Volume 7 (2008): Issue 1 (January 2008)

The distribution and communities of two annual grasses Crypsis aculeata and Heleochloa schoenoides were studied in Slovakia during 2003-2007. Herbarium and field data were used to reconstruct the occurrence of both taxa. A strong decline in C. aculeata localities was observed. This was mainly due to the destruction of periodically flooded saline habitats. By contrast, the occurrence of H. schenoides was changed only slightly. This species survives in secondary habitats (rural roads, field margins, field depressions). Point maps of historical and recent distribution are presented. Halophile vegetation of Crypsis aculeata and Heleochloa schoenoides has been sampled with the adapted Braun-Blanquet method. All collected relevés have been classified using the JUICE software. The results showed that the Crypsidetum aculeate Wenzl 1934 community is missing now in Slovakia, but Heleochloetum schoenoidis (Soó 1933) Topa 1939 was still recorded at a few sites. However, the community contained many ruderal plant species.

In this contribution we bring together the basic phytosociological characteristics of communities with the presence of species Cyclamen fatrense in the herb layer. The analysis was made on the basis of 30 original phytosociological relevés. The main criterion for the relevés recording was the selection of the broadest possible range of biotopes with presence and the highest possible abundance of species Cyclamen fatrense on the entire area of its occurrence, which is represented by the Vel'ká Fatra and Starohorské vrchy Mts. The forest phytocoenoses of the association Carici albae-Fagetum Moor 1952, and phytocoenoses of clearings of the association Epilobio-Atropetum bella-donnae R. Tx. 1931 em. 1950, were classified by using Zürich-Montpellier School method. Additionally, 18 relevés with the presence of species Cyclamen fatrense were excerpted from already published works and detailed comparison was also made.

The study gives results on new bryophyte records of Smrekovško pogorje Mts. as well as the previous reports from the literature. In total 229 species are reported from the investigated region, 173 mosses and 56 liver-worts. Among them 3 are reported for the first time for Slovenia (Sciuro-hypnum oedipodium, Calypogeia integristipula, Lophozia sudetica), 20 species are reported for the first time for the Kamniško-Savinjske Alps (Alpine phytogeographical region of Slovenia). 26 species are included in the national Red List and 4 species in the Red Data Book of European Bryophytes (ECCB 1995), in the rare (R) category: Scapania verrucosa, Brachythecium geheebii, Fissidens asplenioides and Paraleucobryum sauteri.

Applying the standard Central-European method we phytosociologically studied the sites of Pulsatilla vernalis, a rare and protected species of Slovenian flora, in the frost hollows on mountain pastures Ovčarija and Za Grivo in the Fužina pasturelands (the Triglav mountains, the Julian Alps). We established that it grows in a unique community of swards and heaths which usually extends over small surfaces (4-10 m²) and is dominated by herbaceous perennial species (hemicryptophytes) and dwarf shrubs (chamaephytes) with mostly arcticalpine and south-European montane distribution. This community is explicitly (floristically and ecologically) different from the communities of swards and heaths described in the Julian Alps so far, so we classified it into a new association Pulsatillo vernalis-Dryadetum octopetalae ass. nova (order Rhododendro hirsuti-Ericetalia carneae) and subdivided it into two, floristically and ecologically clearly distinguished subassociations -ericetosum carneae subass. nova and -vaccinietosum subass. nova.

The standard Braun-Blanquet method was used for sampling litter-raking vegetation in southeastern Slovenia (Suha krajina, Bela krajina, Kočevsko) and in the border region in Croatia. Relevés were classified with the TWINSPAN program and two associations were separated: Pteridio-Betuletum Trinajstić et Šugar ex Rauš et Matić 1994 and Molinio-Quercetum Šugar 1972. Both communities are the result of intensive litter collecting (and other human impacts). The first one thrives on carbonate bedrock, while the second is limited on silicate bedrock, as is reflected in its specific floristic composition. Due to abandonment of litter collecting these stands are in progressive successional development, and typical variants are becoming rare and endangered.