Abstract
This paper presents the current distribution range of the protected shrub European bladdernut Staphylea pinnata in Poland. The study was based on a literature review, multidisciplinary search methods and field visits. The paper presents 211 sites considered as natural (including 48 new) and 143 sites considered as sites of anthropogenic origin (including 116 new). The data included in this paper extend the natural range of the species mainly in the Sudety Mts & Sudety Foreland, Rożnów Foothills, and the Tarnogród Plateau. It has been confirmed that the areas of Przemyśl Foothills (54 sites) and Dynów Foothills (49 sites) are the sites most abundant in bladdernut considered as natural. A few sites of anthropogenic origin have been found in the area of northern Poland, several hundred kilometres from the border of the bladdernut continual distribution range. In the case of sites of anthropogenic origin, knowledge of their distribution has increased significantly. This paper provides a basis for further research on the bladdernut in Poland and Europe and may be useful in population management of this protected species.
Highlights
European bladdernut Staphylea pinnata is the only native representative of the Staphyleaceae family in Central Europe
Considering its contemporary distribution range, the species is most abundant in Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Austria and Croatia (Meusel et al 1978)
We found that the bladdernut in Poland has occurred at 354 sites in total (Figs 1–2), situated in: the Southern Baltic Coastlands (Pobrzeża Południowobałtyckie), Central Poland Lowlands (Niziny Środkowopolskie), Sudety Mts & Sudety Foreland (Sudety z Przedgórzem Sudeckim), Silesia-Kraków Upland (Wyżyna Śląsko-Krakowska), Małopolska Upland (Wyżyna Małopolska), Lublin-Lviv Upland (Wyżyna Lubelsko-Lwowska), Northern Subcarpathians (Podkarpacie Północne), Outer Western Carpathians (Zewnętrzne Karpaty Zachodnie), Eastern Subcarpathians (Wschodnie Podkarpacie), Outer Eastern Carpathians (Zewnętrzne Karpaty Wschodnie) and the Eastern Baltic Lake District (Pojezierze Wschodniobałtyckie). 164 new, unpublished sites of the species were found, and a detailed list and description of all of the new sites is presented below
Summary
European bladdernut Staphylea pinnata (hereinafter bladdernut) is the only native representative of the Staphyleaceae family in Central Europe. Considering its contemporary distribution range, the species is most abundant in Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Austria and Croatia (Meusel et al 1978). Its range extends to Italy, Switzerland, eastern France and Belgium (the Jura Mountains, the Vosges and the Ardennes). The northern border of the range consists of disconnected clusters in southern parts of Germany, Czechia (mostly in Moravia), Slovakia, western Ukraine and southern Poland. The species is found in Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Russia (Krasnodar Krai), as well as in enclaves in Turkey, where its exact range is poorly known (Gostyńska 1961; Browicz 1986; Heiss et al 2014). Bladdernut was associated with the culture of several prehistoric and historic tribes (especially Celtic, Germanic and Slavic) (Hegi 1965; Heiss et al 2014). Due to the spectacular shape and size of its flowers and fruits, this shrub was worshipped – it was used first in pre-Christian
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