A higher‐level classification of the Pannonian and western Pontic steppe grasslands (Central and Eastern Europe)

Abstract

We propose the following classification of the <i>Festuco-Brometea</i> in our study area: (1) <i>Brometalia erecti</i> (semi-dry grasslands) with <i>Scabioso ochroleucae-Poion angustifoliae</i> (steppe meadows of the forest zone of E Europe) and <i>Cirsio-Brachypodion pinnati</i> (meadow steppes on deep soils in the forest-steppe zone of E Central and E Europe); (2) <i>Festucetalia valesiacae</i> (grass steppes) with <i>Festucion valesiacae</i> (grass steppes on less developed soils in the forest-steppe zone of E Central and E Europe) and <i>Stipion lessingianae</i> (grass steppes in the steppe zone); (3) <i>Stipo-Festucetalia pallentis</i> (rocky steppes) with <i>Asplenio septentrionalis-Festucion pallentis</i> (rocky steppes on siliceous and intermediate soils), <i>Bromo-Festucion pallentis</i> (thermophilous rocky steppes on calcareous soils), <i>Diantho-Seslerion</i> (dealpine <i>Sesleria caerulea</i> grasslands of the Western Carpathians) and <i>Seslerion rigidae</i> (dealpine <i>Sesleria rigida</i> grasslands of the Romanian Carpathians).