.), Nepeta pannonica, Pyrethrum corymbosum, Vicia grossheimii. Teucrio chamaedris–Stipetum pulcherrimae eremuretosum spectabilis subass. nov. Holotypus — rel. 4, Table 3. Stavropol Territory, Predgornyy Disrict, 6 km NE of v. Etoka, S slope of the Zolotoy Kurgan Mounthin. Coordinates, degrees 43.939477N, 43.104638E. Date: 22.05.2023. Plot size —100 m2. Authors — T. M. Lysenko, K. V. Shchukina. Diagnostis species — Amygdalus nana, Eremurus spectabilis (dom.), Seseli varium. Nepeto pannonicae–Eremuretum spectabilis ass. nov. and Teucrio chamaedris–Stipetum pulcherrimae eremuretosum spectabilis subass. nov. are attributed to the alliance Festucion valesiacae Klika 1931 nom. conserv. propos order Festucetalia valesiacae Soó 1947 class Festuco–Brometea Br.–Bl. et Tx. ex Soó 1947. Communities with E. spectabilis are rare and require protection. Currently, these coenoses are protected on the magmatic mountains Yutsa, Dzhutsa, Lysaya, Sheludivaya, and Zolotoi Kurgan, which are nature monuments of regional significance. We recommend including communities of the discussed syntaxa among the rare plant associations requiring protection within the Russian Federation.
Kolyvanskoye Lake, one of the iconic lakes of Altai, the picturesqueness of which is due to the unique relief forms that appeared as a result of physical weathering of granite, has long attracted the attention of researchers. The lake’s water area is currently included in the boundaries of the natural monument of regional significance “Kolyvanka River Basin”, which received protected status in 2022. Floristic studies of Kolyvanskoye Lake have been conducted since the beginning of the 20th century by famous botanists — P. N. Krylov, V. I. Vereshchagin, P. G. Filchukova, A. V. Kuminova, E. I. Lapshina (Ilin, 1987). Special hydrobotanical studies of the lake were carried out by V. V. Ilin in 1974 (Ilin, 1987) and D. A. Durnikin with co-authors in 1996 and 2003 (Durnikin et al., 2005). The aim of our work is to identify the modern coenotic diversity of aquatic and semi-aquatic vegetation according to the Braun-Blanquet approach (1964), that was revealed based on 73 geobotanical relevés completed by the author in 2017 and 2023. It consisted of 4 classes, 6 orders, 7 alliances, 24 associations and one community: class Potamogetonetea —14 associations, Littorelletea uniflorae — 1, Phragmito-Magnocaricetea — 7, Charetea intermediae two associations and one community. The ass. Nymphaeetum sundvikii is described as new. Ass. Nymphaeetum sundvikii ass. nov. (Table 2, relevés 14–16, Fig. 1e). The diagnostic species is Nymphaea × sundvikii Hiitonen (dominant). Nomenclature type (holotypus hoc loco) — relevé 16 in Table 2 (field number 17-63): Altai Territory, Zmeinogorskiy district, Kolyvanskoye Lake, southeastern part of the lake, 51.35377° N 82.20195° E; 13.08.2017; author — L. M. Kipriyanova. This is one of the predominant associations on the lake. Depth range is 40–60 cm. There are 12 species in total, with average richness of 6.7 species per relevé. In modern syntaxonomic practice, associations with the dominance of hybrids of aquatic and semi-aquatic vegetation are usually distinguished as separate (Teteryuk, Solomeshch, 2003; Chepinoga et al., 2013). In the plant cover, among true hydrophytes, communities of the associations Trapetum natantis and Nymphaeetum candidae prevail. Quite significant areas are occupied by communities of the associations Nymphaeetum sundvikii and Hydrilletum verticillatae. It is shown that changes have occurred in the cover of the lake, namely: the thickets of Najas flexilis with Chara connivens and Callitriche hermaphroditica, have disappeared, while the ass. Hydrilletum verticillatae communities became widespread, which is likely due to global warming and an increase in the trophic status of the lakes. The significance of such dominants as Trapa natans, Nymphaea сandida, Phragmites australis remained stable. In general, Kolyvanskoye Lake was and remains a unique reservoir in terms of the state of species and coenotic diversity of aquatic vegetation. Minor changes in the species composition in recent years are apparently associated with the clarification of the species composition and not so important. The population of the key plant species, the water chestnut (Trapa natans), is in good state, its thickets occupy vast areas. The species and coenotic diversity of aquatic and semi-aquatic vegetation remains high. Kolyvanskoye Lake is distinguished by record diversity of charophytes, with 7 species recorded here (Kipriyanova et al., 2024). Such richness is apparently due to the very favorable environment conditions for macrophytes, its warming, sufficient diversity of ecotopes, and the significant age of the lake.
The brown bog-rush (Schoenus ferrugineus L.), a plurizonal European species, is calciphilous and confined to eutrophic habitats in mires and wet meadows, which often have groundwater springs. In the northwestern Russia, these are found in the west of the Leningrad and Pskov Regions (Boch, Smagin, 1987, 1993; Smagin 2008). In the north of the European part of Russia, S. ferrugineus communities are described in Karelia and the Murmansk Region (Kuznetsov, 2005, 2018; Kozhin, 2015), as well as in the Vologda and Arkhangelsk ones (Smagin, 2004, 2008, 2014). A number of works present information on flora of several small mires with the participation of S. ferrugineus in the Murmansk Region (Blinova, Uotila, 2013; Blinova, 2015; Liksakova, Koltsov, 2019). The first descriptions of S. ferrugineus communities in the northwest (Pskov and Leningrad Regions) and north of Russia (Vologda Region) are given in the M. S. Boch and V. A. Smagin papers (Boch, Smagin, 1987, 1993), who classified them as the ass. Primulo–Schoenetum ferruginei Oberd. 62, identifying three subassociations within it. Later, V. A. Smagin (Smagin, 2008, 2014) classified only communities in northwestern Russia (Leningrad and Pskov Regions) and in the Baltic region (Latvia, Estonia) as the ass. Primulo–Schoenetum ferruginei. In Karelia, the first descriptions of S. ferrugineus communities were made in the 1980s and 1990s; they were included in the ass. Schoenus ferrugineus–Campylium stellatum (Kuznetsov, 2005), identified using the topological-ecological method; however, without publishing full composition and characteristics. Over the past 15 years, V. A. Smagin has studied mires with Schoenus ferrugineus communities in the northwestern Russia in the Novgorod Region, as well as in the north of the European part in the Arkhangelsk and Vologda Regions, and identified a number of new syntaxa based on the ecological-floristic classification (Smagin, 2014; Smagin, Denisenkov, 2013; Smagin et al., 2015); however, tables of their full species composition have not been published. The aim of this article is a comparative analysis of Schenus-Hypnum communities in the European North and in the Baltic regions and the development of their unified classification according the ecological-floristic method. For a comparative analysis of the composition of newly identified syntaxa and the degree of their similarity with previously described syntaxa, data from a number of publications were used (Kask, 1965; Oberdorfer, 1977; Tyler, 1979, 1981; Dierssen, 1982; Laivinsh, Swars, 1993; Smagin, 2008, 2014; Ivchenko, 2012). To establish the degree of similarity of the considered syntaxa of the union Caricion davallianae in the European North and in the Baltic region (Table 4), a comparative analysis was performed using the Sørensen similarity coefficient (Vasilevich, 1969) and a similarity dendrogram was constructed in the PAST program (Hammer et al., 2001). Using the nonmetric scaling (NMS) method (Clarke, 1993), an ordination of syntaxa was performed taking into account species constancy. Species with constancy classes of at least III in at least one syntaxon were included in the analysis. As a result of the analysis of the species composition of the original community relevés and the composition of published syntaxa, supplemented by the results of cluster analysis and ordination, a number of syntaxa of Schoenus-Hypnum communities in the European North and the Baltic region were identified. The developed classification includes three associations, six subassociations, two variants, and one out-of-rank community. The ass. Primulo–Schoenetum ferruginei (W. Koch 1926) Oberd. 1957 in northwestern Russia is located at the eastern border of its range (Boch, Smagin, 1993; Smagin, 2008, 2014) and differs somewhat in composition from the Central European communities. A comparative analysis of syntaxa assigned to this association (Table 4, synt. 1–6) allowed us to distinguish two subassociations: typicum and salicetosum rosmarinifoliae subass. nov. The ass. Trichophoro–Schoenetum ferruginei (Booberg 1930) Gӧrs 1964, is widespread throughout Fennoscandia. It is confined to hardwater calciphilic mires with groundwater spring, as well as low ridges of eutrophic aapa mires, lakeside and coastal mires. The ass. Tomentypno nitentis–Schoenetum ferruginei Smagin ex Kuznetsov et Smagin ass. nov. was described in four mires with mineralized water outlets on the northern bank of Lake Vozhe (Arkhangelsk region) (Smagin, 2014) and in slope spring mires east of Lake Radionskoye and northwest of the Savino village in the Belozersky district of the Vologda Region (Boch, Smagin, 1993; Smagin, 2014). In these mires along with S. ferrugineus communities, reed communities with Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani are widely represented, which is also found in low abundance in a number of S. ferrugineus communities. Community Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani–Schoenus ferrugineus (Table 3, rel. 1–5, Table 4, synt. 15). The differentiating species combination (d.s.c.) includes diagnostic species of the alliance Caricion davallianae Klika 1934: Schoenus ferrugineus, Potentilla erecta, Campylium stellatum, Scorpidium cossoni, as well as Schoenoplectus tabernaemontanii, Molinia caerulea, Filipendula ulmaria, Ligularia sibirica, and Thelypteris palustris. Five times described in the Kholmsky district of the Novgorod Region south of the town of Kholm in the Solenoye mire with groundwater springs. In the plant cover of this mire, along with Schoenus species, communities of Schoenoplectus tabernaemontanii with the Cladium mariscus and without S. ferrugineus are represented (Smagin, 2014). All identified associations are assigned to the union Caricion davallianae, the syntaxa of which (with significant number of Atlantic and amphi-Atlantic species, some of which are diagnostic for the union and order) are distributed mainly in Western and Central Europe (Peterka et al., 2017). In this article, based on the analysis and synthesis of the authors’ data and literature, an ecological-floristic classification of Schoenus-Hypnum communities from Norway to the northern European part of Russia has been developed. For the first time, four subassociations, two variants, and one out-of-rank community are identified. The validity of the syntaxa is well supported by the results of cluster and ordination analyses. The syntaxa are clearly distinct geographically, due to the differences in their species composition because of the floristic characteristics of their distribution regions. Mires with Schoenus-Hypnum communities in northwestern and northern Russia require protection via organization the specially protected natural areas of varying status. In the Republic of Karelia, they are protected in Paanajärvi National Park, in the Pskov and Novgorod regions in the Izborsko-Malskaya valley and Batutinka river valley and mires in its catchment area, while in the Leningrad, Vologda, and Arkhangelsk regions, mires with S. ferrugineus are not yet protected.n Federation.
The Central Chernozem Nature Reserve is located in the southwestern part of the Central Russian Upland in the Kursk Region and consists of six sites with a total area of 5287.4 hectares. Virgin meadow steppes on the flat interfluves are protected on the territory of two of them — Streletsky and Kazatsky, organized in 1935. The article analyzes the vegetation of virgin steppes on the flat interfluves of Streletsky and Kazatsky sites under various protection regimes (4- and 5-year mowing rotation, 10-year mowing rotation with aftermath pasture, annual mowing and pasture regime) in comparison with communities with regular haymaking and pasture use, being here before the foundation of the Nature Reserve. Phytocenoses under absolutely protection regime are not considered in this article, and will be the subject of special publication. The study is based on 169 published relevés made over the period 1928–2015 (Komarov & Proskuryakov, 1931; Alekhin, 1935; Redulesku-Ivan, 1965; Averinova, 2005, 2010; Zolotukhin et al., 2015, 2017). All analyzed communities are assigned to the alliance Cirsio–Brachypodion pinnati Hadač et Klika in Klika et Hadač 1944 and the order Brachypodietalia pinnati Korneck 1974 nom. conserv. propos. of the class Festuco-Brometea Br.-Bl. et Tx. ex Soó 1947. The alliance and order unite the most mesophytic meadow steppes of the European part of Russia, located on the flat interfluves and slightly eroded slopes with well-developed chernozems and deep occurrence of carbonate bedrocks. Phytocenoses of this alliance on the flat interfluves have survived only in nature reserves. A comparative analysis of the species composition of two groups of phytocenoses — modern (2003–2015) and historical (1928–1963) — revealed a high degree of similarity, which is confirmed by the value of the Chekanowski–Dice–Sørensen coefficient (0.8). This value demonstrates the stability of the species composition of the studied virgin steppes over 87 years and allows to group all studied communities into the ass. Stipo tirsae–Bromopsietum ripariae Averinova 2010 nom. conserv. propos. (syn. Agrostio vinealis–Avenuletum schellianae Royer 1991 [syntax. syn.]) (Royer, 1991; Averinova, 2010). Dynamic processes in vegetation are shown at the level of syntaxa ranked below the association. Within the association two subassociations are established. Stipo tirsae–Bromopsietum ripariae subass. typicum (Table 1; Table 2; Table 5, syntaxa 1–4). The nomenclatural type, indicated in the original diagnosis of the association as a lectotype is automatically becoming the type of subass. typicum [Art. 5b], — Table 2, relevé 2: Streletsky site of the Central Chernozem Nature Reserve, quarter 20, section 15, flat interfluve, 02.07.1963, author — D. Redulesku-Ivan. Diagnostic species: Berteroa incana, Helichrysum arenarium, Jurinea arachnoidea, Sedum acre, Tephroseris integrifolia, Trinia multicaulis, Trommsdorfia maculata, Verbascum phoeniceum. The subassociation is established on the basis of 73 relevés made in 1928–1963 (Komarov & Proskuryakov, 1931; Alekhin, 1935; Redulesku-Ivan, 1965). Thus, this syntaxon encompasses virgin steppes on the flat interfluves of Streletsky and Kazatsky sites, existed before the foundation of the Nature Reserve and during the first decades of its operation. The communities of this subassociation are not represented in the current vegetation cover of the Nature Reserve. They transformed and occupied a new position in the syntaxonomic hierarchy. The subassociation contains four variants (typica, Erigeron acris, Hyacinthella leucophaea and inops), with communities differing in species composition, localization and time of existence. Stipo tirsae–Bromopsietum ripariae arrhenatheretosum elatioris subass. nov. (Table 3; Table 4; Table 5, syntaxa 5–11). Nomenclatural type (holotypus) — Table 4, relevé 3: Streletsky site of the Central Chernozem Nature Reserve, quarter 12, section 1, flat interfluve, 18.07.2005, authors — N. I. Zolotukhin, Е. S. Оbukhova. Diagnostic species: Arrhenatherum elatius (dom.), Calamagrostis epigeios, Campanula patula, C. rotundifolia, Centaurea jacea, Dactylis glomerata, Draba sibirica, Galium mollugo, Hypericum perforatum, Melampyrum argyrocomum. The subassociation is established on the basis of 69 relevés made in 2003–2015 (Averinova, 2005, 2010; Zolotukhin et al., 2015, 2017); syntaxon encompasses current virgin steppes on the flat interfluves of Streletsky and Kazatsky sites. The subassociation contains seven variants (typica, Agrimonia eupatoria, Campanula bononiensis, Dracocephalum ruyschiana, Odontites vulgaris, Polygonum aviculare and inops), with communities differing differ in species composition and localization. The established variants are links in the succession series (Fig. 8 and Fig. 9). To analyze the dynamics of phytocenoses in relation to changing environmental conditions DCA-ordination is used (Fig. 5). It showed that the main direction of meadow steppes succession is determined by the complex gradient of the hydrothermal regime of the upper soil horizons and illumination on the soil surface (axis 1). These factors directly depend on the intensity of aboveground phytomass removal. If it is insufficient, the mortmass accumulating on the soil surface contributes to moisture retention and shading. Under such conditions, more moisture-loving and shade-tolerant species gain an advantage. Therefore, the protection regime is crucial for the dynamics of the analyzed vegetation. The main direction of steppe vegetation succession, coinciding with axis 1, is mesophytization. It is not a transformation into a meadow, but that into a fringe vegetation of the class Trifolio–Geranietea sanguinei. These rules are common to all nature reserves of the European forest steppe. The process of steppe mesophytization, associated with the transformation into а fringe vegetation and subsequent sylvatization, occurs most rapidly in areas with an absolutely protected regime, which are not discussed in this article. The other protection regimes inhibit this process to varying degrees, but do not stop it completely. The annual mowing regime is the most preferable for the conservation of meadow steppes. Under this protection regime the phytocenoses have retained the greatest similarity with the «original» state of the steppes, characteristic of 1928–1934.
Braun-Blanquet classification of piedmont and mountain beech forests (formed by Fagus orientalis) was carried out, basing on 178 relevés collected in 2014–2018 in the North-Western Caucasus (N 43,5–44,8°, E 38,5–41,5°; Fig. 1). To reveal ecological interpretation of the developed classification, DCA-ordination of the data was done together with analysis of several environment variables (absolute elevation, geographical coordinates, cover of tree layer, calculated values in Landolt’s ecological scales). Resulting from the analysis carried out, 4 new associations were established (one of them includes 2 subassociations) within order Rhododendro pontici–Fagetalia orientalis Passarge 1981. Their floristic differentiation is shown in Table 2 and Fig 7. In the North-West Caucasus, most oriental beech forests belong to ass. Myosotido dissitiflorae–Fagetum orientalis ass. nov. (Table 3, holotypus of the association is relevé 12: author’s number 869, author N. E. Shevchenko, 16.07.2018, 43.782°N, 42.056°E, 1302 m above sea level, slope 8°SW). Besides subass. typicum (Table 3: 1–20), this association includes subass. piceetosum orientalis (Table 3: 21–30; holotypus is relevé 23: author’s number 572, author N. E. Shevchenko, 26.05.2017, 43.859°N, 40.948°E, 1022 m above sea level, slope 8°SE). Also assigned to the alliance are ass. Aro maculati–Fagetum orientalis ass. nov. (Table 3: 31–40; holotypus is relevé 37: author’s number 477, author N. E. Shevchenko, 17.05.2017, N 44.272°, E 40.477°, 776 m above sea level, slope 5°N), ass. Lonicero caprifolii–Fagetum orientalis ass. nov. (Table 4: 1–10; holotypus is relevé 3: author’s number 445, author N. E. Shevchenko, 14.05.2017, N 44.337°, E 40.491°, 592 m above sea level, slope 8°N), and ass. Polygonato verticillati–Fagetum orientalis ass. nov. (Table 4: 11–20; holotypus is relevé 11: author’s number 752, author N. E. Shevchenko, 04.07.2018, N 43.602°, E 41.636°, 1614 m above sea level, slope 10°NW). DCA-ordination (Fig. 7) revealed that the established syntaxa differ in their floristic composition in accordance with absolute elevation (vector Elev in Fig. 8) of the relevés. In addition, floristic difference between these syntaxa is consistent with environment parameters estimated by Landolt’s scales T (the averaged air temperature during the growth period) and N (soil nutrients) (Fig. 8). Thus, the forests of the typical ass. Myosotido dissitiflorae–Fagetum orientalis (both sybassociations) are confined to drained surfaces within the middle and high mountain belts. The communities of ass. Aro maculati–Fagetum orientalis are confined to wet fertile soils on flat surfaces within the middle mountain belt. The communities of ass. Lonicero caprifolii–Fagetum orientalis occur within the low and middle mountain belts, and even somewhere in the piedmonts. The forests of ass. Polygonato verticillati–Fagetum orientalis are confined to the upper forest boundary within the high mountain belt where this line is anthropogenic and conditioned by clearing for pastures. Revealed from the floristic comparison (Table 5, Fig. 10) of oriental beech forests and mixed fir-beech forests of several regions (North Turkey, East Bulgary, the Crimea, the Colchis, the Central Caucasus – Georgia, and the North-Western Caucasus) (Passarge, 1981, Korzhenevskiy, Kiselev, 1982; Korotkov, Belonovskaya, 1987; Didukh, 1996; Tatli et al., 2005; Frantsuzov, 2006; Tzonev et al., 2006; Yıldırım, Kılınç, 2011; Kavgacı et al., 2012; Willner et al., 2017; Çoban, Willner, 2019; Ermakov et al., 2023), the alliance Fagion orientalis Soó 1964 demonstrates strong heterogeneity corresponding with regions. For example, flora of the North-Western Caucasus beech and fir-beech forests includes none Mediterranean species, and the few Euxinian species are constant there, whereas there are various species that are character for European temperate broad-leaved forests (e. g. Ulmus glabra, Euonymus europaea, Moehringia trinervia, Luzula pilosa, Oxalis acetosella) are constant as well as some Caucasian species (e. g. Paris incompleta, Myosotis dissitiflora, Polygonatum glaberrimum). The named species differentiate the North-Western Caucasian beech and mixed forests from the ones in Euxinean subtropical regions. This reflects the difference between temperate climate in the North-Western Caucasus situated on the northern macroslope of the Greater Caucasus and subtropic climate on its southern macroslope and in other Euxinean regions (excluding the Crimea) (Alisov, 1947). The absence of Mediterranean and most Euxinean species is also character for beech forests investigated by H. Passarge (1981) in the Central Caucasus (Georgia), whereas these communities are positively differentiated, because of temperate continental climate, by some xeromesophilous species (e. g. Cephalanthera longifolia, Carex divulsa, Platanhera chlorantha) and the species of European temperate broad-leaved forests also. Furthermore, syntaxa of the Crimean beech forests also have clear floristic distinctions from North Turkey and East Bulgarian communities. Because of all this, the current alliance Fagion orientalis Soó 1964 cannot be considered as an appropriate syntaxone comprehending oriental beech and fir-beech forests of the listed regions. As the first step to revise the contemporary syntaxonomy of these forests, proposed is to establish a new alliance Myosotido dissitiflorae–Fagion orientalis all. nov. that will include the four new associations of the North-Western Caucasus, with ass. Myosotido dissitiflorae–Fagetum orientalis chosen as the holotypus of this new suballiance. In the Central Caucasus, a new alliance Carici divulsae–Fagion orientalis all. nov. is also proposed that will include the associations Dentario–Fagetum orientalis Passarge 1981, Polysticho–Fagetum orientalis Passarge 1981, and Lathyro laxiflori–Fagetum orientalis Passarge 1981 nom. corr. et mut. nov. (the former Orobo–Fagetum orientalis Passarge 1981 nom. inept.), with the last one chosen as the holotypus of the new alliance. As the next step, the former invalid alliance Abieti nordmannianae–Fagion orientalis Korotkov et Belonovskaja 1987 is proposed to validize and to add with subalpine broad-leaved forest associations Petasito–Fagetum orientalis Passarge 1981, Veratro–Fagetum orientalis Passarge 1981, and Pyrolo–Fagetum orientalis Passarge 1981.
