Occurrence of Gentiana cruciata in dry grassland (Festuco-Brometea) in Kołaczyce (Strzyżowskie Foothills)

Abstract

The study presents the results of phytosociological studies of a plant community with Gentiana cruciata . The investigations were conducted in Kolaczyce, Wisloka River valley (Strzyzowskie Foothills) in an area of 2000 m 2 . The study consisted in taking 22 phytosociological releves, i.e. 2 releves were taken in 1982 and 20 releves in 2013, with the Braun-Blanquet method. The species population size was estimated at 2712 generative shoots. Gentiana cruciata grew in a community from the class Festuco-Brometea characterised by high floristic diversity and high species richness (H´ = 3.24). The entire community comprised 91 species (82 species of vascular plants and 9 species of mosses), whereas 29-56 species (on average 45) were recorded in the releves. The most numerous plants represented the class Festuco-Brometea (27 species) and Molinio-Arrhenatheretea (22 species). The highest abundance and constancy were exhibited by Centaurea scabiosa , Thymus pulegioides , Euphorbia cyparissias , Carex caryophyllea , and Gentiana cruciata from the class Festuco-Brometea as well as Origanum vulgare and Galium verum from the class Trifolio-Geranietea . The high natural value of the locality is indicated by the presence of protected species ( Gentiana cruciata, Gentianella ciliata , Orobanche kochii ) and rare species in the Carpathians ( Thlaspi perfoliatum , Salvia verticillata , Carlina vulgaris , Brachypodium pinnatum , Viola hirta , Potentilla pusilla ). After 30 years, the dry grassland with Gentiana cruciata is well preserved although it has been abandoned for 18 years. The appearance of shrubs ( Prunus spinosa , Cornus sanguinea ) indicates progressive secondary succession, which will lead in time to the development scrubs from the class Rhamno-Prunetea . Therefore, preservation of the area requires active protection measures.