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Acidophilic forests of sessile oak in northern Croatia

Past surveys of forest vegetation in Croatia (VUKELIĆ 1991, RAUŠ et al. 1992, VUKELIĆ & BARIČEVIĆ 1996, BARIČEVIĆ 2002, TRINAJSTIĆ 2008, VUKELIĆ et al. 2008) classify acidophilic forests of the order Quercetalia roboris petraeae, with sessile oak (Quercus petraea Liebl.) as the edifier, in three associations: Querco-Castanetum I. Horvat 1938, Hieracio racemosi-Quercetum petraeae Vukelić (1990) 1991 and Festuco drymeiae-Quercetum petraeae (Janković 1968) Hruška-Dell’Uomo 1974. Their distribution range is predominantly in the colline and montane belt of sub-Pannonian mountains in south-eastern Europe. They generally grow on dystric cambisols over silicate rocks and mainly inhabit mountain tops, ridges, and steep and exposed slopes. According to the latest research and analyses, the most represented association is that of Hieracio racemosi-Quercetum petraeae. The floral composition is widely diverse. The tree layer is distinctly dominated by the sessile oak, whereas the shrub layer and the layer of ground vegetation are dominated by acidophilic species of the order Quercetalia roboris-petraeae (Genista tinctoria, Hieracium racemosum, Melampyrum vulgatum, Luzula luzuloides, Hieracium sylvaticum) on the one hand, and the elements of Quercetalia pubescentis: Fraxinus ornus, Lathyrus niger, Dactylis glomarata, Campanula persicifolia, Sedum maximum, Tanacetum corymbosum and others on the other. These are important differential species in relation to similar communities of the Luzulo-Quercetum s.l. type. In addition to the results of more recent research from northern Croatia, the paper also describes basic synecological conditions, presents pedological analyses and diversity of the association, and compares it statistically with other related communities in Croatia and neighbouring areas. Since the name Hieracio racemosi-Quercetum petraeae is not valid (Pedrotti et al. published a different association in 1974), its syntaxonomic and nomenclatural determination is also given.

acidophilic forests; sessile oak; associations; northern Croatia

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