Tula botanical and geographical region (some materials on the region's characteristics)

Tula botanical and geographical district is allocated by S.M. Razumovsky in the author's scheme of botanical and geographical zoning. The district territorially reflects the area of the succession system of broad-leaved forests with key forest-forming species of common ash Fraxinus excelsior L., heart-leaved linden Tilia cordata Mill. and sweet oak Quercus robur L. The Tula district covers a significant part of the East European Plain, occupying a central position in the territorial structure of the East European forests. S.M. Razumovsky outlined the boundaries of the district, provided a list of leading species, and indicated excision and pyrogenic succession series. The purpose of this study is to supplement the description of the Tula botanical and geographical area, remaining within the framework of the concept of the botanical and geographical area of S.M. Razumovsky, in particular, to draw the boundaries of the district in more detail, to consider the features of the territorial structure and patterns of territorial differentiation of vegetation cover. According to the concept of the vegetation zone of S.M. Razumovsky, the zonal vegetation on the territory of the district should be considered forest vegetation, represented by broad-leaved forests. Two structural parts are clearly expressed within the district – the «core» and the «periphery». In the «core» area, which covers the northwestern part of the region with a climate favorable for the development of zonal forest vegetation, there is a maximum diversity of broad-leaved forests. In the «periphery» area, which covers the space of forest-steppe and steppe landscapes, the zonal forest vegetation experiences a lack of moisture, resulting in its limited distribution.