Plant communities of moist rock crevices with endemic Primula carniolica in the (sub)montane belt of western Slovenia

Based on our analysis of a large number of relevés of communities of moist rock crevices in western Slovenia (southern Julian Alps, northern part of the Trnovski Gozd Plateau) we described several new syntaxa with the endemic Primula carniolica. The most unique in terms of ecology is a hygrophytic chasmophytic community classified into the association Astrantio carniolicae-Primuletum carniolicae, which is, together with similar hygrophytic associations Astrantio carniolicae-Pinguiculetum alpinae and Campanulo cespitosae-Saxifragetum aizoidis, associations Phyteumato columnae-Primuletum carniolicae, Primulo carniolicae-Potentilletum clusianae and the subassociation Primuletum carniolicae violetosum biflorae, temporarily classified into the alliance Cystopteridion and order Potentilletalia caulescentis. Only the new association Paederoto luteae-Potentilletum caulescentis is classified into the alliance Physoplexido comosae-Saxifragion petraeae. The elevational range of chasmophytic communities with Primula carniolica is 200 to 1460 m a.s.l. Species that most commonly accompany Primula carniolica in rock crevices include Paederota lutea, Phyteuma scheuchzeri subsp. columnae, Sesleria caerulea, Aster bellidiastrum and moss Orthothecium rufescens.

Nomenclatural remarks to the classification of plant communities along post-fire succession

This paper contains the original diagnoses of new syntaxa and typifications of existing names of syntaxa from paper “Classification of plant communities along post-fire succession in Pinus brutia stands in southern Antalya (Turkey)” that was published in Turkish Journal of Botany. As journal has only on-line version according to ICPN descriptions are not valid. We described syntaxa: Eryngio falcati-Securigerion securidacae all. nova, Ajugo chiae-Lactucetum serriolae ass. nova, Phlomido grandiflorae-Cistetum salvifolii ass. nova, and Arbuto andrachnes- Quercetum cocciferae ass. nova and selected nomenclatural type for Querco- Phillyreetum mediae Barbero & Quézel 1976.

Flora y vegetación de la Sierra de Alcaparaín (Málaga, España)

Español. El objetivo de este trabajo es realizar un catálogo de la flora, de las comunidades vegetales y el estudio del dinamismo sucesional y del paisaje vegetal de la Sierra de Alcaparaín, que forma parte de una Zona de Especial Conservación (ZEC) situada en la provincia de Málaga (Andalucía, España). El macrobioclima es de tipo mediterráneo con termotipos termo y mesomediterráneo y ombrotipos seco y subhúmedo. El área de estudio está compuesta geológicamente por materiales calizo-dolomíticos, silíceos y peridotíticos, con elevadas pendientes y altitudes entre 400 y 1295 m. y se encuentra en la provincia fitogeográfica Bética (región Mediterránea), con los sectores Rondeño (zonas calizo-dolomíticas), Malacitano-Axarquiense (zonas silíceas) y Bermejense (zonas peridotíticas). El catálogo florístico se compone de 467 taxones, destacando el endemismo local Armeria grajoana y Centaurea carratracensis (VU), endémica del subsector Carratracense (sector Bermejense). Otros taxones interesantes son Linaria clementei (VU), Platycapnos tenuiloba subsp. parallela (VU), Polygala webbiana (única localidad europea), Salvia candelabrum (VU) y Sarcocapnos baetica subsp. baetica (VU). Son remarcables también un total de 7 serpentinófitos destacando Crepis bermejana, Galium boissieranum (VU) y G. viridiflorum (VU). Se han catalogado 28 comunidades y asociaciones vegetales, entre las que destacan como novedades sintaxonómicas la vegetación glerícola vivaz sobre peridotitas (Crambe filiformisCentaureetum carratracensis comb. nova et stat. nov.), los jarales silicícolas rondeños (Lavandulo stoechadisGenistetum equisetiformis ulicetosum baetici subass. nova), los pinares-sabinares mesomediterráneos (Pino halepensis-Juniperetum phoeniceae rhamnetosum myrtifoliae subass. nova) y los encinares edafoxerófilodolomitícolas (Rhamno myrtifoliae-Quercetum rotundifoliae ass. nova). El dinamismo sucesional se expresa en seis series de vegetación. Dos series climatófilas termo y mesomediterráneas de Quercus rotundifolia y de Quercus suber. Tres series edafoxerófilas: termo-mesomediterránea calcícola-dolomitícola de Pinus halepensis y Juniperus phoenicea, mesomediterránea dolomitícola de Quercus rotundifolia y serpentinícola con Juniperus oxycedrus. Existe también una serie edafohigrófila de saucedas (Salix pedicellata). En los frecuentes hábitats rupícolas se describen 3 complejos topogénicos (entre ellos uno con Saxifraga globulifera) y 2 glerícolas (uno sobre kakiritas con Linaria clementei y otro sobre serpentinas con Centaurea carratracensis). En la Sierra existen 8 grandes unidades de paisaje zonopotencial, caracterizados en gran medida por la presencia de Quercus rotundifolia y Q. suber, así como por gimnospermas como Pinus halepensis, Juniperus phoenicea y J. oxycedrus.English. The main objective of this work is to catalogue the flora and plant communities and to study the successional dynamics of the vegetation and landscape in the Alcaparain mountain range, which is part of a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) located in the province of Malaga (Andalusia, Spain). The macrobioclimate is Mediterranean with thermomediterranean and mesomediterranean thermotypes (vegetation belts) and dry and sub-humid ombrotypes. The study area is geologically composed of limestone-dolomitic materials, siliceous and ultramafic, with steep slopes and altitudes between 400 and 1295 m. and it is placed in the Betica phytogeographical province (Mediterranean region), with Rondeño sector (limestone-dolomite areas) Malacitano-Axarquiense sector (siliceous areas) and Bermejense sector (peridotite-ultramafic areas). The floristic list consists of 467 taxa, highlighting local endemism Armeria grajoana and Centaurea carratracensis (VU), this latter endemic to the Carratracense subsector (Bermejense sector). Other interesting taxa are Linaria clementei (VU), Platycapnostenuiloba subsp. parallela (VU), Polygala webbiana (unique European population), Salvia candelabrum (VU) and Sarcocapnos baetica subsp. baetica (VU). Also noteworthy are a total of 7 serpentinophytes highlighting Crepis bermejana, Galium boissieranum (VU) and G. viridiflorum (VU). 28 communities and plant associations have been catalogued, among which are new syntaxa as the perennial scree vegetation on peridotites (Crambe filiformisCentaureetum carratracensis comb. nova et stat. nov.), the silicicolous shrublands of Rondense subsector (Lavandulo stoechadis-Genistetum equisetiformis ulicetosum baetici subass. nova), the mesomediterranean pine-juniper open forest (Pino halepensis-Juniperetum phoeniceae rhamnetosum myrtifoliae subass. nova) and dolomitic edaphoxerophyllous oak shrublands (Rhamno myrtifoliae-Quercetum rotundifoliae ass. nova). The successional dynamism is expressed in six vegetation series. Two are thermo- and mesomediterranean climatophilous series of Quercus rotundifolia and Quercus suber respectively. Three are edaphoxerophyllous series: thermo-mesomediterranean calcicolous-dolomiticolous with Aleppo pine and Juniperus phoenicea, dolomiticolous mesomediterranean of Quercus rotundifolia and serpentinicolous with Juniperus oxycedrus. There is also one edaphohygrophyllous series of willow (Salix pedicellata). Vegetation of the frequent rocky and cliff habitats are described in three topogenous complexes (including one with Saxifraga globulifera) and two in screes (one on kakirite sands with Linaria clementei and another on serpentine small slopes with Centaurea carratracensis). In the Sierra there are eight large zonopotential units of landscape, mainly characterized by the presence of Quercus rotundifolia (and in a lesser extent, Q. suber) as well as gymnosperms as Aleppo pine, Juniperus phoenicea and J. oxycedrus.

Phytosociological analysis of alpine swards and heathlands (pioneer patches) on ridges and peaks in the Julian Alps (NW Slovenia)

We conducted a phytosociological analysis of more than 250 relevés in the Julian Alps and compared them with similar communities elsewhere in the Alps and in the Dinaric Alps to describe the following new syntaxa of alpine swards and heathlands from the alliance Caricion firmae (class Elyno-Seslerietea): Saxifrago squarrosae-Caricetum mucronatae, Saussureo pygmaeae-Caricetum rupestris, Seslerio sphaerocephalae-Dryadetum octopetalae, Homogyno discoloris-Vaccinietum gaultherioidis, Saxifrago paniculatae-Caricetum fuliginosae and Homogyno discoloris-Loiseleurietum caricetosum firmae, the new association Achilleo clavennae-Elynetum myosuroidis from the alliance Oxytropido-Elynion and two new syntaxa from the alliance Loiseleurio-Vaccinion (class Loiseleurio-Vaccinietea): Homogyno alpinae-Vaccinietum gaultherioidis and Empetro-Vaccinietum gaultherioidis rhododendretosum hirsuti. Many species that are rare, of conservation concern or protected in Slovenia occur in the newly described communities.

The vegetation on railway embankments of the Kursk region

The present paper deals with the classification of the plant communities developed on the railway embankments in Kursk region. This type of vegetation is still poorly studied in Russia although some floristic information is available for various regions. Kursk region is located between 50°542–52°262 N and 34°052–38°312 E. Its area is 29 800 km2. Zonal vegetation is represented by broad-leaved forests on dark-gray forest soils and meadow steppes on chernozems. The vegetation of the railway embankments was being studied in Kursk region since 2003. Railway embankment sections were surveyed in the city of Kursk, the towns of Dmitriev, Lgov, Oboyan, Rylsk, Shchigry, and urban settlements of Konyshevka, Kshenskiy, Ponyri, Pristen. The upper parts of railway embankments, slopes and nearby sites, stations, and areas between roadbeds were studied. Classification according to Braun-Blanquet approach, with the use of “deductive method” (Kopeсký, Hejný, 1974), is based upon 120 relevés. The data were treated by software package IBIS 7.2 (Zverev, 2007). The names of the higher syntaxa are given according to “Vegetation of Europe…” (Mucina et al., 2016). Direct ordination of relevés by soil moisture and nitrogen content factors (scales after H. Ellenberg et al. (1992)) was conducted to distinguish ecological specificity of the communities on railway embankment and those outside railways. The vegetation of the urbanized territories under strong man impact in general and in particular around railway stations is highly diverse. The plant cover regularly destroyed by herbicides re-establishes in different ways depending on the distance from the stations. The mostly diverse are communities on the railway slopes wh ere the late successional stages are present due to the poorer pressure, These communities were compared with the undestroyed ones occurring beyond railways (Arepieva, 2015). Syntaxonomy of railway embankment vegetation in Kursk region includes 3 classes, 4 orders, 4 alliances, 9 associations, 2 subassociations, 4 variants and 3 communities. Phytocoenoses of the railway embankments are formed under specific conditions resulting in their floristic composition and structure being different from those beyond the railways due to the man impact, moisture, trophicity and substrate mechanical composition. The suggested syntaxonomy of the vegetation of railway embankments is not yet complete. New syntaxa would be established along with the data accumulation.

The new associations of sinanthropic vegetation of classes Artemisietea vulgaris and Galio-Urticetea in the Bashkortostan Republic

The most widespread types of vegetation of the urbanized territories are coenosis of synanthropic and, in narrower sense, ruderal plant species. Ruderal communities are developing on garbage and dumps (Reymers, 1991), but presently this term is used much more widely, and is applied also to vegetation in various habitats arising under man impact. For example, W. Holzner (1982) includes abandoned fields and fellings in this type. So, the concepts of synanthropic and ruderal vegetation are rather close now. Synanthropic and ruderal communities are mostly found in the urban locations. The study of synanthropic vegetation in the Republic of Bashkortostan was being conducted since 1980s (Ishbirdin, etc., 1988; Golovanov, Abramova, 2012, 2013 etc.). The given paper presents results of the long-term (2008–2015) research of vegetation of 5 towns (Sterlitamak, Salavat, Ishimbay, Meleuz, Kumertau) located in Cis-Urals. More than 1500 relevés of synanthropic vegetation which were accumulated in the database using TURBOVEG software (Hennekens, 1995), 71 complete relevés of communities, new to the studied area, are presented in this paper. Classification is carried out according to Braun-Blanquet method. The ecological conditions were assessed with use of average values of E. Landolt (1977) ecological scales and processed by IBIS software (Zverev, 2007). According to «Prodrome of plant associations of the Republic of Bashkortostan» (Yamalov et al., 2012), synanthropic vegetation includes 8 classes, 14 orders, 21 unions, 62 associations and 6 communities. New for this region are one union and 9 associations, 2 of which are firstly described in the Southern Urals, while the other 7 were previously known in other regions of Russia or Europe. New to Bashkortostan Republic and Russian Federation, are associations of 2 classes Artemisietea vulgaris and Galio-Urticetea. There are 5 associations (Tanaceto vulgaris–Artemisietum vulgaris, Artemisio vulgaris–Echinopsietum sphaerocephali, Melico transsilvanicae–Agropyretum repentis, Falcario vulgaris–Elytrigietum repentis, and new Convolvulo arvensis–Agropyretum pectinati confined to the driest habitats in steppe and southern part of forest-steppe zone of the Southern Urals) within the class Artemisietea vulgaris. Within the class Galio-Urticetea 4 associations (Geo urbani–Chelidonietum majoris, Calystegio sepium–Epilobietum hirsuti, Calystegio sepium–Eupatorietum cannabini and new Urtico dioicae–Rubetum caesii) were described. New syntaxa occur mainly in Sterlitamak and Kumertau. Sterlitamak is the second largest city of Bashkortostan with the diverse anthropogenic habitats. The town of Kumertau, located in the south part of forest-steppe zone, is rich by various fragments of natural vegetation from forests to steppes.

Tamaricion dalmaticae, a new alliance from the eastern Adriatic

The paper describes the Tamaricion dalmaticae alliance and the Tamaricetum dalmaticae association, a new syntaxa localized under the saline or sub-halophilous conditions within the thermo-mediterranean and meso-mediterranean belts of the eastern Adriatic coast. The Tamaricion dalmaticae alliance is considered analogous to the Western Mediterranean Tamaricion africanae. The Tamaricetum dalmaticae association shows the high ecological amplitude of in terms of moisture. It develops on sandy soils only periodically inundated with sea or brackish waters, as well as on non-flooded areas in south Croatia, Montenegro and NW Albania. In Croatia, Tamaricetum dalmaticae has connections with the halophyte communities of the Sarcocornietea fruticosae and Ammophiletea classes, and the xerophilous ruderal communities of the Artemisietea vulgaris class. The habitats are exposed to disturbances and fragmentation.