The Baikal region is on the frontier between the east Siberian taiga, to the west and north, the trans-Baikal coniferous forest to the east and the Sayan mountain forest to the south. The great variety of plants in the basin is determined by climatic asymmetry: the southwestern part of the basin is covered by light coniferous forests and mountain steppes; in the east Scots pine Pinus sylvestris forest predominates and the north is dominated by deciduous forests.

Terraces near the shore in the north are dominated by Dahurian larch (Larix gmelina) with Rhododendron dahuricum, grading on the eastern and western shores into forests of Pinus sibirica with Siberian larch (Larix sibirica). Associated broadleaf species are the willow-like Chosenia arbutifolia, aspen (Populus tremula), birches (Betula pendula), Siberian rowan (Sorbus sibirica), Siberian almond (Amygdalys pedunculata), bird cherry (Prunus asiatica), Siberian apricot (P.sibirica) with an understorey of honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum) and currants (Ribes rubrum, R. nigrum). At higher altitudes are pure stands of fir (Abies sibirica) and Pinus sibirica forest with Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) and black spruce (Picea obovata), followed still higher up by thickets of dwarf pine (Pinus pumila). The highest level is tundra dominated by cyperus (Kobresia sibirica) and peaty meadows of sedge (Carex spp) with stone birch (Betula ermanii) on stony talus, and lichen Cetraria-covered rocks and cliffs.

Juniper (Juniperus)
It is an evergreen coniferous shrub 1-3 m high. It usually grows in the mountains. It is used in medicine as an anti-inflammation and disinfectant remedy. The Buryats worship the plant, use it as the means for cleaning from different negative phenomena. They envelop their homes, possessions and themselves with the juniper smoke and believe that the smoke of that sacred plant cleans them of bad influence. The juniper is in the Red Book of Buryatia.

Sagaan Dali (Rhododendron adamsii)
It is a shrub up to 50 cm high. It grows high up in the mountains. It blossoms in late June-July. The medicine recommends using the leaves of that plant for curing diseases. The sagaan dali leaves can be collected throughout summer trying not to harm the plant branches, it should be dried in the shade, out-of-doors or in the attic.

Cedar-Tree (Pinus sibirica)
The cedar-tree is one of the most worshipped trees for the people of Siberia. It is up to 30-40 m high, the trunk diameter is 1.8 m, it lives about 500 years. The Siberians used to call it "the bread tree", because cedar nuts were used to make oil, milk or sour cream. Nowadays the production of them is forgotten because of the cedar forests reduction, or as a result of destructive attitude towards the nuts gathering and the cedars cutting down. In the medicine potions of fresh nuts kernels, of nutshells or of needles are used against different diseases..

Sayan Buttercup (Ranunculus acris)
It is an endemic species of the south-eastern part of the Eastern Sayan. It grows on the damp banks, along the streams beds, its general quantity is not big. The species is of great scientific interest, because the problem of its origin has not been solved yet. Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) It grows on stony slopes, open sandy places, steppe meadows. It blossoms in June-August. The thyme herb contains up to 1% of volatile oils. For medicinal purposes the upper blossoming part of the plant is gathered. Potions and decoctions of the thyme are widely used in the popular medicine as the roborant remedy, for nerve diseases or insomnia. A pinch of dried thyme is thrown by a shaman into the fire to have the cleaning rite.

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