Mesoeutrophic meadowsweet-tufted-sedge and wolfsbane-monkshood-meadowsweet peatmoss spruce forests of European Russia and Urals

Mesoeutrophic meadowsweet-tufted sedge and wolfsbane monkshood-meadowsweet peatmoss spruce forests, dominated by Picea abies s.l., Filipendula ulmaria s.l., Sphagnum warnstorfii and (in proper associations) Carex cespitosa or Aconitum septentrionale in the correspondent layers, have been classified in European Russia and the Urals using the dominant-determinant approach to vegetation. Based upon the set of 123 relevés, 5 subassociations with 2 variants are recognized in Piceetum (P.) filipenduloso-caricosum cespitosae together with 2 variants in P. sphagno warnstorfii-aconitosum. The observed syntaxonomic diversity is governed partly by latitudinal zonation and climate continentality changes, partly by community topographic location and bedrock differences. Stands of P. filipenduloso-caricosum cespitosae subass. caricosum juncellae grow on gypsum in the Kuloi R. and Pinega R. basins within the northern-boreal subzone. Forests of all the other recognized syntaxa occur mainly in the middle-boreal subzone on both carbonate and silicate bedrock. Longitudinal variants are distinguished in P. filipenduloso-caricosum typicum as well as in P. sphagno warnstorfii-aconitosum. A high level of both vascular and moss species diversity is typical for all the syntaxa.