Anna Sołtys-Lelek

Participation of various habitat groups in the flora of spring niches in the Ojców National Park (Southern Poland)

Abstract The paper presents composition of vascular plant species in spring niches in the Ojców National Park (Southern Poland). 111 species of vascular plants, fourteen mosses, two liverworts and one species of ferns were recorded during the first comprehensive study carried out in 2009 and 2010. Plants occurring in these places showed different degrees of association with spring niches. The largest group was represented by accidental krenophytes (74 species), while spring plants - obligatory krenophytes, constituted only a small part of the local flora (5 species). Meadow species of the Molinio-Arrhenatheretea class and forest species of the Querco-Fagetea class, penetrating niche areas from the adjacent areas, were the dominating ones. Plants of aquatic and spring communities were scarce, due to the predominance of small type karst springs. The diversity of vegetation was significantly influenced by habitat factors such as availability of light, humidity or the amount of organic matter in the soil.

The species of the genus Crataegus L. in the National Nature Park ‘Podilskyi Tovtry’ (Podolian Hills, Western Ukraine)

Abstract The paper presents an inventory of hawthorns occurring in the National Nature Park ‘Podilskyi Tovtry’. 8 taxa were recorded based on the field studies during the years 2009-2013, as well as on the published data. Four of them are new for the flora of the Park’s area: C. × macrocarpa Hegetschw., C. × subsphaericea Gand., C. × media Bechst., and the triple hybrid C. monogyna Jacq. × C. laevigata (Pior.) DC. × C. rhipidophylla Gand.

Wild roses and hawthorns of urban area: a case study of Piła in Poland

Abstract The paper presents a study on the distribution of wild roses and hawthorns in the town of Piła (NW Poland). The main purpose of the study was to provide a full list of wild Crataegus and Rosa taxa growing in the researched area. Field studies (2014-2015) and formerly published data made it possible to recognize 19 taxa, among them 14 native taxa (including two rose nothospecies), 4 anthropophytes and 1 hybrid. Eleven new taxa were found in the explored area during the studies. These were: Crataegus rhipidophylla, C. × macrocarpa, C. × subsphaericea, C. × media ‘Rubra Plena’, Rosa majalis, R. villosa, R. rubiginosa, R. × subcollina, R. glauca, R. rugosa, R. multiflora and interspecific hybrid Rosa canina × R. rubiginosa.

Synanthropization of riparian plant communities in the Ojców National Park (Southern Poland)

Abstract Although riparian forests are still common in Europe, their variants - similar to natural forests - are rare. They are, as communities, early stages of forest-shrub succession, particularly vulnerable to the expansion of neophytes for which they are an important type of vegetation that enables their spread. In the Ojców National Park (ON P), these types of phytocoenoses are heavily influenced by anthropogenic pressure. The preservation of their biodiversity is particularly difficult because of the fragmentation and small area occupied by the Park - just 2.89 ha. There have been no data on synanthropization of ON P riparian forests until now. The ‘conservation status’ of these communities was determined by examining the degree of anthropophyte participation in their floristic composition. This determination is necessary to take effective preventive measures. In 2012-2014, phytosociological studies were carried out on the ON P riparian communities. A particular attention was paid to the presence and quantitative participation of alien species in research plots. The obtained results revealed that there were 189 plant species in alluvial forests of the ON P, including 80 synanthropic species. The group of synanthropes comprised 32 anthropophytes: 5 diaphytes, 9 archaeophytes and 18 kenophytes.

Wild Rosa L. taxa of the National Nature Park ‘Podilskyi Tovtry’ (Podolian Hills, Western Ukraine)

Abstract The present paper discusses the wild roses of the National Nature Park ‘Podilskyi Tovtry’. The purpose of the work was to compile a full list of the wild Rosa taxa growing in the study area and present their distribution. Based on the field studies during the years 2009-2013 and published data, 20 taxa have been recorded, among them: 16 native species (including three hybrids with the rank of species), 2 anthropophytes and 2 hybrids. However, the taxonomical status of Rosa caryophyllacea Besser is not clear and species requires taxonomical revision. Three new rosa species for the Park were found during the studies. These are: Rosa micrantha, R. ×subcanina and R. ×subcollina. The list of the roses occurring in this area is still far away from being completed, therefore, further research is needed.