Steppe of Tbilisi environs (East Georgia, South Caucasus)

Steppes of Tbilisi environs are studied. In the Tbilisi surroundings the steppe vegetation is either of primary or secondary origin. Steppe vegetation in the Tbilisi environs are represented by 4 formations: (1) Bothriochloeta ischaemum, (2) Festuceta valesiaci, (3) Stipeta pennatae and (4) Gramino-Mixtoherbeta. From them Bothriochloeta ischaemum and Festuceta valesiaci formations have more area covering and characterized by the comparatively rich typological composition. Typological composition of each formation is established. For each separated plant communities the basic structural characteristics (general projective coverage, sodding degree, dominant-edificatory plant, characteristic species, number of species, moss cover, litter, species richness, spectrum of life forms), distribution area in the Tbilisi environs and main physical-geographical conditions (altitude, exposure, inclination, soil type) are given.