Betula pubescens Ehrh. subsp. carpatica (Willd.) Ascherson & Graebner, a new taxon in the flora of the Julian Alps and Slovenia and its new association Rhododendro hirsuti-Betuletum carpaticae ass. nov.

Authors

  • Igor Dakskobler Jovan Hadži Institute of Biology, Scientific Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts
  • Andrej Rozman
  • Wilfried Robert Franz Klagenfurt - Viktring

Abstract

Based on most of its morphological characters the downy birch that grows in cold cirques in the altimontane-subalpine belt of the eastern Julian Alps (Pod Špikom, Za Akom, Beli potok and Smrajka) can be classified into the taxon Betula pubescens subsp. carpatica, which is new to the flora of Slovenia. The stands with Pinus mugo, Rhododendron hirsutum and Alnus viridis where it dominates in the tree layer were described as a new association Rhododendro hirsuti-Betuletum carpaticae ass. nov. (alliance Pinion mugo, class Vaccinio-Piceetea), which is a novelty among Alpine dwarf pine communities. Although they occupy small areas its stands have a significant protective and biotope role, also as the site of rare and protected species such as Cypripedium calceolus and Listera cordata.

Key words: Betula pubescens subsp. carpatica, Rhododendro hirsuti-Betuletum carpaticae, Cypripedium calceolus, Natura 2000, the Julian Alps, The Triglav National park, Slovenia

 

Puhasto brezo, ki uspeva v hladnih krnicah altimontansko-subalpinskega pasu v vzhodnih Julijskih Alpah (Pod Špikom, Za Akom, Beli potok in Smrajka), lahko po večini morfoloških znakov uvrstimo v takson Betula pubescens subsp. carpatica, ki je novost v flori Slovenije. Njene sestoji z rušjem, dlakavim slečem in zeleno jelšo, v katerih dominira v drevesni plasti, smo opisali kot novo asociacijo Rhododendro hirsuti-Betuletum carpaticae ass. nov. (zveza Pinion mugo, razred Vaccinio-Piceetea) in je novost med alpskimi ruševji. Kljub majhnim površinam imajo njeni sestoji pomembno varovalno in biotopsko vlogo, tudi kot rastišče redkih in zavarovanih vrst kot sta Cypripedium calceolus in Listera cordata.

Ključne besede: Betula pubescens subsp. carpatica, Rhododendro hirsuti-Betuletum carpaticae, Cypripedium calceolus, Natura 2000, Julijske Alpe, Triglavski narodni park, Slovenija

 

Author Biography

Andrej Rozman

Biotechnical Faculty of the University in Ljubljana, Department of Forestry and Renewable Forest Resources

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Published

2014-01-15

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Articles