Prunetum tenellae Soó 1951 Vincetosum herbaceae Pînzaru subass. nova (Prunion fruticosae R. Tx. 1952) in the cliff vegetation of the Republic of Moldova

This article presents the characterization of the phytocoenoses dominated by Amygdalus nana that occur in the cliff area of the Dniester river basin, Republic of Moldova, which have been grouped in a new sub-association – vincetosum hederaceae Pînzaru subass. nova, in the association Prunetum tenellae Soó 1951. This sub-association includes xerophilous, thermophilic, western-Pontic phytocoenoses, occurring on sandy clays or on rendzina soils, on the limestone hills of the Dniester river basin, at altitudes of 60-150 m. The fl oristic composition of these phytocoenoses is dominated by the Eurasian elements (50%), followed by the European (10%), the Pontic-Mediterranean (9,6%) and the Central European elements (5,2%). The subassociation Prunetum tenellae Soó 1951 vincetosum herbaceae Pînzaru is of high value in terms of biodiversity conservation and deserves to be included in the List of Protected Plant Associations of the Republic of Moldova