Anatolia is represented by the following vegetations:
- The Pontian mountains of North Anatolia with a humid altitudinal sequence (Abies bornmuelleriana).
- The Taurus of Mediterranean South Anatolia with an arid altitudinal sequence (Cedrus libani subsp. stenocoma).
- The Anatolian plateau with a Xero-Acanthetum (Acantholimon).
Colchis is represented by vegetation with evergreen plants like Hedera colchica, Ilex colchica, Rhododendron ponticum and Prunus laurocerasus.
A group of Picea orientalis marks the mountain flora and tall herb vegetation of the Caucasus, and next to it one can cross the Hyrcanic forest with its endemic woody plants.
Much space is devoted to groups of Pinus wallichiana and Cedrus deodara from the Himalayas. The differences between the vegetation of the western Himalayas with monsoon rain during three months and the eastern Himalayas with four months are clearly visible. Dominant trees in the Cashmere bush of the western side are Parrotiopsis, Prunus, Syringa and Viburnum, while the eastern Himalayas are represented by Rhododendron species and conifers like Abies densa, Picea spinulosa and Tsuga dumosa.
Apart from the Central Asian mountains like Pamir, Tien Shan with Picea schrenkiana and Altai, there are displays of Siberia with Picea obovata and Larix gmelinii, as well as the Amur basin with Adonis amurensis, which flowers in winter, and Lysichiton camtschatcensis, which flowers in spring. Trees like Ginkgo biloba and Metasequoia glyptostroboides and perennial herbs from China and Korea complete the scene.
A rather large area is occupied by the vegetation of Japan. Besides groups of Prunus and Magnolia, various forest types can be recognised with Cryptomeria japonica, Sophora japonica, Abies homolepis, Larix kaempferi, Picea bicolor, Tsuga, Acer and Cercidiphyllum.
In this area the spring flora is particularly sightworthy. In summer the perennial herbs make the show, and in autumn the impressive coloration of the leaves.
Text: Werner Schwarz
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