338 RIKARD STERNER 



Novopokrovsky 1914 [The Territory of the Don Kossacks]; Sidorov 1897, pp. 5 fif. 

 [Ekaterinoslav]; Tanfiljev 1894, pp. 146 ff. [Voronezh]; TaHev 1902 and 1904 etc. 



These coppices seem, as a rule, to have a mosaic vegetation formed of groups 

 of trees or shrubs with patches of meadow steppe between. The most important 

 tree is the oak, while amongst the shrubs may be noticed Prunus spinosa and 

 fruticosa, Evonymus verrucosa, Acer campestre and tataricum etc. Of the abundant 

 herbs in the flora may be mentioned Agrimonia eupatoria, Clinopodium vulgare, 

 Cynanchum vincetoxicum. Geranium sanguineuni, and Origanum \ ulgare, which 

 often recur in lists of species. 



In Central Russia we find similar forest types on slopes and escarpments with 

 a southerly exposure on dry ground. Copious lists of species illustrating the com- 

 position of the flora may be found, for instance, in the following works: Elerov 

 1902 and 1910 (e.g. lists 34,66, 68,494,648); Murashkinsky 1906; Korshinsky 

 1888 and 1891; Gordjagin 1889 (e. g. pp. 46 IT.); Smirnov 1903. 



In Central Europe this type of forest would seem to have its best representa- 

 tive in thin oak forests on fairly dry ground and in certain brush communities, 

 for instance, in Hayek 1914, »Eichenniederwalder» (pp. 123, 124), »Sommergrune 

 Buschholze» (p. i26);Drude 1896, »Lichte Hain- (und Vorholz) formation* (p. 312), 

 1902 (e. g. pp. 1S4 fi'.,43g); Domin igo6 (»Lichte xerophile Haine und Gebusche», 

 pp. 32 fl".). In the ground flora, of course, some of the species have disappeared, 

 and others have been added, but the resemblances must be regarded as consider- 

 able. In the south of England there are oak forests and brush communities on 

 calcareous ground which may perhaps be regarded as representatives of this type 

 (Tansley 1911, p. 153; Moss 1913, pp. 79, 99)- 



T//e DicsopJiilous foliferous forest type with which we are here dealing seems to 

 play a prominent part in the vegetation of Middle Russia. Especially does this 

 ajipear to be the case in the eastern parts of the region. It would seem pos- 

 sible to connect this fact with the circumstance that the foliferous forest formed 

 of trees throwing a strong shade {y>lunden>\ »the grove») retires rapidly, a fact 

 which in its turn probably has its foremost cause in the increasingly continental 

 character of the district. 



The trees composing these forests are chiefl\- birch, aspen, and oak, but not 

 infrequently there are also pines. The shrub layer, which is often but little 

 developed, includes such plants as Itvonymus verrucosa, Trunus padus, and 

 Rhamnus frangula. The ground vegetation can be characterized as rich in herbs. 

 Among the species that are mosi frequent!}' included in the lists of species ma\' 

 be mentioned Calamagrostis arundinacea anti INIelica nutans, Alelampyrum nemo- 

 rosuni and pratense, Geranium silvaticum, Con\a]latia niajalis. l-'ragaria \-esca, 

 Solidago virgaurea, Pteridium aquilinum, Trifolium medium, Polygonatum odoratum, 

 Potentilla erecta, Rubus saxatilis, and red and blue whortleberries. See too Flcrov 



