10E1
Sub-Mediterranean pseudo-steppes with annual herbs
Relationships with habitat classifications. EUNIS: E1.332 Helleno-Balkan short grass and terrophyte communities; PAL. CLASS.: 34.532 Helleno-Balkan short grass and terrophyte communities; HD 92/43: 6220 *Pseudo-steppe with grasses and annuals of the Thero-Brachypodietea; Bondev 1991: 129 Xerothermal grass communities with prevalence of Dichantieta ischaemi, Poaeta bulbosae, Poaeta concinnae, Chrysopogoneta grylli and Ephemeretea.
Conservation status. BDA, BC, HD.
Category. Vulnerable [VU – A1, 2 B1 C1 D2 E2 F2 G2 H2 I L2].
General characteristics. This habitat type encompasses xerothermic herbaceous communities in which annual grass species like Aegilops geniculata, A. neglecta, Bromus intermedius, B. madritensis, Cynosurus echinatus, Lagurus ovatus, Psilurus incurvus, Trachynia distachya(= Brachypodium distachyon), Vulpia ciliata, V. myuros etc. prevail. The soils are dry, shallow and often eroded with open gravel-stone bed rock. The geological bed rock varies – the communities occur both on silicate and limestone. The ephemeral and ephemeroid vegetation types prevail with maximal development in spring (until mid-May). The climate is transitional Mediterranean and is characterized by hot and dry summers.
These communities are a result of deforestation and intensive grazing. Some small to mid-tall perennial grasses like Poa bulbosa, P. perconcinna, Cynodon dactylon, Dactylis glomerata subsp. hispanica etc. are co-dominants in these communities. The number of annuals (terrophytes) can reach 60–70% of the floristic composition of these communities. Representatives of the following genera occur: Euphorbia, Silene, Bisserula, Plantago, Medicago, Hippocrepis, Nigella, Adonis, Linum, Papaver, Geranium, Trigonella, Trifolium (T. subterraneum, T. suffocatum, T. nigrescens)etc. Aromatic semi-shrubs from the genus Thymus and geophytes from the genera Allium, Muscari, Ophrys, Romulea etc. are frequent. Syntaxonomically the coenoses related to this habitat type belong to the alliances Thero-Brachypodion, Astragalo-Poion bulbosae, Trachynion distachya and Xeronthemion annui.
The sub-Mediterranean pseudo-steppes with grasses and annual herbs often make complexes with the xerothermic, herbaceous steppe communities, with the coenoses of Juniperus communis and J. oxycedrus, Phillyrea latifolia, Quercus coccifera, with scrubs of Paliurus spina-christi, Jasminum fruticans and Cotinus coggygria and xerothermic oak forests (mainly of white oak).
Characteristic taxa.
- Vascular plants: Aegilops geniculata, A. neglecta, A. triuncialis, Alkanna tinctoria, Astragalus hamosus, A. onobrychis, Bisserula pelicinus, Bromus intermedius, B. madritensis, B. scoparius, Bupleurum apiculatum, Coronilla scorpioides, Crepis zacintha, Cynodon dactylon, Cynosurus echinatus, Dactylis glomerata subsp. hispanica, Echinaria capitata, Euphorbia barrelieri, E. falcata, Helianthemum salicifolium, Hippocrepis ciliata, Lagoecia cuminoides, Lagurus ovatus, Linum corymbulosum, L. tryginum, Lolium rigidum, Lotus aegaeus, Medicago rigidula, Neatostema apulum, Ononis reclinata, Ornithopus compressus, Petrorhagia prolifera, Phleum graecum, P. subulatum, Plantago bellardii, P. lagopus, Poa bulbosa, P. perconcinna, Psilurus incurvus, Salvia viridis, Silene conica, S. graeca, S. subconica, Taeniatherum caput-medusae, Thymus atticus, Trachynia distachya(= Brachypodium distachyon), Trifolium echinatum, T. purpureum, T. subterraneum, Trigonella monspeliaca, Xeranthemum annuum, X. cylindraceum, Xolanthes guttatus, Ziziphora capitata.
- Fungi: Macromycetes – Agaricus bernardii, A. comtulus, A. maskae, A. pseudopratensis, Amanita vittadinii, Batarrea phalloides, Calocybe carnea, Crinipellis mauretanica, Gastrosporium simplex, Leucopaxillus lepistoides, Myriostoma colyforme, Polyporus rhizophillus, Tulostoma brumale;Micromycetes – Albugo tragopogonis (on Xeranthemum annuum), Blumeria graminis, Puccinia graminis (on Dactylis glomerata and Poa bulbosa), Peronospora knautiae (on Knautia orientalis), Puccinia cynodontis, Ustilago cynodontis (on Cynodon dactylon), Puccinia pulsatillae,), Puccinia recondida (on Bromus scoparius), Thecaphora deformans (on Medicago minima), Uromyces striatus (on Medicago rigidula).
Distribution in Bulgaria. The habitat occupies dry, eroded areas in S Bulgaria where the Mediterranean climatic influence is strong – southern and central parts of the valley of Struma river, Aitos Mts, East Rhodopi Mts., the southern part of the valleys of Mesta, Toundzha and Maritsa rivers, Strandzha Mts., South Black Sea coast.
Conservation importance. Rare and protected Mediterranean plant species occur in the sub-Mediterranean pseudo-steppes with annual herbs, such as Aegilops comosa, A. markgrafii, Anemone pavonina, Capsella bursa-pastoris subsp. thracica, Echium plantagineum, Hippocrepis unisiliquosa, Legousia pentagonia, Lens ervoides, Lotus aegaeus, Nigella orientalis, Orchis papilionacea, Plantago bellardii, Romulea bulbocodium, Romulea linaresii subsp. graeca, Serapias vomeracea, Sideritis lanata, Silene cretica, S. graeca, etc. The following fungi of conservation importance also occur: Amanita vittadinii, Battarrea phalloides, Crinipellis mauretanica, Endoptychum agaricoides, Gastrosporium simplex, Polyporus rhizophillus.
Threats. Use of grazing as a tool to preserve the structure of the habitat. Waste pollution and use of herbicides.
Conservation measures taken. The habitat is included in Annex № 1 of BDA and is of conservation priority. Most of its localities are within sites of the European Ecological Network NATURA 2000.
Conservation measures needed. Phytocoenological studies and monitoring of the habitat and its species.
References. Ganchev et al. 1964; Stefanov & Kitanov 1962; Stoyanov & Achtarov 1951a.
Author: Chavdar Gussev
