D8: Scandinavian-east European spruce forests (Picea abiesin the east Picea abies x Picea obovata), partly with Tilia cordata and Corylus avellana, with herbs, dwarf shrubs and mosses (Oxalis acetosella, Melica nutans, Vaccinium myrtillus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, locally Anemone nemorosa, Hepatica nobilis)

Title

Scandinavian-east European spruce forests (Picea abiesin the east Picea abies x Picea obovata), partly with Tilia cordata and Corylus avellana, with herbs, dwarf shrubs and mosses (Oxalis acetosella, Melica nutans, Vaccinium myrtillus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, locally Anemone nemorosa, Hepatica nobilis)

Geographical distribution

Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)

Norway: a) Melico-Piceetum typicum Kielland-Lund 1981 (Oxalis-Maianthemum-, Geranium-Dryopteris- and Oxalis-Myrtillus-type Cajander 1921); b) Melico-Piceetum aconitetosum Kielland-Lund 1981 (Aconitum-typus Lincola 1916, Geranium-Picea-Betula-soc. Mork & Heiberg 1937, Aconitum-moss forests Malmstrom 1949); Sweden: Geranium-Oxalis-Myrtillus-type, Geranium-Myrtillus-type, Pyrola-type, Geranium- Oxalis-Maianthemum-type Ilvessalo 1961, Kalela 1961, 1970; Sjörs 1956, 1971; Russia: Piceetum oxalidosum Sukačev 1931, Piceetum nemoriherbosum Zinserling 1932, Oxalido-Piceetum Vasilevič 1983, Pulmonario-Piceetum Vasilevič 1983.

Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)

Norway: The Melico-Piceetum typicum (a) the typical herb-rich spruce forest, is the most frequent subassociation of the Melico-Piceetum in the area. The mature stand form is a highly productive spruce forest. The Melico-Piceetum aconitetosum (b) occurs on moist eutrophic sites and is the richest form of the community. It can be found particularly in basins and at moist valley sides of valleys and fjords. Picea abies dominates in the tree layer, and in the understorey deciduous tree species occur: Tilia cordata, Betula pendula. The shrub layer is usually weakly developed and also contains nemoral woody plants (Corylus avellana, Lonicera xylosteum). The herb layer contains dwarf shrubs and low-growing herbs of which many are nemoral species. Mosses are present more substantially than they are in the hemiboreal zone. Russia: The mapping unit contains sorrel-, fern- and herb-rich spruce forests. spruce forests with canopy closures of 70-80% and a stand quality of I. Betula pendula, Populus tremula and Pinus sylvestris are sporadically intermingled. Usually a good spruce rejuvenation (often 10-20 % cover). The shrub layer is usually weakly developed and also contains nemoral woody plants (Corylus avellana, Lonicera xylosteum). In the herb layer Oxalis acetosella often dominates (up to 90 % coverage). The moss layer is usually only weakly developed. With lower canopy closures (50-60%) Calamagrostis arundinacea or Rubus saxatilis exist at high proportions in the herb layer. Southern boreal spruce forests are characterised by the dominance of sorrel-spruce forests on normal sites.

Dominant and most frequent species in different layers

Diagnostically important species

Picea abies, Picea abies x Picea obovata, Tilia cordata; Corylus avellana, Lonicera xylosteum; Melica nutans, Viola riviniana, Carex digitata, Oxalis acetosella, Rubus saxatilis, Calamagrostis arundinacea, Vaccinium myrtillus, Anemone nemorosa, Hepatica nobilis, Pulmonaria obscura; Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus

Ecological variants

see the heading 'stand structure', locally in Russia, moist formation types with Athyrium filix-femina, Crepis paludosa, Circaea alpina, Stellaria nemorum, Chrysosplenium alternifolium

Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)

in Russia with Picea abies x Picea obovata, sometimes with Acer platanoides, Quercus robur, Ulmus glabra; in the east with Siberian herb species (Actaea erythrocarpa, Clematis alpina subsp. sibirica, Delphinium elatum, Cacalia hastata, Crepis sibirica, Lactuca sibirica, Diplazium sibiricum etc.).

Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)

Scandinavia: Eu-Piceetum myrtilletosum, dryopteridetosum and athyrietosum; Cladonio-Pinetum, Vaccinio-Pinetum, Alno incanae-Prunetum padi Kielland-Lund (1971) 1981, Alno incanae-Fraxinetum Kielland-Lund in Seibert 1969, Carici elongatae-Alnetum glutinosae Preising & Bodeux 1955, Ulmo-Tilietum Kielland-Lund in Seibert 1969, Chamaemoro-Piceetum Kielland-Lund 1962. Sphagnum fuscum raised bog (S1); Russia: dwarf-shrub-rich spruce forests, pine forests, alder carrs, birch carrs, flood plain forests, herb-rich precious broad-leaved forests.

Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)

birch- and pine forests (C9, C15), spruce and fir-spruce forests (D4, D7, D12, D15, D16, D19, D20, D22), pine forests (D45, D46, D47, D48, D49, D52, D54), salt vegetation (P20), freshwater-tall sedge swamps (R1), raised bogs (S18/19, S2, S3, S7, S12), aapa mires (S15), transition bogs (S18/19, S20), alder carrs (T1), birch carrs (T4), alluvial forests (U3, U5, U6).

Land use, substitute communities

Site conditions of the mapping unit

Importance for nature protection

Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection

Most important references (author, year)

Arnborg 1964; Cajander & Ilvessalo 1921; Eurola 1962; Gribova, Isačenko & Lavrenko (Red.) 1980; Ilvessalo 1960; Kalela 1961; Kielland-Lund 1962; Kielland-Lund 1965; Kielland-Lund 1967a; Kielland-Lund 1967b; Kielland-Lund 1971; Kielland-Lund 1973; Kielland-Lund 1981; Korčagin & Senjavinova-Korčagina 1957; Ničenko 1960b; Sokolov 1929; Vasilevič 1983; Zinserling 1932

Compiled by

O. Vevle, L. Påhlsson, L. Hämet-Ahti and K. Karttunen, Z. Neuhäuslová and H. Wagner based on documents by V.I. Vasilevič, revision U. Bohn