Anisimov and Pospelov: The Landscape and Geobotanical Characteristics
321
30 % cover (Bramopsis arctica, Hierochloe pauciflora, Erysimum pallasii et al.) on Eutri-gelic
Regosols. The outliers of the terrace platforms, (B), support dry-mesic forb-dryas alpine tundra
(Dryas punctata, Carex rupestris, Lloydia seratina, Astragalus alpinus et al.) with a cover of
about 30 %, on Dystri-gelic Regosols. Most of the area is occupied by stripe soil (dellic
complexes). In the underdeveloped complexes, (C), spotty-striped tundra with mesic sedgedwarf shrub-moss vegetation forms a 50 % cover; the dominants are Carex arctisibirica, Salix
polaris, Dryas punctata; in the moss layer: Aulacomnium turgidum, Tomentypnum nitens) and
the soils are Umbri-gelic and Molli-gelic Gleysols. In the developed complexes, 2 plant
communities alternate at regular intervals: D) Mesic hummock-spotty herb-dwarf shrub-moss
tundra with 30-50 % cover on the ridges of striped soil (Carex arctisibirica, Arctagrostis
latifolia, Dryas punctata, Salix polaris; in the moss layer: Hylocomium .I'plendens var.
obtusifolium) on Umbri-gelic GJeysols; and E) Moist hummock sedge-moss communities in the
troughs of the striped soil with continuous (100%) plant cover (Carex coneolor, Eriophorum
polystaehion; the dominant moss is Tomentypnum nitens) on the Umbri-gelic Gleysols.
14 - Concave slopes (delJic complexes) with drainage channels of 0,3 to 1,2 m depth
These slopes are widely distributed and occupy a significant portion of the region. The drainage
channels reach their maximum depth close to the lake. The vegetation comprises 3 regular and
repeated elements: A) Mesic spotty sedge-dryas-moss tundra on ridges with 40-70 % cover
(Carex arctisibiriea, Luzula confusa, Dryas punctata, Salix polaris; the main moss is
Hylocomium splendens var. obtusifolium) on Umbri-gelic Gleysols. The drainage channels of
striped patterned ground support one of two type of vegetation, depending on structure and
depth: B) Trough-like delJs with wet sedge-moss vegetation (Carex concolor, Eriophorum
polystachion, Arctagrostis latifolia, and sometimes bushes of Salix reptans; mosses:
Tomentypnum nitens), on Umbri-gelic Gleysols ; C) V -shaped de1\s with wet graminoid
vegetation (Carex concolor, Eriophorum polystachion, Hierochloe paucijZora) on Fibri-gelic
Hystosols. Vegetative cover in the both types of delJ is continuous.
IS - Spotty-striped slanting gravel surfaces with occasional rock streams
The vegetation in this region consists of two community types: A) Most surfaces have drymesic forb-moss spotty-hummocky alpine tundra with 30-40 % cover (Papaver polare,
Myosotis asiatica, Saxifraga spsp, Hylocomium splendens var. obtusifolium dominated
between hummocks). The soils are Lithic Leptosols; B) Rock streams with sparse (5-7 %
cover) herb and primitive plant aggregations; the Distri-gelic Regosols are welJ-developed only
between stones.
16 - Concave slopes with slight striped ground nanorelief in the initial stages of development of
delJ complexes
In this landscape type the ridges and troughs of patterned ground do not differ in vegetation.
Both areas support mesic herb-dwarf shrub-moss and herb-moss communities (Salix polaris,
Luzula confusa, Equisetum variegatum, Draba pauciflora; at lower altitudes: Dryas punctata;
the common mosses are Tomentypnum nitens and Orthothecium chryseon); the soils are
Umbri-gelic Gleysols; vegetative cover ranges from about 50 % on the ridges and up to 80 % in
the almost flat dells.
17 - Striped horizontal surfaces with spotty, sometimes hummock-spotty nanorelief
This landscape type is common on the low (not more than 250 m a.s.l.) and flat watersheds and
on their shallow slopes, where the ground has been subjected to pelitisation (soil material
321
30 % cover (Bramopsis arctica, Hierochloe pauciflora, Erysimum pallasii et al.) on Eutri-gelic
Regosols. The outliers of the terrace platforms, (B), support dry-mesic forb-dryas alpine tundra
(Dryas punctata, Carex rupestris, Lloydia seratina, Astragalus alpinus et al.) with a cover of
about 30 %, on Dystri-gelic Regosols. Most of the area is occupied by stripe soil (dellic
complexes). In the underdeveloped complexes, (C), spotty-striped tundra with mesic sedgedwarf shrub-moss vegetation forms a 50 % cover; the dominants are Carex arctisibirica, Salix
polaris, Dryas punctata; in the moss layer: Aulacomnium turgidum, Tomentypnum nitens) and
the soils are Umbri-gelic and Molli-gelic Gleysols. In the developed complexes, 2 plant
communities alternate at regular intervals: D) Mesic hummock-spotty herb-dwarf shrub-moss
tundra with 30-50 % cover on the ridges of striped soil (Carex arctisibirica, Arctagrostis
latifolia, Dryas punctata, Salix polaris; in the moss layer: Hylocomium .I'plendens var.
obtusifolium) on Umbri-gelic GJeysols; and E) Moist hummock sedge-moss communities in the
troughs of the striped soil with continuous (100%) plant cover (Carex coneolor, Eriophorum
polystaehion; the dominant moss is Tomentypnum nitens) on the Umbri-gelic Gleysols.
14 - Concave slopes (delJic complexes) with drainage channels of 0,3 to 1,2 m depth
These slopes are widely distributed and occupy a significant portion of the region. The drainage
channels reach their maximum depth close to the lake. The vegetation comprises 3 regular and
repeated elements: A) Mesic spotty sedge-dryas-moss tundra on ridges with 40-70 % cover
(Carex arctisibiriea, Luzula confusa, Dryas punctata, Salix polaris; the main moss is
Hylocomium splendens var. obtusifolium) on Umbri-gelic Gleysols. The drainage channels of
striped patterned ground support one of two type of vegetation, depending on structure and
depth: B) Trough-like delJs with wet sedge-moss vegetation (Carex concolor, Eriophorum
polystachion, Arctagrostis latifolia, and sometimes bushes of Salix reptans; mosses:
Tomentypnum nitens), on Umbri-gelic Gleysols ; C) V -shaped de1\s with wet graminoid
vegetation (Carex concolor, Eriophorum polystachion, Hierochloe paucijZora) on Fibri-gelic
Hystosols. Vegetative cover in the both types of delJ is continuous.
IS - Spotty-striped slanting gravel surfaces with occasional rock streams
The vegetation in this region consists of two community types: A) Most surfaces have drymesic forb-moss spotty-hummocky alpine tundra with 30-40 % cover (Papaver polare,
Myosotis asiatica, Saxifraga spsp, Hylocomium splendens var. obtusifolium dominated
between hummocks). The soils are Lithic Leptosols; B) Rock streams with sparse (5-7 %
cover) herb and primitive plant aggregations; the Distri-gelic Regosols are welJ-developed only
between stones.
16 - Concave slopes with slight striped ground nanorelief in the initial stages of development of
delJ complexes
In this landscape type the ridges and troughs of patterned ground do not differ in vegetation.
Both areas support mesic herb-dwarf shrub-moss and herb-moss communities (Salix polaris,
Luzula confusa, Equisetum variegatum, Draba pauciflora; at lower altitudes: Dryas punctata;
the common mosses are Tomentypnum nitens and Orthothecium chryseon); the soils are
Umbri-gelic Gleysols; vegetative cover ranges from about 50 % on the ridges and up to 80 % in
the almost flat dells.
17 - Striped horizontal surfaces with spotty, sometimes hummock-spotty nanorelief
This landscape type is common on the low (not more than 250 m a.s.l.) and flat watersheds and
on their shallow slopes, where the ground has been subjected to pelitisation (soil material