Occurrence of the globeflower Trollius europaeus L. in “Łąki w Komborni” Natura 2000 site (Podkarpackie Province, SE Poland)

Abstract

The paper presents characteristics of a meadow community with Trollius europaeus , threats posed to the community, and proposals for active protection thereof. The study was carried out in the “Łąki w Komborni” Natura 2000 site (PLH 180042) in the Podkarpacie Province (SE Poland). In 2015, 20 releves were taken with the Braun-Blanquet method and they are presented in a synthetic table. Additionally, the number of clumps, the number of flowering shoots per clump, and the height of flowering shoots were determined. The community with Trollius europaeus was classified into the alliance Molinion caeruleae with Selinum carvifolia , Galium boreale , Succisa pratensis , Betonica officinalis , Gladiolus imbricatus , and Carex tomentosa as characteristic species. Scrub species, in particular Filipendula ulmaria , had a substantial share, which indicated long-term abandonment of land use. The community also comprised rush species ( Carex gracilis , Phragmites australis ) and a numerous group of species from the order Arrhenatheretalia (e.g. Geranium pratense , Alchemilla monticola , Galium mollugo , Arrhenatherum elatius ) and the class Molinio-Arrhenatheretea (e.g. Lathyrus pratensis , Alopecurus pratensis , Ranunculus acris , Poa pratensis ). Abandonment of extensive land use leading to progressive secondary succession is the major threat to phytocoenoses with Trollius europaeus . To preserve meadows with Trollius europaeus , active protection involving mowing and removal of biomass is recommended.