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Association Castaneo-Fagetum Marinček & Zupančič 1995 in north-western Croatia

So far, the association Castaneo-Fagetum Marinček & Zupančič 1995 was documented only in south and eastern Slovenia and in south Styria. It represents illyric variation of the association Melampyro-Fagetum, but it is warmer and more humid. This association is located exclusively on non-carbonated, acid, moderate deep to deep brown soil. Although physiognomical aspect of beech prevails, sessile oak and chestnut are regularly found either as trees or group of trees. Transformation zone between acidophilic sessile forests to acidophilic beech forests contributes to specific ecology characterized by common appearance of very acidophilic species from the class Vaccinio-Piceetea and the order Quercetalia roboris-petraeae, as well as thermophilic species from the order Quercetalia pubescentis. In the area of north-western Croatia the association Castaneo-Fagetum appears as a special geographic variation with common fir. Physiognomy of these forests formed by common fir and sweet chestnut together with beech and sessile oak is the result of anthropogenic influence. In the layer of ground vegetation, aside from beech species, the most often and abundant is Festuca drymeia, a species that comes in beech and sessile oak forests. Thermophilic and acidophilic elements like Melampyrum pratense, Lathyrus niger, Genista tinctoria are abundant only on localities with less common fir, with favorable light conditions. Preliminary research of acidophilic beech forests in Medvednica shows that some acidophilic beech forests, previously classified in the association Luzulo-Fagetum, have large part of thermophilic elements (especially Castanea sativa and Melampyrum pratense). Therefore, these forests deserve different classification: the association of sweet chestnut and beech (Castaneo-Fagetum).

Castaneo-Fagetum; north-west Croatia; Slovenia; floral composition; sinsystematic

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