Bielański Forest in Warsaw as the object of the oldest floristic and mycological research in Mazovia (Central Poland)

This paper offers a critical analysis of the flora of the Bielański Forest in Warsaw (central Poland), originally documented by Erndtel in 1730. It examines the historical and natural conditions that established the Bielański Forest as one of the earliest botanical research sites in the region and in the country. The analysis identified 36 plant species reported from this location, with 35 species given modern classifications. The findings included one moss, one fern and 33 flowering species. Of these, 15 are common species currently found in the Bielański Forest. An additional seven species were reported in the 19th and early 20th centuries, though they are now only known from other areas in Warsaw and its surroundings. The remaining 13 species have not been observed in the Bielański Forest since Erndtel’s time. The study also discusses fungi and lichens documented in the 17th and 18th centuries from Warsaw and its vicinity. Notable plant species identified by Erndtel include Aruncus sylvestris Kostel., Bupleurum longifolium L., Phyteuma orbiculare L. and Silaum silaus (L.) Schintz & Thell., which are uniquely located in Bielany and have not been reported elsewhere in Mazovia. Among others, reported in the 19th century in the area, was Cypripedium calceolus L., which is very rare in central Poland. The Bielański Forest, one of the most extensively studied natural sites in Mazovia, may serve as a model for understanding the historical transformations of flora. The initial review of Erndtel’s list by Hryniewiecki in 1954 now requires verification and correction, and a comprehensive evaluation of Erndtel’s work is expected to provide further valuable insights into the history of the region’s flora.