Cleistogenes squarrosa steppe in Republik of Buryatia

The article discusses the features of composition and structure of Cleistogenes squarrosa (Trin.) Keng.) steppes within Buryatia. The communities occupy small areas on sandy and sandy loamy soils, often they are subjected to grazing on old fallow lands. Usually the communities Cleistogenes squarrosa steppes aresmall species of plants. Analysis of phyto- coenotic and ecological characteristics of the communities showed that they belong to di- gressional variant of herb-bunchgrass true steppes. Coenoflora of formation is characterized by very low diversity (66 species of higher vascular plants). Forest-steppe and steppe elements are dominant. Tap root and long rhizome xeromesophytic plants dominate in the morphological structure. There are two associations: association Cleistogenes squarrosa - Poa botryoides - Veronica incana and the second association Cleistogenes squarrosa - Artemisia commutata - Potentilla bifurca.