Desert steppe
Description (English)
Continental, temperate very dry zonal steppe, occurring in a transition belt between the true steppe region and the semi-desert region of southern Ukraine, the south-east of European Russia and ranging further into Kazakhstan. Dry steppe is dominated by a combination of xerophytic tall and low grasses, e.g. Agropyron and Stipa, and xerophytic semi-shrubs, e.g. Artemisia and Tanacetum. Vegetation cover is relatively low, with most biomass belowground. Typically found on southern black soil (chernozems) and light chestnut soils (kastanozems).
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
| EUNIS habitat type | code R1C |
|---|
Vegetation types
Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)
Not availableIndicator species
Flowering Plants
Artemisia lerchiana
Flowering Plants
Bassia prostrata
Flowering Plants
Agropyron desertorum
Flowering Plants
Stipa lessingiana
Flowering Plants
Ferula caspica
Flowering Plants
Tulipa biebersteiniana
Flowering Plants
Artemisia austriaca
Diagnostic species occur concentrated in the habitat in question, but are absent or rare in other habitats. They are good positive indicators of the habitat, but they do not need to occur in every location of the habitat.
| Species scientific name | English common name | Species group |
|---|---|---|
| Artemisia lerchiana | Flowering Plants | |
| Bassia prostrata | Flowering Plants | |
| Agropyron desertorum | Flowering Plants | |
| Stipa lessingiana | Flowering Plants | |
| Ferula caspica | Flowering Plants | |
| Tulipa biebersteiniana | Flowering Plants | |
| Artemisia austriaca | Flowering Plants |
Flowering Plants
Poa bulbosa
Flowering Plants
Artemisia lerchiana
Flowering Plants
Bassia prostrata
Flowering Plants
Festuca valesiaca
Flowering Plants
Artemisia austriaca
Flowering Plants
Stipa lessingiana
Flowering Plants
Agropyron desertorum
Flowering Plants
Bromus squarrosus
Flowering Plants
Koeleria pyramidata
Flowering Plants
Veronica verna
Flowering Plants
Ferula caspica
Flowering Plants
Tulipa biebersteiniana
Flowering Plants
Stipa capillata
Conifers
Ephedra distachya
Flowering Plants
Carex stenophylla
Constant species occur frequently in the habitat, but they may include generalist species that are also frequent in other habitats.
| Species scientific name | English common name | Species group |
|---|---|---|
| Poa bulbosa | Flowering Plants | |
| Artemisia lerchiana | Flowering Plants | |
| Bassia prostrata | Flowering Plants | |
| Festuca valesiaca | Flowering Plants | |
| Artemisia austriaca | Flowering Plants | |
| Stipa lessingiana | Flowering Plants | |
| Agropyron desertorum | Flowering Plants | |
| Bromus squarrosus | Flowering Plants | |
| Koeleria pyramidata | Flowering Plants | |
| Veronica verna | Flowering Plants | |
| Ferula caspica | Flowering Plants | |
| Tulipa biebersteiniana | Flowering Plants | |
| Stipa capillata | Flowering Plants | |
| Ephedra distachya | Conifers | |
| Carex stenophylla | Flowering Plants |
Flowering Plants
Poa bulbosa
Flowering Plants
Stipa lessingiana
Flowering Plants
Artemisia lerchiana
Dominant species are those that often reach high cover in the habitat, thus determining the habitat physiognomy.
| Species scientific name | English common name | Species group |
|---|---|---|
| Poa bulbosa | Flowering Plants | |
| Stipa lessingiana | Flowering Plants | |
| Artemisia lerchiana | Flowering Plants |
