The meadow is formed in three stages. First of all, annual species sprout, as well as creeping herbs. All this vegetation is characterized by shallow rooting, and its rhizomes, creeping shoots and roots form the surface of the turf. After the shoots become dense and the first layer of humus is formed, loose species appear. They take root somewhat deeper than annuals and use nutrients found in the underlying soil layers. At the last stage, further “thickening” of the plants and soil acidification takes place. As a result, the roots of individual herbs cease to receive the required amount of air. Thus, some meadow plants die. In their place, the usual types of herbs begin to sprout. In wet areas, chytin and sedge appear.
It should be said that meadow plants are a fairly rich community, which is dynamic. Herbs vie for light, nutrients, water among themselves. The entire upper tier is occupied by photophilous meadow plants. In the lowest tier are species that perfectly tolerate the almost complete absence of light.
It should be said that the composition, as well as the type of meadow vegetation, depends not only on human activity, but also on the characteristics of the terrain itself: river floods, soil quality, wind direction, groundwater level. The species of birds and insects participating in the transfer of seeds are of great importance.
Based on these criteria, meadows are divided into dry, mountain pastures, floodplain, swampy reclaimed, lowland, glades. Flood (floodplain) territories are valleys or places where water spills or dries the soil. In such areas, meadow plants are represented by approximately fifty species.
In the upper tier, you can see representatives of sedge. Acidic soil perfectly suits them. The lower tier is represented by species such as meadow tea (a creeping plant of the primrose family , it is also a loosestrife monetized) and others.
Most of all meadow territories are the so-called dry lands. Here, an average of about eighty species of herbs and plants are found. Among them are clover, fodder, low and tall herbs. Leafless panicles of meadow bluegrass, which has a developed root system, are found almost everywhere. Due to this, a sufficiently strong sod is formed, which has a certain resistance to trampling.
Among meadow plants, fescue should also be noted. It is distinguished by a variety of morphological characters. So, for example, red fescue is resistant to frost and can survive for two months under the ice crust. This plant blooms in June. Fescue leaves grow very quickly in the summer - up to four millimeters per day. The plant is resistant to trampling, loves light, tolerates complete flooding with water for ten to fifteen days.
In the meadow there are many different plants used by man for the needs of agriculture. Various types of weeds grow here. Some field plants are externally very attractive. Such species include, for example, blue cornflower. Wildflowers, as a rule, grow along with rather nondescript representatives of the flora. Such species include, for example, wheat grass, horsetail and others.
Some meadow plants contain dangerous toxic compounds. There are also representatives rich in nutrients and proteins. Such plants include alfalfa, melilot. The latter, among other things, is rich in vitamins E and C, contains a complex of coumarin compounds, and is used for flavoring tobacco.