Evergreen broad-leaved vegetation in the Colchis

Abstract

In Colkheti relict (tertiary) evergreen broad-leaved vegetation exists, which used to be widespread all throughout western Eurasia in the past and can nowadays be found as undergrowth in forests. Its representatives seek shelter in the relatively warm and humid climate of the Colkheti. The snow cover plays the crucial role in those species’ survival. These plants have mainly semi-prostrate growth form, although single individuals that reach 10-12m do exist. A number of syntaxons of broad-leaved and coniferous forests, including the Colkheti evergreen undergrowth, have mainly been marked out by Dolukhanov, and partially by Kolakovski.

If temperature rises and the precipitation declines due to the expected global change of climate, we assume that Mediterranean hard-leaved forests and shrubs will prevail on Colkheti foothills.