What is the plant animal world. Interesting plants of Russia. Flora of Russia

Russia lies in different climatic zones, respectively, many natural zones with rich flora. Far from all corners of Russia there is a clear cycle of seasons, so the flora in different latitudes is interesting and original.

Flora of the Arctic

In the far north of the country are arctic deserts. In winter, the temperature drops to -60 degrees Celsius, and in summer it is no more than +3 degrees. The territory is completely covered with glaciers and snow, so it is difficult to say that plants grow here in the classical way. All that is here is mosses and lichens. In summer, you can sometimes meet alpine foxtail, snow saxifrage and arctic buttercup.

tundra plants

In the tundra, it is mostly always winter, and summer is short-lived. Frosts drop to -50 degrees Celsius, and snow lies here for a long time of the year. Mosses, lichens and dwarf trees are common in the tundra; flora blooms in summer. The following types of plants are found here:

• cuckoo flax;
• highlander viviparous;
• reindeer moss;
• blueberry;
• cloudberry;
• hairy willow;
• wild rosemary;
• heather;
• dwarf birch;
• blueberry;
• sedges;
• dryad.

The flora of the taiga

The taiga is much richer in plant species diversity than the tundra. grow here coniferous trees- taiga forests. Summer in these parts is very warm, although it does not last long. Winter prevails with severe frosts and snowfalls. The main representatives of the forest are pines, spruces and firs. They are tall, but through their needles Sun rays do not reach the ground, so grasses and shrubs do not grow here. In some places where the sun comes in, herbs and berry bushes grow, as well as mushrooms. These are vesennik, Siberian brunner, blueberries, Dahurian rhododendron, juniper, Asian bathing suit.

forest flora

Forests - mixed and broad-leaved with a wide strip cover part of Russia. Species diversity depends on the specific location and ecosystem. In those forests that lie close to the taiga, in addition to broad-leaved species, there are spruce and pine, larch and fir. The closer to the south, the greater the number of maples, lindens, oaks, alders, elms, birches. Among the shrubs grows hazel and wild rose. There is a variety of berries, flowers and herbs:

• bells;
• wild strawberry;
• white water lilies;
• meadow clover;
• buttercups are caustic;
• May lilies of the valley;
• marsh marigold.

Plants of the steppe and forest-steppe

The peculiarity of the steppe flora is that hundreds of species have been destroyed and many ecosystems have been greatly changed, as people use the steppe for agriculture, therefore, instead of wild forbs, there are agricultural fields and grazing areas. This area has the richest soil. In those places where nature reserves and sanctuaries are organized, nature is still preserved in its original form. Meet here different types tulips and meadow sage, irises and steppe cherries, some types of mushrooms (for example, champignons) and a cutter, feather grass and kermek, astragalus and field sow thistle, cornflower and cumin, elecampane and forest parsnip, stonecrop tenacious and pharmacy burnet.

Flora of deserts and semi-deserts

In the territories where desertification is taking place, and where there have been deserts for hundreds of years, a special world of flora has formed. At first glance, there is little that grows here. But it is not so. There are oases in the deserts, and after rain (it happens very rarely, once every few years), the desert blooms with amazing colors and shimmers with all the colors of the rainbow. Whoever saw the blooming desert will never be able to forget this wonderful phenomenon. Wormwood and bulbous bluegrass, camel thorn and saltwort, cereals and kendyr, sand locust and tulips, and two-ear conifer, as well as various cacti and ephemera grow in this natural zone.

Mountain plants

In the mountains there is almost everything natural areas: And mixed forests, and taiga, and forest-steppe. High in the mountains it is cold, there are glaciers and snow cover. Various coniferous and broad-leaved trees grow on the slopes. Among the flowers, plants and herbs, the following types are worth noting:

• alpine poppies;
• maral root;
• spring gentian;
• Siberian barberry;
• edelweiss;
• badan;
• ameria;
• alyssum;
• lavender;<
• catnip.

plant protection

In Russia, there are many endangered species of flora listed in the Red Book. They are under state protection and cannot be plucked. This is a curly lily and a yellow red lily, a large-flowered slipper and a Siberian kandyk, a yellow water lily and a tall strodium. To preserve the flora, national parks, reserves and reserves have been created: Khingan, Sikhote-Alinsky, Lazovsky, Ussuriysky, Baikalsky, Prioksko-Terrasny, Kuznetsky Altau, Stolby, Kronotsky, Caucasian. They are aimed at preserving nature in the wild and preserving as many of the country's ecosystems as possible.

The richness of the flora of Russia

Many forests, majestic taiga, mountain ranges, northern almost desert lands, luxurious meadows and southern steppes - this is all Russia. Therefore, the flora of the country is rich and diverse. On its territory you can find huge pine trees and short grasses.

There are a lot of types of vegetation in Russia, such as:

- forest;
- tundra;
- desert;
- steppe;
- marsh;
- meadow.

The abundance and diversity of plant species depends on the geographical area in which they are located.

tundra

On the northern edge of Russia, the climate is cold, and all plants there are adapted to a short growing season. These are mostly low-growing perennials. There is a huge variety of lichens and mosses in the tundra. The main representatives of trees are dwarf birch, polar willow. The rest of the flora is represented by bushes and herbs, such as:

- polar poppy;
- partridge grass;
- arctic bluegrass;
- cowberry;
- cassiopeia.

The entire flora of the tundra is distinguished by small leaves with a wax coating, strongly pubescent and undersized.

Forests

Almost 45% of the entire country is occupied by forests. Most of all in Russia there are coniferous forests. They are:

Dark coniferous (cedar, fir, spruce);
light coniferous (pine, larch).

And the remaining 20% ​​is occupied by broad-leaved forests. They are located in the southern and eastern part of Russia, in the Caucasus.

desert

Since the sun shines very clearly in the desert, only wormwood and other weeds grow here.

Steppes

Plants that tolerate heat grow here. For example:

- tipchak;
- legumes;
- feather grasses;
- thin-legged, etc.

The boundless green sea interspersed with red, blue, yellow flowers looks beautiful at the beginning of summer. But massive grazing and plowing made it so that many plants disappeared in the steppe. Most of them are listed in the Red Book.

meadows

Here the soil is more moist than in the steppe. Therefore, in the meadows, the plants are taller, have a rich green color and are more diverse.
swamps

It is very humid in the swamps, therefore, mainly shrubs, herbaceous plants and several trees grow here, and in the swamp itself you can see small, green grass - duckweed.
Interesting fact! In the entire flora in Russia, there are approximately 5,000 species of lichens, 11,000 vascular plants, and more than 10,000 algae. All these plants belong to legumes, roses, sedges, cereals, etc. Although the plant world is large, one should not forget that mass grazing of thinness, fires, and rare watering of plants can destroy the entire flora. In hot weather, rare watering of plants can destroy the entire flora.

Today we will continue our acquaintance with the natural zones of our planet. The theme of our tour will be places where camels slowly walk, and the wind and the scorching sun are the undivided masters. Let's talk about deserts.

Here, among the sands and heat, there is its own flora and fauna, people live and work. What are the distinguishing features of this zone?

Where are the deserts

Deserts are areas with a continental climate and sparse vegetation. Such places can be found on all continents except Europe. They extend through the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere and through the subtropics and tropics of both hemispheres.

The largest deserts are the Sahara, Victoria, Karakum, Atacama, Nazca, and the Gobi desert.

Russian deserts are located in the east of Kalmykia and in the south of the Astrakhan region.

Climate features

The main features of the climate of this zone are high daytime temperatures and extremely dry air. During the day, the content of water vapor in the atmosphere is 5–20%, which is several times lower than the norm. The driest are the deserts of South America. The main reason - almost complete absence of rain. In some places, they fall no more than once every few months or even several years. Sometimes abundant rain streams fall on the dry, heated ground, but evaporate instantly, without having time to saturate the soil.

Often these places are "dry rain" From the resulting rain clouds, ordinary raindrops fall out, but colliding with heated air, they evaporate without reaching the ground. Snowfall is rare here. Only in some cases the snow cover reaches a thickness of more than 10 cm.

In this natural area, the daytime temperature can rise to +50°C, while at night it can drop to 0°C. In the northern regions, the thermometer can drop to minus 40 °C. For these reasons, the desert climate is considered continental.

Often, residents and tourists become witnesses of amazing optical phenomena - mirages. At the same time, tired travelers see in the distance oases with life-giving moisture, wells with drinking water .... But all this is an optical illusion caused by the refraction of the sun's rays in the heated layers of the atmosphere. As they approach these objects, they move away from the observer. To get rid of these optical illusions, you can make a fire. The smoke creeping along the ground quickly dispels this haunting vision.

Relief features

Most of the surface of the deserts is covered with sand and the wild wind becomes the "culprit" of sandstorms. At the same time, they rise above the surface of the earth huge masses of sand. The sandy curtain erases the horizon line, outshines the bright sunlight. Hot air mixed with dust makes breathing difficult.

After 2-3 days, the sand settles. And before the eyes of others, a renewed surface of the desert appears. In some places, rocky areas are exposed, or vice versa, new dunes appear against the background of frozen sandy waves. In the relief of the deserts there are small hills, alternating with plains, ancient river valleys and depressions from once existing lakes.

Deserts tend to light soil color thanks to the lime accumulated in it. The reddish color of the soil has surface areas containing an excess amount of iron oxides. Fertile soil layer - humus is almost absent. In addition to sandy deserts, there are zones with stony, clayey and saline soils.

Vegetable world

In most deserts precipitation falls in spring and winter. Moist soil is literally transformed. In a few days, it blooms with a wide variety of colors. The duration of flowering depends on the abundance of precipitation and on the soil of the area. Local residents and tourists come to admire the bright beautiful flower carpet.

The heat and lack of moisture soon return the desert to its normal state, where only the most resilient plants can grow.

Tree trunks are most often strongly curved. The most common plant in this area is saxaul bushes. They grow in groups, forming small groves. However, do not look for shadows under their crowns. Instead of the usual foliage, the branches are covered with small scales.

How does this shrub survive in such arid soils? Nature has provided them with mighty roots that go into the ground to a depth of 15 meters. And another desert plant - camel-thorn its roots can get moisture from a depth of up to 30 meters. The thorns or very small leaves of desert plants allow them to expend moisture very economically when evaporating.

Among the various cacti growing in the desert, there is Echinocactus Gruzoni. The juice of this one and a half meter plant perfectly quenches thirst.

In the South African desert there is a very amazing flower - fenestraria. Only a few of its leaves are visible on the surface of the earth, but its roots are like a tiny laboratory. It is in it that the development of nutrients occurs, thanks to which this plant even blooms underground.

One can only wonder at the adaptability of plants to the extreme conditions of the desert.

Animal world

In the heat of the day, the desert really seems devoid of all life. Only occasionally there is a nimble lizard, but some bug is in a hurry about its business. But with the onset of night coolness, the desert comes to life. Small and large enough animals crawl out of their shelters to replenish food supplies.

How do animals escape the heat? Some burrow into the sand. Already at a depth of 30 cm the temperature is 40°C lower than on the ground. This is exactly how the kangaroo jumper behaves, which manages not to get out of its underground shelter for several days. In its minks stocks of grains are stored, which absorb moisture from the air. They also satisfy his hunger and thirst.

Close "canine relatives" of jackals and coyotes from the heat saves rapid breathing and protruding tongue.

Saliva evaporating from the tongue cools these curious animals well. African foxes, hedgehogs radiate excess heat with large ears.

Long legs ostriches and camels help to escape from the hot sand, because they are high enough above the ground, and there the temperature is lower.

In general, the camel is more adapted to life in the desert than other animals. Thanks to his wide, callused feet, he can walk on hot sand without getting burned or falling through. And its thick and dense coat prevents the evaporation of moisture. Fat accumulated in the humps, if necessary, is processed into water. Although without water, he may well live for more than two weeks. And in food, these giants are not picky - they chew a camel thorn for themselves, and even branches of saxaul or acacia are already a luxury in a camel diet.

Desert insects "thought of" reflecting the scorching sun's rays the surface of your body.

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The flora, or flora of the Earth, is the totality of all types of nuclear, multicellular, photosynthetic plants found in. Most organisms are those that synthesize their food using solar energy, but there are also heterotrophic plants and very few species that are both autotrophs and heterotrophs. The history of life on Earth and the existence of many organisms are literally dependent on plant life. Because animals cannot get energy directly from the Sun, they must eat plants (or other animals that have a herbivore diet) to survive. Plants also provide oxygen to humans and animals by taking in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen into the atmosphere.

Plant diversity

Plants are found on land, in the oceans and in fresh water. They have existed on our planet for millions of years. The number of species of currently existing green plants is presented in the following table:

The table shows the total number of different types of green plants ( Viridiplantae). It is estimated that there are about 300,000 living species Viridiplantae, of which 85-90% are flowering plants. (Note from the author: since the data are from different sources and have different dates, in some cases the calculations are subject to some uncertainty)

Differences between plants and animals

Australia

Eucalyptus regal

The flora of Australia is characterized by the presence of a large number of endemic species - plants that are not found anywhere else. Nevertheless, with the advent of immigrants, many other "non-native" species have taken root on the mainland. Australian vegetation is characterized by the predominance of two types of plants - eucalyptus and acacia.

Asia

Asia has the greatest diversity of flora of all parts of the world, since it occupies the largest area, is located in various climatic zones and natural zones. Here you can find more than 100 thousand plant species, from tropical to arctic, which makes up about 40% of the Earth's flora. The mainland also has a large number of endemic plants.

Antarctica

colobanthus kito

Antarctica is the most inhospitable place on Earth for both plants and plants. There are no trees here, but only two types of flowering plants and many mosses, lichens, algae, etc. The mainland is very fragile and is suffering due to climate change and human activities.

Africa

spurge thorn

Africa is the second largest continent in the world and is home to many unique plants. The flora of the mainland is divided into three main ones -, and. At the same time, they do not have a wide species diversity, because this biome is characterized by difficult climatic conditions, including high temperatures and droughts. The Sahara Desert, located in northern Africa, is one of the driest places on Earth. However, African wet evergreens contain a wide variety of plants.

Europe

Despite the fact that Europe is located on the same continent with Asia, called Eurasia, there is not such a rich species diversity of the plant world as the eastern neighbor. The flora of Europe has been largely influenced by the mountain range of the Alps, which runs from west to east.

North America

On the territory of North America are the main biomes of the planet, from deserts to arctic tundra. Each biome is characterized by a set of certain plant species that have adapted to grow in certain environmental conditions.

South America

South America, like Asia, has become home to a huge variety of plant species. Here is a huge ecosystem that supports the life of many and plants.

The value of the plant world

The value of plants in human life

Plants serve as the foundation of all life on Earth and are essential for the well-being of people. Think about how your daily life depends on plants.

• Air: Oxygen comes to us from plants as a by-product of photosynthesis.
• Food: Everything we eat comes directly or indirectly from plants. Throughout human history, approximately 7,000 different plant species have been used by humans as food.
• Water: plants regulate - they help distribute and purify. They are also involved in the movement of water in a process called transpiration.
• Medicines: one quarter of all prescription drugs come directly from or are derived from plants. In addition, four out of five people worldwide today rely on primary health care facilities.
• Vitamins: Plants are the largest source of vitamins needed by the human body.
• Cloth: plants are a major source of raw materials for textile materials.
• Culture: images of some plants are used on national emblems, including trees and flowers.
• Furniture and housing: The wood of plants is used in the construction of houses, as well as for the manufacture of furniture.
• Aesthetic pleasure: the presence of plants in people's lives allows you to enjoy their view and relieves stress. Therefore, many people grow ornamental plants in their homes and gardens.

The value of plants in nature

Amazon rainforests

Environment and climate are largely interconnected with flora. Precipitation, humidity and temperature depend on the presence and nature of vegetation. The reduction of plants also disturbs the balance in and indirectly affects human life.

• Food chains: In every food chain, plants are at their base and lead the chain as a source of food. For example: Grass → Cow → Lion; Grass → Insect → Frog → Snake → Eagle. Here the plant starts the chain, and other animals depend on it directly or indirectly. Without plants, there can be no life on Earth.
• Habitat: Of course, in addition to the huge number of people, plants form the basis of all habitats.
• Climate: Plants store carbon, which is released into the atmosphere when burned.
• Soil erosion: plants growing in the soil, in sufficient quantities, prevent wind erosion (when during times of wind, the fertile topsoil is blown away by the air).
• Ecological balance: plants help reduce heat and prevent moisture from evaporating. Thus, they are environmentally beneficial.
• Precipitation support: plants and trees have a cooling effect on the atmosphere, resulting in precipitation. Therefore, rainfall in deserts is extremely rare.
• Soil fertility: plants maintain soil fertility. Fallen leaves, fruits, etc., rot in the soil and form humus, which in turn increases soil fertility, as it is favorable for microorganisms.
• Habitat: plants are the best habitats for birds and animals, including monkeys, squirrels, etc. Birds build their nests in trees for laying eggs, sleeping, hunting and safety. In forests, animals may take shelter under trees during extreme heat and rain. They also provide food for many (earthworms), insects, rodents, etc.

Plant threats

Deforestation

There are a huge number of flora species on our planet, both registered and not studied or even named. However, although the threat to the existence of many wild animals is now widely recognized, few people know that plants are also in great danger. In February 2015, the Center for Biological Diversity stated: "Of more than 300,000 known plant species, the IUCN has assessed only 12,914 species, finding that about 68% of the assessed plant species are threatened with extinction."

Vast areas of desert around the world testify to the destruction of vegetation by humans. Much of the Middle East is now desert or being reopened at great expense. Once there were many forests in the Mediterranean, now these lands are bare and eroded. In many parts of Africa and India, cattle and goats roam the rocky plains, eating any patch of green that appears in the barren lands that were once good pastures. Overgrazing by domestic and wild animals is, in fact, the biggest threat to plants, although "raids" by botanists and other enthusiasts on some beautiful plants sometimes entail serious losses for rare species.

Perhaps people forget that all our cultivated plants and garden flowers come from wild flora. Equally important is the fact that plants provide a high proportion of medicines in the modern world. Who knows what secret treasures for mankind are still locked away among the vegetation, waiting to be discovered. Tropical rainforests are among the most endangered habitats on the planet, containing 63% of endangered plant species.

One of the biggest threats to flora is the conversion of natural habitats into areas for agricultural use and livestock production, for example, when tropical forests are cleared for grazing or growing soybeans, animal feed, or oil palms. Ancient woodlands are special because they are at least 400 years old and provide the basis for biodiversity, as well as supporting abundant wildlife.

plant protection

Plant protection is a set of measures aimed at protecting existing plants and especially endangered species. The main document that lists plants to be protected is the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List.

The IUCN Red List is established by clear criteria to assess the risks of extinction of thousands of species and subspecies. These criteria are relevant for all species and regions of the world. The goal is to bring conservation awareness to the public and governments, and to help the international community try to reduce species extinction. According to the IUCN, the stated goals of the Red List are to:

• provide scientifically based information on the status of species and subspecies at the global level;
• draw attention to the extent and importance of endangered flora;
• to influence national and international politics, as well as the decision-making process;
• provide information for possible plant conservation actions.

One of the most important protective actions is the creation of national parks, reserves, nature reserves, botanical gardens, etc. These nature protection facilities allow to preserve the natural habitat of plants and protect them from excessive human exploitation.

Plants in nature are the main participants in the cycle of matter of the entire plant world, they are the producers of the most important organic substances that the entire plant world of animals, plants and humans breathes and feeds on. Passing through the annual cycle of forest plants: grasses, shrubs and trees go through a stage of growth and reproduction, then, falling and shedding leaves, provide soil with fertilizer for subsequent growth.

What plants grow in Russia:

The Arctic deserts are located along the shores of the Arctic Ocean, where few and rare plants grow in harsh climatic conditions, usually mosses and lichens in small clusters.

Tundra - stretches for many kilometers along the snowy coast of the Arctic Ocean. Winter in the tundra is long and cold, and summer lasts quite a bit, and during this short period the plants should have time to bloom.

The taiga runs through the whole of Russia from west to east as a wide strip of evergreen coniferous trees that easily endure cold, because the summer in the taiga, although warm, is short, and the winter is long and very cold.

To the south of the taiga, the climate becomes milder, the coniferous forest thins out and more and more birches, maples, aspens and other various shrubs and trees appear. This is how mixed forests are formed, which are also called broad-leaved.

The steppes are full of fertile lands with rich chernozem, now kilometers of fields are plowed there, rye, wheat are earing, potatoes, beets and other agricultural lands are growing.

Deserts on the territory of Russia are common in the desert part of the Caspian lowland, and semi-deserts are found in the regions of the Volgograd and Rostov regions and have their own unique flora in a dry climate.

High in the mountains, the climate becomes increasingly harsh for the trees, where only low herbaceous plants can survive, but they also bloom in the spring and stretch above all the rest of the plant world towards the sun.

The most beautiful and amazing nature is the Far East. Here, among the permafrost, in the northern taiga, fir and cedar grow, in the subtropics lianas and thickets of Manchurian walnut are densely intertwined, and birch and oak are mixed in familiar broad-leaved forests.

Among the endless streets, humming cars and stone jungle, you can meet right under your feet the very plants that are used to a noisy life among people - our neighbors, urban plants.

The plant world supports the vital activity of the soil, regulates the evaporation of water and air humidity. The forest retains and evaporates water, which, seeping through the root system of forest plants into the soil, fills the groundwater from which the streams branch, thereby the forest protects the rivers from drying out.

The forest enriches the air with oxygen, and also cleanses the flora of microbes and harmful organisms. Forest plants feed the flora of the forest, are food for insects, animals, as well as building material for rodents, birds and other forest dwellers. Many plants of the nature of Russia are rich in medicinal herbs with healing properties for health, both for the entire plant world of animals and for humans.