Altyn-Emel: Flora and Plant Classification

Dominant (Common) Species of Plants

The flora of the Altyn-Emel National Park boasts a unique gene pool, comprising valuable plant groups such as medicinal, aromatic, edible, fodder, and ornamental species.

The park is home to plants from a wide range of natural zones: from floodplain forests (tugais) in river valleys to true and steppe-like deserts, as well as mountain steppes and alpine meadows. The park hosts both typically mountain species (Tianshan cherry, juniper, spiraea, bindweed) and inhabitants of lowland deserts and steppes (turanga, oleaster, winterfat, tasbiurgun, and various grasses).

In total, six main types of vegetation are identified within Altyn-Emel: aquatic, semi-aquatic, tugai, desert, steppe, and forest.

Of particular importance within these communities are the dominant and common species. These plants not only prevail in specific zones but also form the unique visual character of the park.

Some of Altyn-Emel's landscape plants (e.g., turanga, Schrenk's spruce, Tianshan birch) are endemics, unique to this region, while others are classified as rare and endangered species (e.g., gray-leaved turanga).

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Turanga, or the Diverse-leaved Poplar — Populus diversifolia (Populus litwinowiana).

It grows along riverbanks and oxbow lakes, forming riparian (tugai) forests and woodlands. Along with the Pruinose Poplar (Populus pruinosa, the Red Data Book turanga), it is one of the dominant landscape plants in the Ili River valley.

The turanga is truly a tree of the Turanian deserts. This hardy relict plant is resilient to extreme temperature fluctuations, ranging from -35°C to +40°C. The tree stabilizes sandy soils and prevents desertification. The turanga's powerful root system anchors the sand, while its wide, spreading crown reduces wind speed.

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Sharp-fruited Oleaster (Jida) — Elaeagnus oxycarpa.

Grows on terraces and in the floodplain of the Ili River. One of the primary trees of the tugai forests.

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Ili Saksaulchik — Arthrophytum iliense.

Grows in the stony and gravelly deserts of the piedmont plains. One of the dominant landscape plants of the national park, especially in its eastern part.

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Winterfat (Teresken) — Krascheninnikovia ceratoides (Ceratoides papposa).

Grows on desert mountain outwash plains, on sands, and along dry washes. One of the dominant landscape plants of the national park.

Tasbiurgun — Nanophyton erinaceum.

Grows in the stony and gravelly deserts of the piedmont plains. One of the dominant landscape plants of the national park.

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Boyalych Saltwort (Black Boyalych) — Salsola arbusculiformis.

Grows in stony and clay deserts, on rocks and screes of low mountains. One of the dominant landscape plants of the national park.

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Tianshan Cherry — Cerasus tianschanica.

Grows on stony slopes and in shrub thickets. One of the primary landscape plants of the national park.

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Savin Juniper — Juniperus sabina.

Grows on steep stony slopes, forming extensive thickets. One of the dominant landscape plants of the national park.

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St. John's Wort-leaved Spiraea (Meadowsweet) — Spiraea hypericifolia.

Grows in mountain steppes, on mountain slopes, and in mountain river canyons, forming extensive thickets. One of the primary landscape plants of the park.

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Tragacanth Bindweed — Convolvulus tragacanthoides.

Grows on the stony slopes of foothills and low mountains. One of the landscape plants of the park.

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Rosehip — Rosa.

There are 6 species of rosehip (wild rose) growing in the region: Albert’s Rose (Rosa alberti), Begger’s Rose (Rosa beggeriana), Silverhjelm's Rose (Rosa silverhjelmii), Loose-growing Rose (Rosa laxa), Broad-spined Rose (Rosa platyacantha), and Burnet Rose, or Scotch Rose (Rosa pimpinellifolia).

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Feather Grass — Stipa.

There are 10 species of feather grass growing in the region: Caucasian Feather Grass (Stipa caucasica), Semirechye Feather Grass (Stipa heptapotamica), Oriental Feather Grass (Stipa orientalis), Kyrgyz Feather Grass (Stipa kirghisorum), Sarepta Feather Grass (Stipa sareptana), Long-tongued Feather Grass (Stipa macroglossa), Zalesski Feather Grass (Stipa zalesskii), Richter's Feather Grass (Stipa richteriana), Lessing Feather Grass (Stipa lessingiana), and Needle Grass, or European Feather Grass (Stipa capillata).

It belongs to the main dominants of steppe vegetation.

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Cheegrass — Achnatherum.

Two species of cheegrass grow in the region: Caragana Cheegrass (Achnatherum caragana) and Shiny Cheegrass (Achnatherum splendens).

"Basshi" translated from Kazakh means "tall cheegrass" or "spiked cheegrass." Shi, or chee, is a grass often grouped with feather grass. It is widespread in the steppes and forms extensive thickets which cover about 2 million hectares in Kazakhstan.

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Common Reed — Phragmites australis.

Forms extensive thickets in the Ili River floodplain. Grows in relief depressions, often found along the banks of aryks (irrigation ditches).

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Adraspan (adyraspan), Syrian Rue — Peganum harmala.

Grows in deserts and dry steppes, forms thickets on overgrazed pastures, campsites, and in the vicinity of settlements.

In folk tradition, it is considered a mystical plant that wards off evil spirits; the dried herb is used for fumigating premises.

In addition to the main landscape-forming species, the flora of the national park includes a number of characteristic plants that are easily recognizable and frequently encountered in various natural zones (Schrenk's spruce, Tianshan birch, cistanche, acanthophyllum). Many of them are endemic (unique only to this region).

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Schrenk's Spruce, Tianshan Spruce — Picea schrenkiana.

It grows on the northern slopes in the gorges of the Altyn-Emel ridge. The species is distinguished by its narrow, "cypress-like" shape.

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Tianshan Birch — Betula tianschanica.

Grows along the banks of mountain rivers and in the moist hollows of mountain slopes. A tree with pinkish-peach bark that peels off in thin parchment-like sheets.

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Salty Cistanche — Cistanche salsa.

It grows in clayey solonetzic deserts and on saline sands, parasitizing the roots of perennial saltworts.

The species can be found on the Singing Dune and in the Aktau Mountains.

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Prickly Acanthophyllum — Acanthophyllum pungens.

It grows along the dry riverbeds of deserts.

The species can be found on the Singing Dune and in the Aktau Mountains.

Classification

The flora of Altyn-Emel National Park is represented by 88 families, 403 genera, and 864 species, 29 of which are listed in the Red Data Book of Kazakhstan (marked with an asterisk).

As of 2019, this classification was supplemented by 88 species from 30 families, 4 of which had not been previously recorded. Thus, to date, it is represented by 952 species from 92 families.

Brachypodium pinnatum (L.) Beauv.

Elytrigia alatavica (Drob.) Nevski

Е. repens (L.) Nevski

Е. trichophora (Link) Nevski

Elymus schrenkianus (Fisch. et C.A. Mey.) Tzvel.

Аgropyron fragile (Roth) P. Candargy

А. сristatum (L.) Beauv.

Еremopyrum triticeum (Gaertn.) Nevski

E. bonaepartis (Sperng.) Nevski

Е. orientale (L.) Jaub. et Spach.

Aegilops cylindrica Host

Leymus angustus (Trin.) Pilg.

L. multicaulis (Kar. et Kir.) Tzvel.

L. secalinus (Georgi) Tzvel.

Рsathyrostachys juncea (Fisch.) Nevski

Р. kronenburgii (Hack.) Nevski

Ноrdeum brevisubulatum (Trin.) Link

Н. bogdanii Wilensky

H. geniculatum All.

Taeniatherum crinitum (Schreb.) Nevski

Вromopsis inermis (Leyss.) Holub

Аnisantha tectorum (L.) Nevski

Вromus japonicus Thunb.

В. squarrosus L.

В. oхуdon Schrenk

Avena fatua L.

Trisetum sibiricum Rupr.

T. spicatum (L.) K. Richt.

T. altaicum Roshev.

Неlictorichon pubescens (Huds.) Pilg.

H. hookeri (Scribn.) Henrard.

Н. altaicum Tzvel.

Koeleria cristata (L.) Pers.

Milium effusum L.

Саlamagrosis epigeios (L.) Roth

С. pseudophragmites (Hall. fil.) Koel.

С. dubia Bunge

Apera interrupta (L.) Beauv.

Agrostis gigantea Roth

Polypogon monspeliensis (L.) Desf.

Anthoxanthum alpinum A. et D. Love

Hierochloe odorata (L.) Beauv.

Phleum phleoides (L.) Karst.

P. pratense L.

P. alpinum L.

Аlopecurus pratensis L.

А. arundinaceus Poir

Festuca valesiaca Gaudin

F. alatavica (St.-Yves) Roshev

F. rubra L.

F. kryloviana Reverd.

Poa alpina L.

Р. bulbosa L.

Р. annua L.

Р. рratensis L.

P. angustifolia L.

P. sibirica Roshev.

Р. trivialis L.

P. nemoralis L.

Р. transbaicalica Roshev.

Рuccinellia gigantea (Grossh.) Grossh.

P. distans (Jacq.) Parl.

Dactylis glomerata L.

Melica altissima L.

М. transsilvanica Schur

Achnatherum caragana (Trin.) Nevski

Асhnatherum splendens (Trin.) Nevski

Stipa caucasica Schmalh.

S. heptapotamica Golosk.

S. orientalis Trin.

S. richteriana Kar. et Kir.

S. lessingiana Trin. et Rupr.

S. macroglossa P. Smirn.

S. kirghisorum P. Smirn.

S. zalesskii Wilensky

S. сарillata L.

S. sareptana A. Beck.

Piptatherum songaricum (Trin. et Rupr.) Roshev. ex E. Nikit.

Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud.

Schismus arabicus Nees

Саtabrosella humilis (Bieb.) Tzvel.

Аristida heymannii Regel

Stipagrostis pennata (Trin.) de Winter

Аеluropus littoralis (Gouan) Parl.

Cleistogenes squarrosa (Trin.) Keng

C. songorica (Roshev.) Ohwi

Eragrostis minor Host

Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.

Crypsis schoenoides (L.) Lam.

C. aculeata (L.) Ait.

Воthriochloa ischaemum (L.) Keng

Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv.

S. pumila (Poir.) Schult.

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