Universitatea de Ştiinţe Agricole şi Medicină Veterinară Iaşi PLANT COMMUNITIES OF THE POTENTILLETALIA CAULESCENTIS BR.-BL. 1926 ( Syn. ASPLENIETALIA RUTAE-MURARIAE OBERD. et al. 1967) ORDER IN THE CĂPĂŢÂNII MOUNTAINS Mariana NICULESCU 1, R. L. PANZARU 1, Alma Lioara NICOLIN 2, Ilinca Merima IMBREA 2, Irina Gabriela GOIA 3 1 University of Craiova, Faculty of Agriculture, e-mail:mniculescum@yahoo.com 2 Banat s University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Timişoara, e-mail:alma_grigoriu@hotmail.com 5 " Babeş-Bolyai" University, Faculty of Biology- Geology, Cluj-Napoca, e-mail: igoia@yahoo.com In the Căpăţânii Mountains the relief is dominated by rocks, which determined a saxicole vegetation, well developed in this region. Geologically, the mountainous region is made up of metamorphic, crystalline rocks, the Lotru series is framed in the unity of the Getic platform. The Lotru Crystalline is made up of the following types of rocks: mica-schists, crystalline schists, gneiss, mica and also amphibolites. Besides, there are jurassic limestones which are present in the following regions: Cheile Bistriţei, Costeştilor, Olteţului, Buila-Vânturariţa Massif and in the upper Luncavăţ basin (Sec Spring-Muchia Căşăriei-Pietrele Găuriciului Spring). According to the research carried out between 1997-2007, in the Căpăţânii Mountains, there were identified 3 vegetale associations belonging to POTENTILLETALIA CAULESCENTIS Br.-Bl. 1926 (Syn. ASPLENIETALIA RUTAE-MURARIAE Oberd. et. al. 1967) order: Asplenietum trichomanorutae murariae Tx. 1937 (Syn. Asplenietum rutae-murariae Schiwickerath 1944), Asplenio viridae-cystopteridetum fragilis Oberd. (1936) 1949 (Syn. Cystopteridetum fragilis Oberd. 1938), Valeriano montanae-corthusetum matthioli Boşcaiu et Täuber 1978. For each vegetal association the corology, ecology, aspect and floristic composition as well as their importance are taken into consideration. Key words: plant communities, chorology, ecology, floristic composition, order. The Căpăţânii Mountains are part of the Southern Carpathians, ranging between the Olteţ rivulet, to the East and the Olt River, to the West. The highest peaks in these mountains are: Ursu (2,124 m), Căpăţâna (2,113 m), Balota (2,094 m) and Negoveanul (2,064 m). ). These mountains are characterized by a complex 72
Lucrări Ştiinţifice vol. 51, seria Agronomie petrographic structure. To the geo-morphological point of wiew, this area comprises two distinct units: the mountainous area, pertaining to the Capăţânii Mountains, and the Horezu SubCarpathian Depression, which is part of Oltenia. These mountains are characterized by a complex petrographic structure. The flora and the fauna in this region of the Carpathians are very rich and interesting. The richest flora can be noticed in the Buila-Vanturariţa limestone catena, where we can find numerous rare and endemic species. According to the research carried out between 1997-2007, in the Căpăţânii Mountains, there were identified 3 vegetale plant communities belonging to POTENTILLETALIA CAULESCENTIS Br.-Bl. 1926 (Syn. ASPLENIETALIA RUTAE-MURARIAE Oberd. et. al. 1967): Asplenietum trichomano-rutae murariae Tx. 1937 (Syn. Asplenietum rutaemurariae Schiwickerath 1944), Asplenio viridae-cystopteridetum fragilis Oberd. (1936) 1949 (Syn. Cystopteridetum fragilis Oberd. 1938), Valeriano montanae- Corthusetum matthioli Boşcaiu et Täuber 1978. MATERIALS AND METHODS For the study or the vegetal carpet we have used methods of phyto-sociologic research characteristic to the Central European phyto-sociologic School, which was based on the principles and methods elaborated by J. Braun-Blanquet (1926). The association were identified and distinguished according to the characteristic, edifyng, dominant and differential species. The name of the vegetal association was given taking into account the regulations stated by the Phytosociologic Nomenclature Code (2000). As for the classification of the vegetal associations, we have used synthesis papers on the Romanian vegetation, elaborated by G. Coldea (1986, 1991), D. Ivan coordinator (1992), L. Mucina, G. Grabher & T. Ellmauer (1993), J.S. Rodwell, J.H.J. Schaminée, L. Mucina, S. Pignatti, J. Dring, D. Moss (2002). RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS 1. Ass. Asplenietum trichomano-rutae-murariae Tx. 1937 (table 1). Chorology. The Asplenietum trichomano-rutae murariae Tx. 1937 association has a low spreading in the Căpăţânii Mountains. The phytocoenoses grows in the rock slits and also on the limestone layer from Izvorul Sec and Muchia Căasariei. Ecology. According to the research, and taking into account the humidity factor, the xero-mesophile species outnumber the others (45, 45%). Taking into account temperature, the micromesotherm (31, 82%) and hekistotherme (31, 81%) species are the most numerous. The analysis of the phytocoenoses based on the soil response underlies the low acido-neutrophile character (40, 91%). Physiognomy and floristic composition. Because of the unfavourable conditions, the phytocoenoses of this plant communities are made up of a small number of species. There are also, apart from the above mentioned species: Moehringia muscosa, Minuartia verna, Euphrasia salisburgensis, Calamintha baumgartenii, Galium anysophyllon, Saxifraga cuneifolia, Sedum annuum, Poa 73
Universitatea de Ştiinţe Agricole şi Medicină Veterinară Iaşi nemoralis, Saxifraga ascendens etc. The vegetation coverage ranges between 50% to 70%. According to the research, and taking into account bioforms, among these phytocoenoses, hemicryptophytes (60, 23%) are the most numerous, followed by chamephites. Ass. Asplenietum trichomano-rutae-murariae Tx. 1937 Table 1 No. of relevée 1 2 3 4 5 K Altitude m.o.s. (x 10 m) 140 145 155 160 160 Exposure N SE V N N Inclination (in grades) 70 50 80 80 90 Coverage (%) 70 60 65 60 50 Area (m 2 ) 4 2 2 2 2 Char. ass. Asplenium ruta-muraria 2 2-3 2 2 2 V Asplenium trichomanes 1 1 2 2 1 V Cystopteridion et Potentilletalia Moehringia muscosa + + + - - III Saxifraga paniculata + - - 1 1 III Saxifraga cuneifolia 1 + + 1 1 V Asplenietea rupestris Sedum maximum - + + - - II Polypodium vulgare + + + - - III Poa nemoralis 1 + + + + V Sedum annuum + + + - - III Seslerietalia Minuartia verna + + 1 + + V Thymus pulcherrimus + + - - + III Euphrasia salisburgensis + + + + + V Scabiosa lucida + - + + - III Saxifraga adscendens + - + + - III Myosotis alpestris - + + - - II Calamintha baumgartenii + + + + + V Thlaspietalia rotundifolii Galium anysophyllon 1 + + 1 1 V Polystichum lonchitis + + - - - II Koeleria macrantha 1 + + 1 1 V Variae Syntaxa Gentianopsis ciliata + + + - - III Hieracium umbellatum + + - - - II Symphyandra wanneri + + - - - II Briofite diverse specii 2 2 2 1 1 V Place and data of the relevés: 1, 2, 3 - Izvorul Sec, 13.VII.2002; 4, 5 - Muchia Căşăriei, 20.VII.2004. Importance. Phytocoenoses have an important pedogenetic role. 2. Ass. Asplenio Cystopteridietum fragilis Oberd. (1936) 1949 (Table 2) Chorology. The phytocoenoses belonging to this plant communities are present in the researched area in the limestone rift from the upper alpine sublevel 74
Lucrări Ştiinţifice vol. 51, seria Agronomie and the subalpine level. In the upper Căpăţânii Mountains, the association appears at Muchia Casariei, Curpenilor Valley at Izvorul Sec. Ecology. Ecologically, they have a mesophile (38, 24%), xero-mesophile (38, 24%), microtherme (38, 24%) and low acido-neutrophile profile (50,00%). Physiognomy and floristic composition. The phytocoenoses represented by Asplenium viride and Cystopteris fragilis are not tightly structured, covering the rocks to a proportion of 40-70%. Apart from the most representative species, the floral composition comprises other species which belong to Asplenietea rupestris: Asplenium trichomanes, Polypodium vulgare, Saxifraga cuneifolia. There are also many species which pertain to Seslerietalia: Galium anysophyllon, Euphrasia salisburgensis, Scabiosa lucida, Saxifraga ascendens, Thymus pulcherrimus. Table 2 Ass. Asplenio - Cystopteridietum fragilis Oberd. (1936) 1949 No. of relevée 1 2 3 4 5 K Altitude m.o.s. (x 10 m) 140 155 155 160 160 Exposure NE S N NV S Inclination (in grades) 70 70 60 40 40 Coverage (%) 70 70 60 40 45 Area (m 2 ) 4 4 4 2 2 Char. ass. Asplenium viride 2 3 3 2 2 V Cystopteris fragilis 1 1 1 1 1 V Cystopteridion et Potentilletalia Asplenium ruta-muraria + + 1 + + V Saxifraga paniculata - - - 1 1 III Moehringia muscosa + + + - + IV Carex brachystachys + + + - - III Asplenietea rupestris Asplenium trichomanes + + + + + V Polypodium vulgare - - + + + III Poa nemoralis + + + + + V Valeriana tripteris + + - - - II Saxifraga cuneifolia 1 + 1 + + V Sedum maximum + + - - - II Seslerietalia Galium anysophyllon 1 + + 1 1 V Euphrasia salisburgensis + + - + + IV Saxifraga adscendens + - - + + II Thymus pulcherrimus + + + - + IV Myosotis alpestris + - + + - III Thlaspietalia rotundifolii Cardaminopsis arenosa - - + + - II Polystichum lonchitis + + - + - III Galium album - + - - + II Fagetalia Veronica urticifolia + + - - - II Senecio ovatus - + + - - II Symphyto-Fagion Actaea spicata + + - - - II Gentiana asclepiadea + + - - - II Variae Syntaxa Clematis alpina - + + - - II Viola biflora + + - - - II Valeriana officinalis + + - - - II Symphyandra wanneri + + - - - II Briofite diverse specii 2 1 2 1 1 V Place and data of the relevés: 1, 2, 3 - Izvorul Sec, 13.VII.2002; 4, 5, 6, 7 Curpenilor Valley, 20:VII.2003. 75
Universitatea de Ştiinţe Agricole şi Medicină Veterinară Iaşi Importance. These phytocoenoses have a crucial pedogenetic role. Some of the species have a phytopharmaceutic role, such as: Polypodium vulgare, Thymus pulcherimus, Veronica officinalis. 3. Ass. Valeriano montanae-cortusetum matthioli Boscaiu and Täuber, 1978. Chorology. The phytocenoses represented by Cortusa matthioli and Valeriana montana grow on the shady and moist rocks at the alpine level of the researched territory. The association was described by N.Boscaiu and F. Täuber in Piatra Craiului Mountains in 1978. Such species of phytocoenoseis grow in the Căpăţânii Mountains only on Polovragenilor Valley at heights ranging between 1,000 m and 1,300 m in steep and rather inaccessible places. Except the two mentioned species, the floral composition comprises the following: Saxifraga cuneifolia, Poa nemoralis, Polypodium vulgare, Cystopteris fragilis, Asplenium trichomanes. Because of the relief conditions, the wilderness and the low accessibility in this region we could not carry out complex phytocenologic research on this plant communities. In the foreseeable future, the rocks from this region will be explored and examined. CONCLUSIONS According to the research carried out between 1997-2007, in the Căpăţânii Mountains, there were identified 3 plant communities belonging to POTENTILLETALIA CAULESCENTIS Br.-Bl. 1926 (Syn. ASPLENIETALIA RUTAE-MURARIAE Oberd. et. al. 1967): Asplenietum trichomano-rutae murariae Tx. 1937 (Syn. Asplenietum rutae-murariae Schiwickerath 1944), Asplenio viridae-cystopteridetum fragilis Oberd. (1936) 1949 (Syn. Cystopteridetum fragilis Oberd. 1938), Valeriano montanae-corthusetum matthioli Boşcaiu et Täuber 1978. For each vegetable association the corology, ecology, aspect and floral composition as well as their importance are taken into consideration. The phytocoenosis of the first two associations appear in the rocks slits and also on the limestone layer at the alpine level. The phytocoenosis shaped by Cortusa matthioli şi Valeriana montana appears on the shady and moist rocks at the alpine level of the researched area. In the Căpăţânii Mountains, such phytocoeneses are present only in the Polovragenilor Valley at heights ranging between 1,000 m and 1,300 m in steep and rather inaccesible places. The 3 described associations have an important pedogenetic role. The investigated territory has many areas and regions where many rare, extinct, vulnerable, endemic species grow. To conserve these species and also the phytocoenoses it is necessary to attach particulat importance to their protection and conservation. 76
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