Mediterranean natural zone or subtropics: hard-leaved evergreen forests and shrubs, description, climate, soils. Evergreen ornamental shrubs

In the west of the subtropical zone, in a Mediterranean climate with dry, hot summers and relatively warm winter the vegetation has pronounced xerophytic features. These types of plant groups are especially well represented in Eurasia along the shores of Mediterranean Sea.

Vegetation and soils

The indigenous vegetation of the European and Asian Mediterranean is tall forests dominated by evergreen oaks or heat-loving pines in the upper tier.

On the western slopes of the mountains and on Atlantic coast The holm oak, which is common in these phytocenoses, is joined by the more moisture-loving cork oak, and in the east by the low-growing kermes and walloon oaks. In the second tier grow strawberry tree, pistachio, myrtle, noble laurel, olive, boxwood, tree-like juniper and other types of trees. All of them have certain adaptations that help them endure the summer dryness: some have pubescent leaves and a waxy coating, others have turned into thorns, tree trunks are covered with a thick (cork) or leathery crust, etc. They serve to reduce evaporation by - apparently, and essential oils, contained in abundance in all organs of many plants. Some places are still preserved coniferous forests from pines: seaside, Aleppo, Italian - pine, with an admixture of cypress, which in the past occupied large areas, mainly on sandy soils. They howled, but now the Atlas and Lebanese cedar forests have almost been destroyed. Agriculture has been developed in the Mediterranean since ancient times. Even in ancient times, the forests here suffered from grazing by small livestock, especially goats. In extremes for the existence of trees dry conditions natural regeneration of the woody upper layer does not occur. Forests are either replaced by shrub communities or low-trunk forest groups dominated by trees former second tiers. In those habitats where there is more moisture, maquis, or macchia, appears. Depending on local conditions, the floristic composition of maquis varies, but everywhere this type of vegetation consists of low-growing (up to 4-5 m) thickets of trees and shrubs entwined with vines, blooming luxuriantly with bright flowers, and very fragrant. The composition of maquis can include strawberry tree, pistachio, olive, tree-like juniper and heather, gorse, rosemary, cistus, shrubby forms of oaks and other plants. The most common vine is prickly asparagus. Where moisture is poorer, or on rocky soils, tree cover is not restored at all. Shrub xerophilic formations in different conditions have different floristic compositions and are called differently. In France and Italy they are called garigues and consist of shrubby forms of kermes oak, thyme, rosemary, and gorse. In the continental conditions of the Iberian Peninsula, these are thickets of heavily pubescent and aromatic plants - rosemary, thyme, lavender. This version of garigue is called thyme, or tomillary. In the east, in the driest conditions, dominance passes to thorny bushes and tough perennial herbs (sainfoin, acantholimon, astragalus, euphorbia, sage, etc.). They often form spherical groups to reduce evaporation and protect against the night cold - this is a freegana. In the eastern part of the Mediterranean, shrub formations with the participation of deciduous species are widespread - lilac, rose hips, hawthorn, sumac, orchard tree, etc. They are called shiblyak. Sometimes monodominant communities are formed from the same plant species: thyme, rosemary, lavender, cistus, especially characteristic of the interior regions of the Iberian Peninsula and limestone slopes of the Balkan Peninsula.

In the west North America In the subtropics, shrubby xerophilic formations - chapparral - also dominate. They are dominated by shrubby evergreen oaks and other hard-leaved species of heathers, rosaceae, and legumes participate.

Under hard-leaved forests and shrubs under conditions of variable moisture (flushing regime only in winter), brown or - under particularly dry formations - gray-brown soils with a significant amount of organic and mineral substances are formed.

In winter, sulfates and chlorides are carried away, and carbonates settle at depth. In summer when upward movement soil solutions, calcium salts rise to the surface and provide a neutral reaction. These are fertile soils with 4-7% humus in the upper horizons, but on slopes devoid of vegetation they are easily washed away.

On the eluvium of limestones, widespread in the Mediterranean, red-colored carbonate soils (red rendzina, or terra rossa) are formed.

The fauna of the Mediterranean is unique. There is even a special Mediterranean subregion of the Holarctic. It contains species common to North Africa and endemic ones.

The only species of monkey in Europe, the tailless macaque (magot), lives here. In the west of the subregion, in the bushes there lives a small predatory animal - a civet genet that hunts rodents. Wild rabbits are common. There are endemic bird species - magpies, sparrows, warblers, some raptors - vultures, kites. Many reptiles: geckos, chameleons, snakes, land turtles. The fauna is poorly preserved. A few large animals - bears, chamois, roe deer - are found only in national parks. Only in nature reserves are there wild ones left forest cats, which were previously widespread not only in hard-leaved, but also in broad-leaved forests of Europe.

In place of cleared forests, subtropical crops are grown on fertile brown soils: grapes, citrus fruits, and fruits. Olive (olive), pistachio, etc. are cultivated, including ornamental plants. It is often necessary to carry out expensive measures to prevent soil loss, vegetation degradation and deterioration in the quality of agricultural land.

The inhabitants of subtropical hard-leaved forests and shrubs have adapted to the climatic conditions of this natural zone. Animals are most active in spring and autumn, when the combination of humidity and temperature is most favorable.

Among mammals, some ungulates are found in Mediterranean hard-leaved forests and shrubs, for example mountain sheep - mouflon, doe, civet predators(genetta, ichneumon), small cats.

In the Pyrenees, the mountains of Morocco and the Balkan Peninsula, bears are preserved.

In the eucalyptus forests of Australia you can meet the marsupial bear koala. It lives in trees and leads a nocturnal, sedentary lifestyle.

Birds are numerous and varied: blue magpies, sparrows, canary finches (the ancestors of the house canary), warblers, mockingbirds, wheatears, etc. Of the waterfowl, the marbled teal is typical. Vultures and vultures- an integral part of the Mediterranean mountain landscape. Black vulture and griffon vulture are widespread.

Of the many species of turtles, the Greek one is the most famous. The southern Mediterranean is home to chameleons, many geckos, agamidae, and true lizards. Among snakes, snakes and snakes are especially common.

Meet and poisonous snakes- viper, rhinoceros, viper, efa, cobra. The world of Mediterranean insects is unusually rich: butterflies - cavaliers, whites, satyrs; lots of beetles, termites and scorpions.

Temperate broadleaf forests.

They occupy eastern North America, Central Europe; also form high-altitude zones in the Carpathians, Crimea and In addition, individual pockets of broad-leaved forests are found in the Russian Far East, Chile, New Zealand and in the center of Japan, in Northern China.

They occupy an area between mixed forests in the north and steppes, Mediterranean or subtropical vegetation in the south.

European broadleaf forests are endangered forest ecosystems. Broad-leaved forests grow in areas with a humid to moderately humid climate, characterized by an even distribution of precipitation (400 to 600 mm) throughout the year and relatively high temperatures. The average temperature in January is -8...0 °C, and in July +20...+24 °C.

The upper tier in these forests is occupied by oak, beech, hornbeam and linden. IN Europe meet ash, maple, elm. The undergrowth is formed by shrubs - hazel, warty euonymus, and forest honeysuckle. The dense and tall herbaceous cover of European broad-leaved forests is dominated by gooseberry, green grass, hoofweed, lungwort, woodruff, hairy sedge, spring ephemeroids: corydalis, anemone, snowdrop, scilla, goose onion, etc.

IN North America In this zone, species of oaks grow that are characteristic only of this continent. The deciduous forests of the Southern Hemisphere are dominated by southern beech.

Modern broad-leaved and coniferous-deciduous forests formed five to seven thousand years ago, when the planet warmed and broadleaf species trees were able to move far to the north. In subsequent millennia, the climate became colder and the area of ​​broad-leaved forests gradually decreased.

Fauna broad-leaved forests are represented by ungulates, predators, rodents, insectivores, and bats. They are distributed mainly in those forests where living conditions are least modified by humans. Moose, red and sika deer, roe deer, fallow deer, and wild boar live here. Wolves, foxes, martens, horis, stoats and weasels represent a group of predators in deciduous forests. Among the rodents there are beavers, nutria, muskrats, squirrels, minks, and raccoons. The forests are inhabited by rats and mice, moles, hedgehogs, shrews, as well as various types of snakes, lizards and marsh turtles.

The birds of broad-leaved forests are diverse. Most of them belong to the order of passerines - finches, starlings, tits, swallows, flycatchers, warblers, larks, etc. Other birds also live here: crows, jackdaws, magpies, rooks, woodpeckers, crossbills, as well as large birds - hazel grouse and black grouse . Among the predators there are hawks, harriers, owls, owls and eagle owls. In the swamps there are waders, cranes, herons, different types ducks, geese and seagulls.

In the broad-leaved forests of Eurasia, many animals have become rare and are under human protection. The bison and the Ussuri tiger are listed in the Red Book.

Temperate mixed forests.

Within temperate zone there are several types mixed forests: coniferous-deciduous forest; secondary small-leaved forest with an admixture of coniferous or broad-leaved trees and mixed forest consisting of evergreen and deciduous tree species. In the subtropics, mainly laurel-leaved and coniferous trees grow in mixed forests.

In Eurasia zone coniferous-deciduous forests widespread south of the zone taiga Quite wide in the west, it gradually narrows towards the east. Small areas of mixed forests occur in Kamchatka and south Far East. IN North America such forests occupy vast areas in the eastern part of the temperate climate zone, in the region Great Lakes.

In the Southern Hemisphere mixed forests grow in New Zealand and Tasmania. The mixed forest zone is characterized by a climate with cold, snowy winters and warm summers. Winter temperatures in areas of the sea temperate climate positive, and as they move away from the oceans, C drops to -10 °C. The amount of precipitation (400-1000 mm per year) is not much greater than evaporation.

Mixed forests are distinguished by clearly visible layers. The upper tree layer is occupied by tall pines and spruces, and below grow oaks, lindens, maples, birches, and elms. Under the shrub layer formed by raspberries, viburnum, rose hips, and hawthorn, shrubs, herbs, mosses and lichens grow.

Coniferous-small-leaved forests, consisting of birch, aspen, and alder, represent intermediate forests in the process of coniferous forest formation.

Within the mixed forest zone, there are also treeless spaces. High treeless plains with fertile gray forest soils are called opole. They are found in the south of the taiga and in the zones of mixed and deciduous forests of the East European Plain.

Polesie - low treeless plains, composed of sandy deposits of melted glacial waters, are common in eastern Poland, Polesie, in the Meshchera Lowland and are often swampy.

In the south of the Russian Far East, where seasonal winds - monsoons - dominate within the temperate climatic zone, mixed and broad-leaved forests grow, called Ussuri taiga. They are characterized by a more complex layered structure and a huge variety of plant and animal species.

In mixed forests North America of coniferous trees are often found white and red pine, and from deciduous - birch, sugar maple, American ash, linden, beech, elm.

Animal world similar to the fauna of the taiga and the deciduous forest zone. Foxes, hares, hedgehogs and wild boars are found even in well-developed forests near Moscow, and moose sometimes go out onto the roads and on the outskirts of villages. There are a lot of squirrels not only in forests, but also in city parks. Along the banks of rivers in quiet places, away from populated areas, you can see beaver lodges. Mixed forests are also home to bears, wolves, martens, badgers, and a diverse world of birds.

The territory of this natural zone has long been developed by humans and is quite densely populated. Mixed forests have long been subject to severe deforestation and fires. They are best preserved in North America and the Far East, while in Eurasia they are used for field and pasture land.

Taiga.

This forest zone is located within the temperate climate in the north North America and on northern Eurasia. There are two types of taiga: light-coniferous and dark-coniferous.

Light coniferous taiga- These are pine and larch forests, the sparse crown of which allows the sun's rays to reach the ground. Pine forests, having an extensive root system, have acquired the ability to use nutrients from marginal soils. This feature of the root system of these forests allows them to grow in areas with permafrost. The shrub layer of the light-coniferous taiga consists of alder, dwarf birch, polar willow, and berry bushes. Mosses and lichens are located under this layer. This is the main food of reindeer. This type of taiga is common in Eastern Siberia.

Dark coniferous taiga- these are forests represented by species with dark, evergreen needles. These forests consist of numerous species of spruce, fir, and Siberian pine (cedar). Dark-coniferous taiga, unlike light-coniferous taiga, has no undergrowth, since its trees are tightly closed with crowns, and it is gloomy in these forests. The lower tier consists of shrubs with hard leaves (lingonberries) and dense ferns. This type of taiga is common in European part of Russia and Western Siberia.

The peculiar flora of these taiga species is explained by differences in the climate of the territories: average annual temperatures and the amount of precipitation. The seasons are clearly distinguished.

Animal world The taiga zone of Eurasia is very rich. Both large predators live here - brown bear, wolf, lynx, fox, and smaller predators - otter, mink, marten, wolverine, sable, weasel, ermine.

Brown bears are typical inhabitants of vast forests, not only taiga, but also mixed forests. There are 125-150 thousand brown bears in the world, two thirds of which live in the Russian Federation. The sizes and colors of the subspecies of brown bears (Kamchatka, Kodiak, grizzly, European brown) are different. Some brown bears reach three meters in height and weigh more than 700 kg.

During the year, bears travel from 230 to 260 kilometers in search of food, and with the approach of winter they return to their dens. Wolves are common in many areas of Europe, Asia and North America. They are found in the steppe, desert, mixed forests and taiga. The body length of the largest individuals reaches 160 cm and weight 80 kg. Mostly wolves are gray, but tundra wolves are usually somewhat lighter, and desert wolves are grayish-red. These ruthless predators are distinguished by their developed intelligence.

Lynx is found in the taiga zone from Scandinavia to the shores of the Pacific Ocean. IN taiga forests Siberia is home to the Siberian chipmunk - a typical representative of the genus of chipmunks, which is also found in Northern Mongolia, China and Japan. The body length of this funny animal is about 15 cm, and the length of its fluffy tail is 10 cm. On the back and sides, there are 5 longitudinal dark stripes on a light gray or reddish background, characteristic of all chipmunks. The color of squirrels depends on their habitat. In the Siberian taiga they are reddish or copper-gray with a blue tint, and in European forests they are brown or red-red.

Many taiga animals survive the long, cold and snowy winter in a state of suspended animation (invertebrates) or hibernation (brown bear, chipmunk), and many bird species migrate to other regions. Passerines, woodpeckers, and grouse—grouse, hazel grouse, and grouse—permanently live in taiga forests.

Taiga North America has a milder climate, so species composition There are more diverse animals there.

Tropical forests.

They are located along eastern Central America, the Caribbean islands, Madagascar, eastern Australia and southeastern Asia. The existence of forests in this dry and hot climate is possible thanks to the heavy rainfall that the monsoons bring from the oceans in summer. Depending on the degree of moisture among tropical forests There are permanently wet and seasonally wet forests.

In terms of their species diversity of flora and fauna, tropical rainforests are close to equatorial forests. These forests contain many palm trees, evergreen oaks, and tree ferns. There are many lianas and epiphytes of orchids and ferns. The tropical forests of Australia differ from others in their relative poverty of species composition. There are few palm trees here, but eucalyptus, laurels, ficus, and legumes are often found.

The fauna of the equatorial forests is similar to the fauna of the forests of this belt..

Forests of the subequatorial belt.

These are deciduous evergreen forests, which are located along the eastern edge of South America, along the coast of Indochina, and in northeastern Australia. There are clearly two seasons here: dry and wet, the duration of which is about 200 days. In summer, equatorial climates dominate here, and in winter, dry tropical climates dominate. air masses, which causes leaves to fall from trees.

The air temperature is constantly high, +20-30°C. Atmospheric precipitation decrease from 2000 mm to 200 mm per year. This leads to a lengthening of the dry period and to the replacement of evergreen, permanently moist forests by seasonally moist deciduous ones. Most deciduous trees do not lose all their leaves, but a few species remain completely bare.

Mixed (monsoon) forests of the subtropical zone.

They are located in the southeastern United States. These are the wettest of all subtropical zones. Characterized by the absence of a dry period. Annual precipitation is greater than evaporation. Maximum quantity Precipitation usually falls in the summer, due to the influence of the monsoons, which bring moisture from the oceans; winter is relatively dry and cool. Inland waters are quite rich, groundwater is predominantly fresh, shallow.

Tall mixed forests grow here. Their species composition may vary depending on soil conditions. In the forests you can find subtropical species of pines, magnolias, camphor laurel, and camellia. Swamp cypress forests are common on the flooded coasts of Florida (USA) and in the lowlands of Mississippi.

The mixed forest zone of the subtropical zone has long been developed by humans.

In subequatorial latitudes(Brazilian and Guiana Highlands, Orinoco Lowland, Central Africa to the north, east and south of the Congo Basin, Hindustan, Indochina and Northern Australia) the main natural zone is savannas and woodlands. The climate is subequatorial (high temperatures, alternating wet and dry seasons).

Savannah - a sea of ​​grass with rare islands of trees with umbrella crowns. The vast expanses of these amazing natural communities are located in Africa, although there are savannas in South America, Australia, and India. A distinctive feature of savannas is the alternation of arid and wet seasons, which take about six months, replacing each other. Significantly influence the climate of savannas monsoon winds bringing seasonal rains.

Because these landscapes are located between the very wet natural zones of equatorial forests and the very dry zones of deserts, they are constantly influenced by both. But moisture is not present in savannas long enough for multi-tiered forests to grow there, and dry “winter periods” of 2-3 months do not allow the savanna to turn into a harsh desert.

The annual rhythm of life in savannas is associated with climatic conditions. During the wet period, the riot of grass vegetation reaches its maximum - the entire space occupied by savannas turns into a living carpet of forbs. The picture is broken only by stocky, low trees - acacias and baobabs in Africa, fan palms in Madagascar, cacti in South America, and bottle trees and eucalyptus in Australia.

When the monsoon leaves, and its place is taken by dry tropical air, cereals and shrubs are very susceptible to fire, which often burns large areas. As a result, savannah vegetation has acquired modern features: an abundance of fire-resistant trees with thick bark, like baobabs, a wide distribution of plants with powerful root systems . Savanna zones are quite extensive, so the vegetation on their southern and northern borders is somewhat different.

Savannas, bordering the desert zone in the north of the zone in Africa, are rich in drought-resistant low grasses, milkweeds, aloe and acacia trees with highly branched roots. To the south they are replaced by moisture-loving plants, and along the banks of rivers the savannah zone is expanded into gallery forests with evergreen shrubs and vines, similar to humid equatorial forests. The Rift Valley of East Africa contains the most large lakes mainland - Victoria, Nyasa, Lakes Rudolf and Albert, Tanganyika.

Savannahs on their banks alternate with wetlands where papyrus and reeds grow. IN African savannas there are many famous nature reserves and national parks. One of the most famous - Serengeti, located in Tanzania. Part of its territory is occupied by the crater highlands - a famous plateau with ancient craters of extinct volcanoes, one of which is Ngorongoro has an area of ​​about 800 thousand hectares!

Savannahs of South America traditionally called "llanos" And " campus". They differ from typical African savannas a large number bushes and thickets of cacti.

Australian savannas and eucalyptus woodlands of the bush frame the central desert zone of this continent. Streams (creeks) that dry up in winter can turn into lakes and swamps during the wet summer period.

Appearance African savannah often called “park” for the alternation of “lawns” - areas with forbs - and “groves” - small groups of trees with umbrella crowns, picturesquely “scattered” among the lawns. The main inhabitants of African savannas are numerous ungulates. Herds of antelopes, zebras, gazelles, and buffaloes trample and eat grass vegetation, preventing shrubs from settling. It is thanks to them that savannas have their “park” appearance.

Numerous birds live in the swampy lowlands and near lakes - cranes, flamingos, marabou, pigeons, and various waterfowl. The largest bird currently living on Earth is African ostrich . He cannot fly, but when running he reaches speeds of up to 70 km/h - faster than a passenger train! Many birds, such as South American vultures, feed on carrion and the remains of predators. This is what they do hyenas. However, a pack of hyenas can get their own lunch, even win it from lions or other predators.

Some of the most famous insects of the savannah are huge ants. termites. Their cone-shaped tall structures are an integral part of the savannah landscape.

The largest savannah animal is African elephant. It differs from its Indian relative in the size and shape of its ears. African giant elephant up to four meters tall and weighing up to ten tons. Giraffe- Savannah decoration. It is distinguished by a graceful gait and a surprisingly long neck, which no other representative of the animal world can boast of.

The height of the giraffe reaches 6 m. Translated from Latin, the name of the giraffe sounds like “camel-leopard”. big cat cheetah- the fastest predator on the planet. It can reach a speed of 110 km per hour. When running, a cheetah relies not on three, but only on two paws - this explains its seemingly flying movements. Lion- the king of animals, reigns in the savannah.

Kangaroo- a marsupial animal that, in addition to savannas and woodlands Australia, is not found anywhere else in the world. In these places there are generally numerous marsupial animals, but the kangaroo is the largest of them

MEDITERRANEAN (evergreen hard-leaved forests and shrubs) The Mediterranean zone is a natural zone of the subtropical zone, characterized by moderate moisture, with maximum precipitation in the cold half of the year. The unevenness of moisture here is caused by the peculiarities of atmospheric circulation: in summer there is a stable subtropical anticyclone over the territory of the zone, accompanied by clear and hot weather without precipitation; In winter, the anticyclone moves south and the zone falls into the sphere of activity of polar-front cyclones. Vegetation in the Mediterranean zone in summer suffers from a lack of moisture, so the evergreen forests and shrubs developed here have a xerophytic appearance.

Forests In the west - cork and holm oak, Portuguese and Andalusian oak. In the eastern part - Macedonian and Walloon oak + Italian, maritime, pine, Aleppo pine; horizontal cypress Undergrowth: noble laurel, boxwood, myrtle, cistus, pistachio, strawberry tree (large-fruited and small-fruited) Balkan Peninsula - armored and Rumelian pine, silver spruce, Judas tree

Holm Oak This medium-height evergreen tree with blackish bark reaches a height of 20-27 meters, forming a spherical crown. Old leaves fall off a year or two after new ones appear. The leaves are dark green above, grayish below and covered with thick down. The shape of the leaves varies and they often have “teeth”, which makes them spiny. Thus, the tree protects itself from herbivores. The usual length of the leaves is 4-8 cm, width - 1-3 cm. However, on the lower branches of young trees they can grow up to 10 cm. The oak tree blooms in the spring with catkins, acorns ripen after 6 months.

"Judas tree" is a tree of the Caesalpiniaceae family. Height 7-15 m. Leaves falling, round, obtuse, entire, deeply heart-shaped at the base. The flowers are bisexual, bright pink, on the trunk, old branches and in the axils of the leaves, 3-6 in bunches. The fruit is a flat multi-seeded bean. Blooms in spring, before the leaves bloom. Propagated by seeds. The wood is used for carpentry; kidneys - for spicy seasonings for sauces.

Olive Olive (lat. Olea) is a genus consisting of approximately 20 species of the olive family. Olive varieties are common in warm temperate and tropical regions of Southern Europe, South Asia and Australia. Olive is an evergreen, long-living tree or shrub up to 10 m high, with small oppositely spaced lanceolate leaves. The fruit is a drupe. The most famous and oldest cultivated variety is Olive (European olive, Olea europaea), common in the Mediterranean region. The fruits are used for making olive oil and canning.

Pistachio grows on gray soils, on mountain-steppe brown soils, on cliffs and slopes. Light-loving, drought-resistant, calciphilic - prefers soils rich in calcium, which it actively absorbs. Can withstand temperatures down to − 25 °C. Everywhere pistachios grow in single specimens, sometimes forming sparse pistachio forests. Mediterranean types of pistachio are indispensable integral part maquis. Galls (buzguncha) often develop on the leaves. Pistachio blooms in April, sometimes in March. The fruits ripen in September-November.

Maquis, macchia (French maquis, Corsican macchia), thickets of evergreen hard-leaved and thorny bushes and low trees. Maquis arose mostly on the site of cleared hard-leaved forests, but there are indigenous types of Maquis - most typical in Mediterranean countries in the lower mountain zone up to an altitude of 700 m, where they form dense, often impenetrable thickets or, less commonly, undergrowth in evergreen hard-leaved forests. Maquis includes a large number of species, with thorny shrubs predominating ( average height 3 - 4 m, trees 8-10 m high are less common). Maquis. The grass cover is dominated by annuals.

Maquis (shrubs, low - up to 4 m - trees) Tree heather, wild olive, myrtle, noble laurel, evergreen pistachio, strawberry tree, large-fruited juniper Iberian Peninsula - strawberry tree, myrtle, pistachio, filirea, bush oak, cistus civet genetta , porcupine, wild rabbit, unity. species of European monkey macaque macaque, blue magpie, red partridge, turtles, newts, salamanders Apennine Peninsula, Sardinia, Corsica - strawberry tree, tree heather, juniper, wild olive, myrtle, laurel, oleander, spurge, pistachio, rosemary, cistus, mackerel, holly, hornbeam. Occasionally chamois, roe deer; on the islands - mountain mouflon, fallow deer, mountain goat Climbing plants often with thorns = lianas: sarsaparal, multi-colored blackberry, mustachioed clematis

Cypress Trees or shrubs covered with small scaly leaves pressed to the branch and arranged tiled in 4 rows; Each such leaf has only one top free, while most of it is tightly grown to the branch; on the dorsal side of the leaf there is usually a developed oil gland, sometimes sharply defined.

Myrtle (lat. Myrtus) is a genus of southern evergreen woody plants with white fluffy flowers and dark green leaves containing essential oil. Myrtle is a fragrant evergreen tree. It has dark green, seemingly polished leaves and beautiful flowers. Myrtle leaves contain essential oil, which was used to make incense. Myrtle was a sign of glory and blessings. In ancient times, a myrtle wreath with roses was a favorite wedding decoration. Also, myrtle used to be called a wreath of flowers and leaves of such a tree or its branch - a symbol of silence, peace and pleasure.

Juniper Juniperus (lat. Juniperus) is a genus of evergreen coniferous shrubs and trees of the Cypress family. Leaves are ringed or opposite. The annular leaves have three separate needle-like leaves in each ring; the opposite leaves are scaly, attached to the branch and mostly with an oily gland on the back. The plant is drought-resistant and light-loving. Lives long, up to 600 years. Renews itself poorly in nature.

Olea ander (lat. Nerium oleander; also oleander) is a genus of plants of the Kutrov family. Widely distributed in subtropical regions of the planet; widely used in landscape design of gardens and parks. Oleander is a large evergreen shrub of the Kutrov family, with branching stems of a brownish color, covered with rounded lenticels. Leaves are 10-15 cm long and up to 3 cm wide, opposite or in whorls of 3 or 4, lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, entire or incomprehensible, on short petioles, glabrous, leathery, with a light midrib.

Garriga, a form of vegetation in the Mediterranean region dominated by low-growing and evergreen shrubs or dwarf palms (palmito). The dominant plants are lower than in maquis and usually do not close together. Among the predominant plants there are subshrubs, bulbous and other perennial herbs. The most extensive areas are occupied by two formations: With the dominance of the kermes oak, reaching a height of only 0.5, this formation occupies vast areas in southern France and on the Iberian, Apennine and Balkan peninsulas. Prickly gorse, rosemary, gorse tree, oakberry, Astragalus Palmitovaya with the dominance of the only wild palm tree in Europe - Hamerops. Asphodels, myrtles, pistachios, milkweeds, and asparagus grow among the palmitos. It is distributed in southern Spain, the Balearic Islands, Algeria and Morocco and towards the east reaches the western part of Sicily.

Cistus The genus Cistus includes approximately 20 species of evergreen heavily pubescent shrubs and subshrubs that grow wild in the Mediterranean regions (characteristic plants of the Mediterranean maquis). Their special decorative appeal lies in the flowers, large and simple, very similar to rosehip flowers, flattened, consisting of 5 petals, sometimes with bright stamens. Usually they last very short time: from morning to evening, but many others immediately open, so flowering is usually long-lasting. The glandular hairs of the leaves and young shoots secrete incense, an aromatic resin.

Asphodelina A perennial plant in the form of a “tuft” with narrow triangular bluish leaves up to 25 cm long, located only in the lower part of the stem bearing the inflorescence. Blooms in mid-summer. Inflorescence raceme 15-22 cm long with pale-yellow flowers (about 5 cm in size), the reverse side of the petals with greenish stripes, bracts from slightly oval to lanceolate-pointed, 1.5 cm long. The height of the plant is up to 1 m, the width of the “bundle” is up to 30 cm. It can withstand temperatures down to -15 C.

Multicut lavender Lava nda (lat. Lavandula) is a genus of plants of the Lamiaceae family. Includes approximately 25 -30 species. Grows in the Canary Islands, northern and east africa, in southern Europe, Arabia and India. Cultivated forms are grown in gardens all over the world.

Thyme (lat. Thýmus) is a genus of plants of the Lamiaceae (or Lamiaceae) family; the leaves are used as a seasoning. It is also known by the popular names thyme ts (or chebrets), Bogorodskaya herb, mother yka. The plant is highly aromatic, with a spicy, warm odor. Perennial subshrub up to 35 cm tall with a woody stem (often recumbent) and herbaceous branches. The stems are woody at the base, spread over the soil, branched, with ascending or erect branches, covered with downward or erect hairs. The leaves are hard, almost leathery, short-petiolate, with plates ranging from round or ovoid to linear-oblong. Blooms in June-August.

Beautiful spurge, or poinsettia (lat. Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a plant of the genus Euphorbia of the Euphorbia family. The plant's homeland is tropical Mexico and Central America. Euphorbia is a beautiful evergreen shrub that reaches 3 m in height. Leaves - dark green, petiolate, with jagged edges, reach a length of 10-15 cm. The flowers are small, yellowish in color, collected in rosette-shaped inflorescences. When flowering, bright red bracts form around the flowers. Varieties with other shades of bracts have been bred - yellow, pink and bicolor. Blooms - December-February. The plant is poisonous; its milky sap can cause skin irritation.

Frigana, vegetation of low-growing xeromorphic shrubs and subshrubs with the participation of grasses, among which there are many ephemerals, common in the eastern part of the Mediterranean in the foothill zone on dry slopes. Similar to the garrigues of Southern France and the tomillars of Spain. It occurs on rocky (gravelly) soils, mainly in areas where forests have been cut down, as a result of overgrazing. Characteristic plants contain a large amount of essential oils (Labiaceae, cistus, rue, wormwood species); some are poisonous (species of milkweed) and prickly (Asteraceae, Astragalus, etc.). Astragalus, spurge, gorse, thyme, asphodel species, acantholimon

Shibljak (deciduous, drought-resistant, heat-loving shrubs and low-growing trees in the east of the Balkan Peninsula in hot summer conditions and quite cold winter) The floristic composition of Sh. varies; oaks (fluffy, Georgian, etc.), barberry, hawthorn, rosehip, jasmine, blackthorn, sumac, etc. are more common + southern species: oak tree, mackerel, wild almond, pomegranate, hornbeam, bean This type of vegetation arose in the Neogene in the Ancient Mediterranean. Modern Switzerland was mainly formed on the site of drought-resistant forests and light forests of foothills and low mountains destroyed by humans (the Balkans, Crimea, the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, Dagestan, Transcaucasia).

Carob tree is a plant of the legume family. A tree up to 10 m high with a wide crown, evergreen pinnate dense leaves and small flowers collected in racemes. The calyx of the flower is inconspicuous, quickly falling off; there is no corolla. Cultivated for a long time in the Mediterranean; in some places it became wild. Carob beans (Tsaregrad pod, sweet horn) about 10-25 cm long, 2-4 cm wide and 0.5-1 cm thick, brown, indehiscent. In addition to seeds, they contain juicy, sweet pulp (about 50% sugar). The fruits are used for food (as a delicacy or as a substitute for coffee, called carob), and for livestock feed. The juice squeezed from the fruit is used as sweet syrup and raw material for producing alcohol.

Sainfoin (lat. Onobrýchis) is a genus of plants from the legume family. Up to 80 species are known to grow wild in central and southern Europe, northern Africa and western Asia. These are herbs, subshrubs or small shrubs, planted with abundant thorns.

SUMACH Tanning or dyeing tree, as the Greeks call tanning sumac, the leaves and young branches of which were used for tanning leather; Possibly from the Celtic - "rhudd" - red, because of the red fruits. Description: depending on the views of taxonomists, there are from 20 to 150 species in this genus, distributed in temperate and subtropical zones. Deciduous, less often evergreen, low trees, often growing in a bushy manner, with simple, trifoliate and pinnate leaves on rounded or winged petioles. The flowers are small, inconspicuous, greenish or orange-yellow, collected in apical, paniculate or spike-shaped inflorescences

Derzhiderevo is a shrub up to 3 m in height, dense, highly branched. The leaves are alternate, arranged in approximately 2 rows on the branches, with short petioles, 2-4 cm long, 1.5-3.5 cm wide, wide, obovate, narrowed upward, with three veins, slightly toothed or entire. The stipules are always modified into spines, one of which is erect and the other curved backward. The flowers are bisexual, collected in small false umbels. Cup and corolla of 5 leaves, not fused, yellowish-green. There are also 5 stamens, a pistil of carpels with a 2-3-locular semi-inferior ovary. The fruit is a hemispherical, lignified drupe with 2-3 seeds; the fruit is covered with a leathery, semi-lignified, partly woolly disk, yellowish-brown in color, increasing the size of the fruit by 2-3 cm. The seeds are flat, obovate, and do not open even after ripening. Blooms in May-July. Honey plant. Decorative.

Mackerel is an original shrub, less often a low tree, 2-5 m in height, from the sumac family. The crown is dense, ovoid or spherical. The shoots are green or reddish, glabrous, shiny, or somewhat pubescent. The leaves are simple, round, ovate, 10 X 4 cm, glabrous above, dark bluish-green or bluish-reddish, lighter below. In autumn, the leaves of mackerel take on a yellow, pink or purple-purple color. The flowers are small, inconspicuous yellowish-white or greenish. Mackerel is especially spectacular from July to October, when the entire plant seems to be shrouded in pink, green or purple haze. This happens thanks to the numerous long-haired pedicels of loose, wide-cone-shaped paniculate inflorescences, up to 30 cm in length and 12 cm in width. A large number of panicles cover the plant in a continuous colored wig. That's why scumpia is called the "wig tree". The openwork cover of the mackerel is especially colorful after rain or in the morning fog, in the rays of the sun.

Fauna of the Mediterranean: civet, porcupine, wild rabbit, unity. species of European monkey makakkmagot, occasionally chamois, roe deer; on the islands - mountain mouflon, fallow deer, mountain goat. Griffon vulture, Spanish and rock sparrow, blue magpie, roller, mountain partridge, red partridge, flamingo, rock thrush. Lizards (geckos), chameleons; snakes, snakes, vipers; turtles Tritons, salamanders

The wild rabbit is a herd animal, forming groups of 2-3 animals that staunchly defend their territory. They live in small forests, thickets of bushes, in open areas, in parks and gardens, where they build burrows - shelters, brood chambers, representing a system of structures. Wild rabbits are almost no different from outbred rabbits of gray-hare color. The chest and lower neck are reddish-gray, the belly is white. The weight of a rabbit does not exceed 2-3 kg with a body length of 40-45 cm. They are predominantly herbivorous animals; animal feed takes up a small place in their diet. High fertility of rabbits is closely related to increased mortality.

Roller Roller can be called a typical representative of the family. It is easily recognizable due to its bright greenish-blue plumage and fast, strong and agile flight. Usually she can be seen sitting on a thick branch of a tree growing at the edge of a tree, on a telegraph pole, and finally, on a haystack or on a coastal cliff. It walks rather clumsily on the ground, but does not avoid walking, since it feeds mainly on terrestrial animals. The common roller is approximately the size of a jackdaw. More precisely, its wing length is 18-20 cm, weight 180-200 g. The bird’s beak is strong, laterally compressed, slightly hooked at the apex. At the base of the beak there are hard bristle-like vibrissae

White-headed vulture is common in North Africa, Southern Europe, on the islands of the Mediterranean Sea. . The griffon vulture is a sedentary, primarily mountain bird.

The Asian part of Maquis, depleted of species in comparison with the European Shrub kermes oak, In the Levant - carob, Palestine pistachio In Asia Minor - red juniper, myrtle, heather, wild olive Freegana and shiblyak - on the leeward slopes - blackthorn, hornbeam, hornbeam, low-growing juniper forests Deciduous shrubs: rosehip, rosehip, buckthorn, euonymus, jasmine

Taurus: Aleppo pine, Cilician fir, Lebanese cedar, carob; maquis - shrubby kermes oak, juniper, gorse Western slopes of the Lebanon ridge - Mediterranean-type forests - maritime and Aleppo pine, kermes oak, tree juniper, noble laurel, oleander, wild olive, individual groves of Lebanese cedar Armenian Highlands - steppes on chernozem-like and chestnut soils . On the moist slopes there are preserved forests with a predominance of pine, Armenian oak and chestnut-leaved oak, elm, + hornbeam, beech

Altitudinal zonation Up to h 600 -800 m - shrubby evergreen formations Higher coniferous-deciduous forests grow: black pine, Cilician fir, cypress, deciduous oak, maple, chestnut From h 2000 m xerophytic vegetation (cushion-shaped) predominates: sticky rose, spurge, barberry krtiskiy, Fauna is preserved in the mountains - rodents, snakes (viper, viper), bezoar goat, mouflon, roe deer, striped hyena. Asia Minor Wild sheep, bezoar goat, roe deer, wild ass onager.

Hyraxes (hyracoids, fatheads; Hyracoidea), an order of mammals, includes one family - hyraxes (Procaviidae) with three genera (about 10 species). The order of hyraxes is included in the superorder of ungulates. Hyraxes are small animals; body length from 30 to 60 cm, weight from 1.5 to 4.5 kg. Outwardly, they resemble a tailless marmot or a large hay farm. The muzzle is short, with a forked upper lip, the ears are small and rounded. Bunches of long vibrissae are located above the eyes and on the neck. The thick coat consists of a hard guard and a soft undercoat. The fur color is most often brown-gray, with a contrasting patch of light or dark hair on the back. The upper jaw has a pair of large incisors, the inner surface of which is devoid of enamel. They grow throughout life, constantly wearing off at the top. In addition, they are separated from the fangs by a wide diastema, which makes them resemble rodents. The molars resemble the teeth of ungulates.

Subtropical evergreen forest - a forest common in subtropical zones.

Dense broad-leaved forest with evergreen tree and shrub species.

The subtropical climate of the Mediterranean is dry, precipitation in the form of rain falls in winter, even mild frosts are extremely rare, summers are dry and hot. The subtropical forests of the Mediterranean are dominated by thickets of evergreen shrubs and low trees. Trees stand sparsely, and various herbs and shrubs grow wildly between them. Junipers, noble laurel, strawberry trees that shed their bark annually, wild olives, delicate myrtle, and roses grow here. These types of forests are characteristic mainly in the Mediterranean, and in the mountains of the tropics and subtropics.

The subtropics on the eastern edges of the continents are characterized by a more humid climate. Atmospheric precipitation falls unevenly, but there is more rain in the summer, that is, at a time when vegetation especially needs moisture. Dense humid forests of evergreen oaks, magnolias, and camphor laurel predominate here. Numerous vines, thickets of tall bamboos and various shrubs enhance the uniqueness of the humid subtropical forest.

Subtropical forest differs from humid tropical forests in lower species diversity, a decrease in the number of epiphytes and lianas, as well as the appearance of coniferous and tree ferns in the forest stand.

The subtropical zone is characterized by a wide variety of climatic conditions, expressed in the peculiarities of moisture in the western, inland and eastern sectors. The western sector of the continent has a Mediterranean type of climate, the uniqueness of which lies in the discrepancy between the wet and warm periods. The average annual precipitation on the plains is 300-400 mm (in the mountains up to 3000 mm), the majority of which falls in winter. Winters are warm, the average temperature in January is not lower than 4 C. Summers are hot and dry, average temperature in July above 19 C. Under these conditions, Mediterranean hard-leaved plant communities formed on brown soils. In the mountains, brown soils give way to brown forest soils.

The main area of ​​distribution of hard-leaved forests and shrubs in the subtropical zone of Eurasia is the Mediterranean territory, developed by ancient civilizations. Grazing by goats and sheep, fires and land exploitation have led to the almost complete destruction of natural vegetation cover and soil erosion. Climax communities here were represented by evergreen hard-leaved forests dominated by the oak genus.

In the western part of the Mediterranean, with sufficient rainfall on various parent rocks, a common species was sclerophyte holm oak up to 20 m high. The shrub layer included low-growing trees and shrubs: boxwood, strawberry tree, phyllyria, evergreen viburnum, pistachio and many others. The grass and moss cover was sparse.

Cork oak forests grew on very poor acidic soils. In eastern Greece and on the Anatolian coast of the Mediterranean Sea, holm oak forests were replaced by kermes oak forests. In more warm parts In the Mediterranean, oak plantations were replaced by plantations of wild olive (wild olive tree), pistachio lentiscus and ceratonia. The mountainous regions were characterized by forests of European fir, cedar (Lebanon), and black pine. Pines (Italian, Aleppo and maritime) grew on the sandy soils of the plains.

As a result of deforestation, various shrub communities have long arisen in the Mediterranean. The first stage of forest degradation is apparently represented by a maquis shrub community with separate standing trees resistant to fires and logging. Its species composition is formed by a variety of shrubby plants of the undergrowth of degraded oak forests: various types of Erica, cistus, strawberry tree, myrtle, pistachio, wild olive, carob, etc. The bushes are often intertwined with climbing, often thorny plants such as sarsaparilla, multi-colored blackberry, evergreen rose, etc. The abundance of thorny and climbing plants makes the maquis difficult to pass.

In place of the reduced maquis, a garigue formation of a community of low-growing shrubs, subshrubs and xerophilic herbaceous plants develops. Low-growing (up to 1.5 m) thickets of kermes oak dominate, which are not eaten by livestock and quickly occupy new territories after fires and logging. The families of Lamiaceae, legumes and Rosaceae, which produce essential oils, are abundantly represented in garigi. Typical plants include pistachio, juniper, lavender, sage, thyme, rosemary, cistus, etc. Gariga has various local names, for example, in Spain, tomillaria. The next formation formed on the site of the degraded maquis is freegan, the vegetation cover of which is extremely sparse. Often these are rocky wastelands.

Gradually, all plants eaten by livestock disappear from the vegetation cover; for this reason, geophytes (asphodelus), poisonous (euphorbia) and prickly (astragalus, Asteraceae) plants predominate in the composition of freegana. In the lower zone of the Mediterranean mountains, including western Transcaucasia, subtropical evergreen laurel, or laurel-leaved, forests, named after the predominant species of various types of laurel, are common.



Human life is impossible without plants, of which there are a huge variety in nature. Some of them are hard-leaved and evergreen forests and shrubs. Their geographical locations are different. Read about this in the article.

General information

Hard-leaved and evergreen forests and shrubs are typical representatives of the natural zone with subtropical climate. Since ancient times, people have lived here and subjected this area to major transformations, as a result of which many areas have not been preserved. Currently, zones of hard-leaved forests and shrubs have been preserved on the Mediterranean coast of the European and African continents. They are available in South Australia and America. In total, hardwood forests account for three percent of all forests on the planet. They extend along oceans and seas, where precipitation is sufficient for growth.

The reason that forests all year round green and leaves remaining on them, there is sufficient moisture. The leaves acquire natural protection, they become tough. This is achieved due to powerful tissues covering the surface of the leaves, which do not allow moisture to evaporate excessively and the tissues to overheat. In some cases, the leaves turn into thorns. In Australia, for example, hard-leaved forests consist of eucalyptus trees, in Europe - of evergreen oaks.

Africa

Hardleaf and evergreen forests and shrubs are found in areas such as the south and extreme north of Africa. This zone occupies a small area and is characterized by a Mediterranean climate. In winter, cyclones dominate here. They bring a lot of moisture and coolness. In summer, dry and hot tropical air displaces them. There is a moderate amount of precipitation, which is quite enough for normal development tropical plants, but not enough to wash out useful substances from deep and surface layers of soil. For this reason, the soils have not lost their fertility; they contain a large amount of humus. This determined the color of the soil (brown) on which hard-leaved and evergreen forests and shrubs grow.

Plants in this zone are small in size. Thanks to the tough leaves with yellow skin, the plants can easily tolerate heat. Hence the name - hard-leaved. Coniferous trees such as cypress, pine, and Lebanese cedar grow here. Dry air does not cause any harm to these conifers.

In southern Africa, forests and bushes subtropical zone extend to small areas that are occupied by southern beech, laurel olive, and ebony. Meadow soils became a place for herbaceous vegetation to grow: heather, milkweed, tulips, daffodils, and gladioli. Some of the territories in this zone have been developed by people. Citrus fruits, olives, various varieties of grapes and much more are grown here.

Europe

Hard-leaved and evergreen forests and shrubs are located on large areas Europe. In a narrow strip they cover the Mediterranean coast of Arabia and Asia Minor. The natural area is characterized continental climate With a small amount precipitation. There are almost no forests here, they are replaced by bushes. The predominant position is occupied by maquis, the species diversity of which is very poor. The most striking representative is the kermes shrub oak. Maquis is replaced by other formations, other vegetation appears, which displaces evergreen shrubs into the mountains to a height of six hundred to eight hundred meters. Even higher are coniferous and broad-leaved forests.

Mediterranean

Hard-leaved forests occupy the Mediterranean basin, the north and south of America, the south and southwest of Australia. The climate zone is characterized by dry, hot summers and cool, rainy summers in winter. Many areas are subject to local winds. Bora, mistral and sirocco dominate here. Hard-leaved and evergreen forests and shrubs make up the predominant number of representatives of the Mediterranean flora. They are characterized by a wide crown, thick tree bark or cork covering of the trunk.

Typical is the presence of hard leaves with an interesting structure, adapted to retain moisture rather than evaporate it. Green leaves with a matte tint are covered with a shiny waxy coating. They contain essential oils in large quantities. The roots of most trees penetrate ten to twenty meters deep. Several thousand years ago, the entire coast was occupied by cork and holm oaks. Today this is very rare.

In areas where cultivated plants do not grow, fire-resistant hard-leaved and evergreen forests and shrubs are located. The soil is suitable for the growth of heathers, wild olives, strawberry and pistachio trees, and myrtles. Low-growing shrubs and herbaceous plants grow here.

Hardwood forests of different regions

In Australia, forests are represented by eucalyptus trees. However, their artificial plantings are available in Western Europe, Crimea, the Caucasus, India, and the American and African continents. The purpose of eucalyptus trees is different. Some are used to produce timber and plywood, others are used for reclamation purposes, and still others are used for medical purposes. The healing leaves of the tree containing essential oils are of great value. In their homeland, eucalyptus trees grow up to 155 meters in height.

The south of France abounds in evergreen low-growing shrubs and subshrubs. The territories are occupied by scrub oaks, which are characterized by the presence of hard, spiny leaves, and dwarf palms. Hard-leaved shrubs replaced the destroyed forests.

The Canary Islands, Portugal, Madeira, Chile, New Zealand and Japan are distinguished by the presence of laurel forests, the trees of which are evergreen. Most often you can find Canarian and noble laurel. The leaves of the latter are used for seasoning. Indian Persea and other trees grow here. Laurel forests are famous for their beauty.