On the Occurrence of Natural Norway Spruce Woodland in the Pieniny Mts (Western Carpathians)

Abstract

Abstract According to Kulczyński (1928), a natural Picea abies forest occurs in the mountain range of the Pieniny Mts on the slopes of the mountain Vysoke skalky. Later, various data on the altitudinal range of this stand (and thus on the locality itself) were published: (1) 890 (900) - 950 m, (2) 1000 - 1050 m or (3) around 1000 m. The aim of the field research was to verify published data on the occurrence of a woodland of Upper Mountain Norway spruce (association Polysticho-Piceetum) in the territory of Vysoke skalky. A field study in the area has revealed that most of published data on the occurrence of the Kulczyński’s Picea woodland are incorrect, as its real upper altitudinal limit reaches ± 940 m. The main result is the confirmation of the real existence of a Vaccinium myrtillus-Homogyne alpina-Picea abies phytocoenosis in the territory of Vysoke skalky. However, tree species other than Picea abies (e.g. Fagus sylvatica, Abies alba, Acer pseudoplatanus) could persist in the special habitat of Kulczyński’s ‘Picea woodland’. The natural vegetation of this place was formed by mixed forest stand.