Much larger areas than deserts and semi-deserts are occupied by steppes in Kyrgyzstan, which are classified based on altitude above sea level into low-mountain (1000—1600 meters), mid-mountain (1600—2500), and high-mountain (up to 3500 meters). In terms of vegetation composition, they are divided into grass-like and savanna-like.
The grass cover of grass-like steppes is mainly composed of various feather grasses (hence these steppes are also called feather grass steppes), sedges, and other grasses, whose flowers are so small and inconspicuous that they often go unnoticed. From the end of June, feather grass adorns the steppe with its exciting silver strands, resembling the hair of an old woman. Feather grass is a perennial grass: each tuft lives for about fifty years. Thanks to the clever design of the awn and the pointed seed on which it sits, after landing, the seed can quickly and deeply screw itself into the soil. Often, mice and various insects destroy a significant portion of the seed harvest, and livestock can completely trample the tuft. Thus, feather grass becomes less and less abundant.
The mission of sedges is also remarkable. Inconspicuous, yes. But it can be called the iceberg of the desert: its underground part is forty times larger than the above-ground part. This "emergency service" prevents the steppe from turning into a desert. However, the steppes become especially beautiful with the appearance of relatively large flowers. The first to bloom, starting in February, are snowdrops — crocuses. Not lingering long in one place, snowdrops move up the slopes following the rising snow line as the air temperature increases. By June, they can already be found at sub-cloud heights. By this time, down below, the Kolpakovsky iris, goosefoot, Alatoo saffron, astragalus, buttercups, and other flowers are in full bloom or have already bloomed. Later, the Russian cornflower, ziziphora, thyme, and desert sage bloom.
If grass-like or feather grass steppes are mainly found in the Chon-Kemin Valley, Central and Inner Tien Shan, in the basin of Lake Issyk-Kul, and on the slopes of the Kyrgyz and Talas Ala-Too, then savanna-like steppes are characteristic mostly of the southwestern part of Kyrgyzstan — the Chatkal, Fergana, and Alai valleys. Here, alongside numerous ephemerals and wormwoods, grow creeping couch grass, burnt eremus, prangos, and blood-stopping beard grass, along with many other fascinating plants. For example, sarindyz (inula). This grass can reach heights of up to two meters, and its enormous flowers resemble sunflowers. In Kyrgyzstan, there are eight species of sarindyz, whose rhizomes contain many beneficial substances. Decoctions made from the roots of sarindyz have been used since ancient times to treat liver and stomach ailments.
Another remarkable plant of the "Kyrgyz savanna" is ferula, which can reach heights of up to three meters. Ferula resembles an exotic tree towering over the already lifeless steppe. This giant perennial grass blooms its luxurious yellow inflorescences only once every six years, earning it the title of queen of flowers. The dried stems of ferula, which can be up to ten centimeters thick, can be used as building material — they are lightweight and strong, like bamboo.
One cannot overlook the frequently encountered yarrow in the savanna-like steppes, with its multicolored bright yellow cap. This is one of the widely used medicinal plants that promotes the secretion of gastric juice and stops bleeding.
If a match is brought close to the large bushes with clusters of dark pink flowers on numerous hairy stems, the air around will ignite with a bluish flame, while the plant itself remains unharmed. This amazing plant is called burning bush. It emits a special volatile substance that envelops the bushes in an invisible cloud. It is important to remember that handling and picking the flowers of this burning bush is not entirely safe: burns may appear on the skin, and not immediately, but after some time.
Among the vegetation of the savanna-like steppe, one can also find, albeit quite rarely, woody-shrub plants — almond, pistachio, and sometimes individual juniper trees.
In terms of diversity of plant life, microclimatic conditions, and enchanting beauty, the meadow-steppe and forest-meadow-steppe belts of Kyrgyzstan are unparalleled. On the northern and western mountain slopes, which are the most humid, as well as in river valleys, on moist lowlands and mid-mountains, there are tall grass meadows where meadow fescue, phleum, Mabol's geranium, thin-leaved vetch, and tannin taran grow. Above 2000 meters, the alpine anemone, or as it is also called, windswept anemone, reigns. In June-July, during its blooming period, it covers the slopes of numerous ridges with a solid white carpet.
Kyrgyzstan is home to 22 species of tulips, eight of which are listed in the Red Book — referring only to wild-growing ones, of course. In April-May, they begin their festive parade. Among them is the famous Greig's tulip ("royal tulip") with enormous fiery flowers up to eighteen centimeters in diameter, Kaufmann's white tulip with a diameter of up to nine centimeters, and Zinaida's tulip, bright red with green veins on the outside and golden-yellow on the inside. Wild tulips have become a rarity on the planet, and only in Kyrgyzstan have fairly large populations survived. Unfortunately, speculators are trying to take advantage of this by digging up tulip bulbs to smuggle them abroad. In the Netherlands, for example, Greig's tulip bulbs are valued like gold, as they are the starting material for breeding new flower varieties that are in high demand in the global market.
