The vegetation on screes—A synopsis of higher syntaxa in Europe

A synopsis of high-rank syntaxa of scree vegetation with an accompanying list of plant communities is presented. The classification of scree vegetation in only one broadly conceived class, theThlaspietea rotundifolii, throughout Europe is a new concept. The vegetation on screes was classified into 8 major groups (17 orders and 42 alliances) according to their altitudinal range and the chemistry of the parent material. Brief information on ecological conditions, phytogeographical patterns, and altitudinal distribution are given. The characteristics and important diagnostic taxa for each alliance and order classified within theThlaspietea rotundifolii are given.     

The high-rank syntaxa of the rock-cliff and scree vegetation of the mainland Greece and Crete

A revision was undertaken of the high-rank syntaxa of the vegetation occurring in rock fissures, ledges and screes of mainland Greece and Crete. All published phytosociological relevés available were collected and subjected to numerical classification and ordination. Four orders (Androsacetalia vandelii, Onosmetalia frutescentis, Potentilletalia speciosae andPetromaruletalia pinnatae) comprising 8 alliances (one of them new) were distinguished within theAsplenietea trichomanis (rock fissures, clefts, and ledges). The scree vegetation was classified partly within theThlaspietea rotundifolii (Drypidetalia spinosae with 2 alliances) and partly within theDaphno-Festucetea (Saturejo-Scutellarietalia—a new order, with 2 alliances). Ordination revealed clear differences in floristic composition of the alliances distinguished. The studied chasmophytic vegetation of Greece contains a very high proportion of endemics which serve as diagnostic species of the syntaxa. Further, an analysis of chorological species spectra suggested that the chorological homogeneity of a syntaxon should be considered an important diagnostic feature at high-syntaxon levels.     

Phytosociological research on the montane coniferous forests of Greece: Mount Killini (NE peloponnisos—S Greece)

The montane coniferous forests and their degraded syntaxa included either in theQuercetalia ilicis or in theQuercetalia pubescenti-petraeae of the Meso- up to the Mountain-Mediterranean vegetation belts of Mount Killini, have been studied using the Braun-Blanquet method with 69 phytosociological relevés. The application of classification and ordination methods resulted in the recognition of seven forest and two scrub plant communities. These communities could be arranged along an altitudinal gradient. Their syntaxonomy and structure are described and the present horizontal and vertical arrangement of the coniferous syntaxa is mapped. From these syntaxa, 3 new associations and 1 new subassociation are described. The main factors influencing the differences in floristic composition, are altitude and human impact resulting in degradation of the coniferous forest associations. In addition, differences in soil parameters like pH, the presence of organic matter and nutrients appear to be important. Information on the site characteristics, structure and syndynamical position of the communities is given.     

Syntaxonomy of theTrifolio-Geranietea (saum vegetation) in Slovenia

This paper summarises present knowledge of the natural saum vegetation (Trifolio-Geranietea: Trifolion medii, Geranienion andDictamno-Ferulagenion) in Slovenia. The alliance ofGeranion sanguinei was subdivided into theGeranienio (primarily of Central European distribution) and SubmediterreanDictamno-Ferulagenion. Several new syntaxa (Scorzonero villosae-Trifolietum alpestris, Cirsio-Clematidetum rectae andOrigano-Cnidietum silaifolii) were described within theDictamno-Ferulagenion.     

The differentiation of alliances in South Sweden

The main objective of the present study was to attempt to assign different vegetation types in South Sweden to the Braun-Blanquet system of syntaxa. The alliance was chosen as the most appropriate phytosociological unit for this purpose. Coniferous forests represent the zonal vegetation in large parts of South Sweden: spruce forests on mesic to moist sites and pine forests on dry, often strongly oligotrophic sites can be assigned to thePiceion excelsae andDicrano-Pinion respectively. In addition, various types of azonal vegetation (e.g., mires, springs, swamps and salt-marshes) subjected to some form of extreme environmental factor can be placed in alliances described from Central Europe. In contrast, some southern vegetation types in Sweden are difficult to assign, partly due to a lack of character species, as in the case of deciduous hardwood forests. In other cases, species of southern syntaxa are still frequent, for example in dry basiphilous grasslands and sun-exposed forest edges, but the syntaxonomical difficulties arise from an intermixture of diagnostic species of complementary alliances. This might be explained by the floristic and climatic conditions in South Sweden which deviate considerably from those in e.g. Germany a feature supported by the communities' indicator figures for temperature and continentality. This refers particularly to the combination of rather low average temperatures and, except in the west, a strong thermal or hygric continentality.     

The floodplain grasslands of the Middle Lena-river II. Classification

The grassland vegetation of the Middle Lena valley is described. The syntaxonomy of floodplain grassland vegetation includes 19 associations of five classes (Cleistogenetea squarrosae, Hordeetea brevisubulati Calamagrostietea langsdorffü, Phragmiti-Magnocaricetea, Thero-Salicornietea). An example of a typical Lena-river floodplain ridge-hollow vegetation complex is shown. Most of the syntaxa reflect the peculiarity of the East-Siberian vegetation and are absent from Europe. The geographical distribution of these syntaxa is described. The relation of the vegetation of different parts of the floodplain to the vegetation of the alases of Central Yakutia is discussed.     

Grasslands of the lower volga valley

The vegetation gradient analysis along two complex gradients (height above low water level and soil-salinity) has been carried out, and a floristic classification of communities drawn up following the principles of the Braun-Blanquet approach. A new classGlycyrrhizetea glabrae has been established. The remaining communities are classified underMolinio-Arrhenatheretea, Phragmitetea, Bolboschoenetea maritimi andCrypsietea aculeatae. General regularities of variations in vegetation along the flood-plain longitudinal profile are discussed, phytocoenological tables describing the syntaxa established are given.     

Die stauden- und grasreichen Ruderalgesellschaften Böhmens unter Anwendung der deduktiven Methode der syntaxonomischen Klassifizierung

A survey of units of ruderal vegetation in the territory of Bohemia is presented. In the processing, the deductive method of syntaxonomical classification was used. This method is based on the classification principles of theBraun-Blanquet school and represents its further development. It makes possible syntaxonomical processing of communities which cannot be typified within the rank of associations. The communities are typified in the following abstract units: 1. association, 2. basal community, 3. derivate community. The communities typified in this way are ranged in the “auxiliary network” of higher syntaxa of the phytocenological system (alliances, orders and classes).     

Classification of weed vegetation of arable land in the Czech Republic and Slovakia

Numerical classification of 2653 geographically stratified relevés of weed vegetation from the Czech and Slovak Republics was performed with cluster analysis. Diagnostic species were determined for each of the seven main clusters using statistical measures of fidelity. The classification reflected clear distinctions between lowland (mostly calcicole) and highland (mostly calcifuge) sites, spring and summer phenological stages, and cereals and root crops. The results of the cluster analysis were compared with traditional phytosociological units. Two clusters corresponded to calcifuge weed vegetation of theScleranthion annui alliance; one cluster represented the vegetation of root crops on moist soils of theOxalidion europaeae alliance; one cluster contained thermophilous weed vegetation of theCaucalidion lappulae alliance; two clusters included weed vegetation of root crops and of stubble fields, which can be assigned to theCaucalidion, Panico-Setarion,Veronico-Euphorbion andEragrostion alliances; one cluster included vernal weed vegetation in little disturbed habitats of theCaucalidion lappulae andScleranthion annui alliances. Our analysis did not support the concept of theSherardion andVeronico-Taraxacion alliances, which were included in earlier overviews of the vegetation units of the Czech Republic and Slovakia.     

Plant communities of the Accra Plains,Ghana

A new classification, using the Zürich-Montpellier procedures, is presented for the grassland, thicket and forest vegetation of the Accra Plains, Ghana. Newly described syntaxa comprise 1 class (Vetiverietea), 4 orders, 9 alliances, 16 associations and 16 subassociations. Altogether 350 species of vascular plants were recorded in 140 relevés. Correlations are made between syntaxa and climatic, edaphic and anthropogenic factors. The floristic distinctness of the area is assessed: 4 endemic species and about 40 widely disjunct species occur. Although the majority of species are of Guinean affinity, the plant communities of the Accra Plains are unique in the context of African tropical vegetation.     

Prodrome of the Italian vegetation: A new alliance for the high-mountain chamaephytic communities of central and southern Apennines

The new alliance Cerastio tomentosi-Globularion meridionalis and the new association Helianthemo alpestris-Globularietum meridionalis are here proposed as a contribute to the prodrome of Italian vegetation. The new syntaxa are related to the chamaephytic high-mountain vegetation and they are characterized by a wide presence of endemics, southern European orophytes, mountain-Mediterranean, and amphi-Adriatic species. The proposal aims to differentiate, on a structural basis, the high-mountain vegetation of the Apennines at higher syntaxonomical levels.     

A coenocline of the high-ranked syntaxa of ruderal vegetation

Two sets comprising 1419 and 1350 phytosociological relevés of ruderal vegetation classified into 9 and 7 orders, respectively, from an area in the Podunajská ní zina Lowland, western Slovakia were ordinated using correspondence and detrended correspondence analyses. The paper describes a coenocline of the high-ranked syntaxa contained in the data sets, and discusses some issues of the classification of the syntaxa involved.The Bidentetalia and Potentillo-Polygonetalia should be considered a special category of synanthropic vegetation as habitat moisture (flooding and waterlogging) play the controlling role in the formation of structural and dynamical patterns within these communities. The latter factor complex is responsible for the clear separation of these orders from the other syntaxa included in the ordinations. The coenocline of terrestrial ruderal vegetation units has the following sequence along the CA axis 1: Poo-Polygonetalia, Sisymbrietalia, Eragostrietalia, Onopordetalia, Agropyretalia repentis, Artemisietalia vulgaris and Glechometalia hederaceae.Various complexes of soil factors and anthropogenic disturbance are operational along the concatenation (a series of portions composing the coenocline). The factor complex includes soil compaction, trampling disturbance, nutrient status, soil texture and moisture, and solar irradiation. Step-by-step ordination and interpretation of concatenated portions of the coenocline proved to be useful in the analysis of complex data sets.Abbreviations CA = correspondence analysis - DCA = detrended correspondence analysis - PCA = principal components analysis     

Spontanvegetation Nordgriechischer Bergdörfer

The synanthropic vegetation in seven villages of Northern Greece (N Pindhos and Olympus massif)—situated either in theQuercion confertae or in theFagetalia zone—is analyzed on the basis of about 100 phytosociological relevés. The most important vascular plant species of ruderal sites have also been mapped floristically. Nineteen plant communities are discernible, some of which are mentioned for the first time here. Nevertheless, the author refrains from hastily describing new associations, unless a more detailed phytosociological data basis on ruderal vegetation in the Southern Balkans is available. A table refers to differences and similarities between the recognized plant communities in Greek villages and those which correspond to them in Central Europe. Non-industrial methods of agriculture and animal husbandry are among the most important conditions for the remarkable rich vegetation in Greek mountain villages.     

Meadow vegetation of the Desna flood plain, (Ucraine,USSR)

The meadow vegetation of the Desna river flood plain described by the authors is of great scientific significance as far as the protection of diversified syntaxa of inundation meadows is concerned. These syntaxa are different in their floristic composition. The largest inundation meadows of the Ukraine are best preserved in the flood plain of the Desna river where the authors have identified and described 18 associations of meadow vegetation attributed to 6 alliances, 2 orders and 2 classes of vegetation. They represent an ecological series ranging from steppe meadow to boggy meadows. The units thus specified are characterized by phytocenologic tables; the specificity and biological productivity of each association concerned being registered. The peculiar character of inundation meadows requires further more profound ecological and phytocenological studies of meadow communities which the authors propose for the future.     

Syntaxonomic and nomenclatural treatment of Scandinavian-type associations and sociations

Abstract. The launching of international phytosociological projects requires a re-evaluation of vegetation units (syntaxa) of different phytosociological schools and their integration into one global classification system. Despite many difficulties, this possibility is offered by the floristic-phytosociological system - a hierarchical system of syntaxa defined by floristic-socio-logical criteria. Associations (and lower syntaxa) of the Zürich-Montpellier School as well as associations (later called sociations) of the Uppsala School are defined by means of the floristic composition of plant communities and fit this postulate; their syntaxonomic identity can be checked by tabular comparison of vegetation relevés. Not only the presence of diagnostic species but also the specific combination of sociological groups of species, dominance of species or even the absence of certain species or species groups can be used as syntaxonomic criteria. The syntaxonomic identification of an association of the Uppsala School with one of the Zürich-Montpellier School means uniting syntaxa of the same rank in the sense of the Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature. If a sociation is found to fit the criteria of an association delimited by the Zürich-Montpellier methods, the rank of an association can be attributed to this sociation and its name can thus be validated in the sense of the Code.     

Nomenclatural Revision for the Order Scorzonero-Chrysopogonetalia

The order Scorzonero-Chrysopogonetalia describes the dry grasslands of a large area in southeastern Europe, centred around and east of the Adriatic Sea (i.e., Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Italy, Montenegro and Slovenia). Most commonly, Scorzonero-Chrysopogonetalia is arranged within the classes Festuco-Brometea or Brachypodio-Chrysopogonetea or it is split into two orders classified within Festuco-Brometea and Thero-Brachypodietea; according to other minor opinions, the order is sometimes assigned to Brachypodio-Brometea, Thero-Brachypodietea or Ononido-Rosmarinetea. This report deals with the nomenclatural revision of Scorzonero-Chrysopogonetalia and other correlated syntaxa to sort out the numerous incorrect syntaxon names found in scientific literature. The revision is carried out according to the third edition of the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature, and while it focuses on ranks of order, alliance and suballiance, it is also enlarged to include associations quoted in major comprehensive syntaxonomic revisions. As a result, many names and authors’ citations of syntaxa are corrected, and the theoretical implications arising from their usage are indicated. To promote nomenclatural stability, a new alliance, Violo pseudogracilis-Bromopsion caprinae, is described, and the following syntaxa are validated: Hypochoeridion maculatae, Hypochoeridenion maculatae, Astragalo croatici-Seslerietum robustae, Avenulo praeustae-Brometum erecti, Bromo erecti-Seslerietum interruptae, Carici vernae-Scabiosetum leucophyllae, Globulario cordifoliae-Scabiosetum leucophyllae, Globulario elongatae-Chrysopogonetum grylli, Minuartio capillaceae-Genistetum pulchellae, Stipo eriocaulis-Caricetum humilis and Stipo pennatae-Genistetum dalmaticae. Additionally, three association names (Asphodelo albi-Filipenduletum vulgaris, Centaureo rupestris-Caricetum humilis and Cymbopogono hirti-Brachypodietum ramosi) are proposed for inversions, and three others (Festuco illyricae-Poetum bulbosae, Lactuco vimineae-Bothriochloetum ischaemum and Saturejo montanae-Dichanthietum ischaemum) are corrected. Finally, typifications of 16 syntaxa are given.     

Stellaria nemorum L. andS. montana Pierrat (Caryophyllaceae) in the Forest Communities of Slovenia

Morphological and coenological differences between closely related speciesStellaria nemorum L. andS. montana Pierrat are described.Stellaria montana is frequent in Slovenia and occurs mostly in the montane belt (altitude 600–1200 m). It has been recorded in thirty two forest communities (associations or lower syntaxa). Although widely distributed in EuropeS. nemorum is more rare in Slovenia. It occurs mostly in upper-montane (altimontane) and subalpine belt (altitude 1200–1600 m) in ten forest or shrubby communities. Both,S. nemorum andS. montana are valuable diagnostic species for certain associations. They characterize sites with fresh soil, rich in nitrogen. As an example we present two syntaxa of beech forests of Slovenia, in which the species of theS. nemorum group have high constancy and cover value.     

Herbaceous vegetation of seasonally wet habitats on inselbergs and lateritic crusts in West and Central Africa

Inselbergs, mountain ridges and lateritic crusts are characteristic landscape elements in many tropical regions. They are of great interest from a botanical point of view. Their vegetation is relatively uniform and differs from the surrounding vegetation. The first synopsis of herbaceous vegetation of seasonally wet or inundated habitats on rocks, inselbergs, mountain ridges and lateritic crusts in several bioclimatic zones of tropical West Africa and Atlantic Central Africa is presented. A classification of 43 partial data sets, based on 378 relevés, resulted in four associations and several rankless communities, grouped into four different classes (Drosero-Xyridetea, Afrotrilepidetea pilosae, Lycopodietea cernui andMicrochloetea indicae). Plant communities from Atlantic Central Africa and West Africa are very distinct from a floristic point of view; in an ordination, they are clearly separated. TheDrosero indicae-Utricularietalia subulatae (Drosero-Xyridetea) comprises ephemeral vegetation in rock pools and depressions over lateritic crusts. It contains theEriocaulo pumili-Ophioglossion gomezianum, which combines communities with short-lived plant species in small pools on rock outcrops and in shallow depressions over laterite, and theGenliseo africanae-Sporobolion pauciflori, which colonizes similar habitats but is geographically restricted to few mountains in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. Mats of monocytyledonous plants (Afrotrilepidetea pilosae, Afrotrilepidetalia pilosae) are very widespread in humid parts of tropical West Africa. They colonize gentle slopes and are often close to communities of theDrosero-Utricularietalia subulatae. Three alliances can be distinguished: West African alliancesCyanotido lanatae-Afrotrilepidion pilosae andSpermacoco hepperanae-Afrotrilepidion pilosae, and an Atlantic Central AfricanOreonesiono testui-Afrotrilepidion pilosae. Small-sacle alterations of the ecological situation often result in a mosaic-like pattern of the plant communities. Especially small inselberg and rock outcrop habitats are often affected by heavy fluctuations of their environmental and climatic conditions. Besides regular short-term dynamics, there are also long-term vegetation dynamics with cycles spanning several years.