Krasnodar GRES Project Volume I11 Environmental Assessment

Caucasian subalpine tall grass communities are noted for an exceptional species
diversity - 90 species, more than 50 of them can be found in the reserve. These
communities contain predominantly Umbelliferae and Compositae families, less
frequently cereals (cowparsnip, multiflowered companula, ragwort, heart-leaved
oxeye, Kuprianov's rye, etc.)
4.5.2.1.2 Vegetation
Aquatic plants in high mountain lakes of the reserve contain only 7 species; all of
them are boreal (lesser duckweed, spring starwort, spiral wild celery, etc.). The
boundary of their growth is 2400 m. The total number of marsh species is 41.
The greater part of them (65%) pertain to the Cyperaceae and Juncaciae families.
Florogenetically, this group is rather uniform: 85% of its species have a boreal
form of areas. Some marsh species are relicts of the Pleistocene period (mud
sedge, sheathing cotton grass, marsh cinquefoil, small gentian, etc.). Most of the
march plants grow at an altitude from 1900-2400 m.
More than 720 fungal species are known in the Caucasus Biosphere reserve.
Algae, lichens and mosses still remain to be studied. Water-marshy and overmoist
habitats of high mountains have been found to contain 48 species of moss,
belonging to 15 families and 17 genera. The sphagnum family is the most
representative (1 4 species).
Among rare plants listed in the Red book of the USSR, 32 species grow in the
reserve. Among woody plants and shrubs, these are: common yew, Kolkhid
boxwood, hop hornbeam, bladder nut, and others; among grass plants these are:
Caucasian deadly nightshade, gentian, harebell, and many Orchidaceae (pyramidal
orchid, spurred coral root, and others).
The territory of the reserve is located within the boundaries of two botanico-
geographical provinces - North Caucasian and West-Caucasian, where 9
geobotanical regions are identified. lntraregional differences of the plant cover are
particularly distinct in the forest belt.
Broad-leaved forests grow at an altitude up to 1300 m. Oaks occupy a small area
(2%) predominantly around the periphery of the reserve. They are confined to
southern slopes at an altitude up to 900 m. These forests consist mainly of 4
species of oak: pedunculate, sessil, Iberian and Gartvis. They are mixed with
hornbeam, Caucasian pear, oriental apple, wild myrobala, common and Norway
maples, Caucasian common linden, common ash. The most widespread among
shrubs are pontic azalea, hazel nut, briars, and common elder.
Forests with a predominance of oriental beeches grow within 500-1500 m.
USAID/KRASEIA/OFFICIAL/EIACH4B.DOC 3/26/96 PAGE 4-72