Grain-sedge-mixed-grass nival meadows

Grain-sedge-mixed-grass nival meadows


Cereal-sedge-and-grassy nival meadows with Pyrethrum pulchellum are associated with the locations that are most evenly and optimally moistened throughout the growing season. At the source of the Kudalkan, we described a geranium-sedge-pyreth meadow with a thin moss carpet from Brachythecium starkei on the steep northeastern slope of the kara, in place of snow that did not melt for a long time, and a sibbaldi-geranium-pyreth meadow on an equally steep southwestern slope, on blackened strips between stone placers. In the upper reaches of the Shumilikha, nival meadows with pyrethrum were observed both on steep slopes and on flat areas under snow faces. Their description is given below.

Grass-sedge-aquilegia-pyreth meadow. The left bank of Shumilikha, above Bolshoy Rigel lake. The base of the northeastern rocky slope of the right wall of the kara, with the remains of a recently melted snow face, above the spring, along which stretches a strip of flowering Caltha membranacea. In a flat depression on this site there is a puddle of meltwater — the remainder of a lake, on the dried bottom of which Ranunculus altaicus blooms abundantly.

The surface is dotted with jagged boulders that have fallen from the rocks. Bare stones occupy 0.6—0.7 of the area, their sizes are different, their height is from 0.4 to 2 m. The blackened areas between the blocks occupied by the nival meadows belong to 0.3—0.4 of the surface. The coverage of the soil with grass on them is 0.6 — 0.7.

The background is formed by thin emerald-green leaves of cereals and sedges, wide basal leaves of doroicum and its bright yellow baskets. At the bottom, thin-feathered basal rosettes of Pyrethrum pulchellum are spread in thick mats. The latter has already thrown out a lot of buds. The bright blue aquilegia that are just beginning to bloom here, the white sparse brushes of Saxifraga punctata and the greenish-white candles of Macropodium nivale stand out everywhere. A tiny Salix turczaninowii is embedded along the tubercles, interspersed among Cladonia pyxidata.

Mosses and lichens are very unevenly distributed: the microrelief bulges are covered with the primary layer of Cladonia pyxidata, Lophosia wenzeli and Brachythecium starkei predominate in the pits, Cetraria islandica, Dicranum spec, and Pleurozium schreberi predominate near the stones.

Grass-sedge-mixed-grass nival meadow with pyrethrum, sibbaldia and Salix turczaninowii. Uch. 16, 28/VII 1964. Left Bank of Shumilikha, above Bolshoy Rigel lake. The base of the northeastern and northern rocky slopes of the right wall of the kara. A flat, almost horizontal section about 20-25 m across, surrounded on all sides by smoothed outcrops of bedrock and large jagged boulders that fell from the rocky wall of the kara. The outcrops of the rock include cedar elderberry, badan, golden rhododendron and carpets of cemeteries. In the area described, the surface is soft, rather well-sanded, with only a few small stones. It has a slight slope to the north and then ends in the same direction with a rocky ledge about 5 m high on a site cut through by a streambed, on which the previous uch. 15 is described.

The grass cover is uneven, covering 0.7—0.8, arranged in groups, spots, either solid emerald green, with a predominance of sedges and grasses, or more sparse, with pyrethrum and sibbald and very small white-flowered geranium, represented here by a peculiar dwarf shape with deeply dissected, spread-out basal leaves. Against the general green background, small white pyrethrum baskets and large blue aquilegia that have just bloomed stand out only occasionally. In some places, the basal leaves of doronicum are more densely green, blooming only along the upper edge of the site, at the foot of the rocky slope, forming a colorful yellow border there. Fragments of the Salix turczaninowii association stand out in separate small spots along the bulges of the microrelief.

The height of the sparse I tier is 15 cm, the densest II tier is 10-13 cm. The III tier 3-5 cm in height is formed by the foliage of pyrethrum and sibbaldip; the curtains of Turchaninov willow are even more squat.

Mosses cover 0.4—0.5 of the surface, gray-white spots of the stereocaulope and the primary layer of the cladonia are less than 0.1. Spots of bare earth, sprinkled with loose plant debris, belong to about 0.1 of the surface. Thin mats of Drepanocladus uncinaius and other gypsum mosses are mostly confined to sparse spots of pyrethrum and sibbaldia, where they occupy 0.3 of the surface.

Below is a variant of this association with a more abundant geranium and slightly less involvement of pyrethrum and sibbaldia.

Grain-sedge-pyrethra-geranium nival meadow with Salix turczaninowii. The left Bank of Shumilikha. A rounded alpine lawn at the bottom of the second pit, surrounded on all sides by large boulders.

The herbage is quite dense and stunted. The coating is 0.7—0.8, in some places up to 0.9. The rest of the surface is occupied by small stones and thin patches covered with thin stereo mats.

The dense, sometimes closed main II tier with a height of 6-7 cm is formed by the foliage of cereals, sedges and various grasses. Their inflorescences rise up to 30 cm, forming a rare I tier. At the bottom, Salix turczaninowii, which does not exceed 3 cm, spreads on the thinning areas.

The background is formed by the foliage of geraniums, sedges and grasses. All of them finish flowering and bear fruit. More lush groups of already faded doronicum stand out, in some places pyrethrum baskets and rare saxifrage brushes are white, light blue bells are noticeable. The ground cover is not developed. In the thinnings, the soil is only partially covered with Streocaulon paschale — sp. gr. mats. There are no mosses on the soil, only Racomitrium canescens — sol. gr cushions are found on the stones.

This association is transitional from the mesophilic group of nival meadows to hollow meadows and wastelands with a predominance of sibbaldia and Salix turczaninowii. Many first-time players in India review available promotions before registering because a strong welcome package can add extra value from the very beginning. Completing the sign-up using the 1xbet promo code today enables eligible users to receive a 100% welcome bonus up to ₹65,000, making it easier to enjoy a wider selection of sports betting markets after the first deposit.