Title
Carpathian fir-beech and spruce-fir-beech forests (Fagus sylvatica, Abies alba, Picea abies) with Cardamine glanduligera, Symphytum tuberosum subsp. angustifolium, partly with S. cordatum, Pulmonaria rubra
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
Large-scaled in montane hights of the whole Carpathian Arc. East Czech Republic: Moravian Beskidy mountains; Poland: west Carpathians (west Beskidy mountains, Tatra, Pieninen), east Beskidy mountains (Bieszczady); Slovakia: west Carpathians, Slovakian Erzgebirge, Slovenské Rudohorie; Ukraine: forest Carpathians, northeast and southwest slopes of the east Carpathians; Romania: east and south Carpathians, Apuseni-mountains
area frequency
23 polygons.
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Dentario glandulosae-Fagetum Matuszkiewicz 1964 ex Guzikowa & Korna 1969, montane (typical) altitude form (syn.: Fagetum carpaticum Klika 1927 p.p.; Symphyto cordatae-Fagetum Vida 1959; Pulmonario rubrae-Abieti-Fagetum Soó 1964, Abieti-Fagetum dacicum Beldie 1967), Hieracio rotundati-Fagetum (Vida 1963) Täuber 1967.Comment: The Carpathian Dentario glandulosae-Fagetum is closely related to the Sudetic Dentario enneaphylli-Fagetum (F119, F134). Essential differences between both associations are (except for different diagnostic and differential species) the higher proportion of Festuca altissima and Hordelymus europaeus in the Sudetic community and the higher participation of the fir within the tree stock in the Carpathians.
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
Tall-growing beech- or more often fir-beech cathedral forests with a closed crown canopy (80-90 %). Fagus sylvatica is the stand-forming tree species while Abies alba often plays an important role as a secondary tree species; Picea abies gains importance particularly at higher altitudes; the shrub layer is only weakly developed or completely absent. The herb layer (60-90 %) often reveals a mosaic structure and consists mainly of short or moderate-height, broad-leaved dicotyledon herbs. The moss layer is very weakly developed and represented only in the base-poor forms by a number of bryophytes.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Tree layer
Fagus sylvatica dominating, admixed with changing proportion of Abies alba, Picea abies, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ulmus glabra
Shrub layer
predominately young growth of beech and fir (sparsely, if at all), isolated Daphne mezereum, Corylus avellana, Sambucus racemosa, Lonicera xylosteum, Lonicera nigra, Ribes uva-crispa
Herb layer
Actaea spicata, Anemone nemorosa, Cardamine bulbifera, Cardamine glanduligera, Carex sylvatica, Dryopteris filix-mas, Euphorbia amygdaloides, Galium odoratum, Lamium galeobdolon, Mercurialis perennis, Oxalis acetosella, Paris quadrifolia, Polystichum aculeatum, Prenanthes purpurea, Pulmonaria obscura (regionally also Pulmonaria rubra), Salvia glutinosa, Sanicula europaea, Symphytum cordatum, Symphytum tuberosum subsp. angustifolium (regionally), Veronica montana, Viola reichenbachiana; in the moister formation: Allium ursinum, Corydalis cava, Athyrium filix-femina, Circaea lutetiana, Stachys sylvatica
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
sparsely Hylocomium splendens, Pleurozium schreberi, Polytrichum formosum in the poorest formations
Diagnostically important species
Fagus sylvatica, Abies alba, Picea abies; chass.: Cardamine glanduligera, Polystichum brownii, Symphytum cordatum; differential species towards other Central European rich Fagion-communities (F107, F110, F119, F134): Euphorbia amygdaloides, Glechoma hirsuta, Salvia glutinosa, Symphytum tuberosum, regionally also Pulmonaria rubra; differential species of the montane altitude form: Polygonatum verticillatum, Prenanthes purpurea, Cicerbita alpina, Gentiana asclepiadea, Lonicera nigra, Luzula sylvatica, Lysimachia nemorum, Rumex arifolius, Veronica urticifolia
Ecological variants
In addition to the typical subassociation there are special habitat-conditioned forms: a) the mesotrophic D.g-F. festucetosum sylvaticae with dominant Festuca altissima (rare and only in the western Beskidy mountains); b) the mesotrophic D.g.-F. festucetosum drymejae with Festuca drymeja on poorer and drier soils (only occasionally in the eastern Carpathians); c) the eutrophic D.g.-F. allietosum with dominating Allium ursinum and various geophytes on fresh and very rich soils; d) the eutrophic D.g.-F. lunarietosum with dominating Lunaria rediviva and encroaching Betulo-Adenostyletea species on very rich and moist soils with seeping water (only in the eastern Carpathians).
Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
Two strains, i.e. the west-Carpathian and the east-Carpathian, can be distinguished. The west-Carpathian strain (without its own differential species) is further subdivided into regional forms (at least in Poland). In addition to the "pure" form in central parts of the western Beskidy mountains there is a western "Silesian" form which transcends with Cardamine enneaphyllos to its Hercynian vicariant association (F134), and a community located at the eastern edge of the west Beskidy mountains in which the east-Carpathian Symphytum cordatum is added as a geographic differential species. The local form from the Tatra occupies a special position. It can be distinguished particularly by the absence of Galium odoratum, and also by the occurrence of Cardamine trifolia and some carbonate rock plants (Asplenium viride, Clematis alpina, Valeriana tripteris). The east-Carpathian strain is characterised by distinctive differential species such as Symphytum cordatum, Aposeris foetida, Festuca drymeja and Pulmonaria rubra. The east-Carpathian race also features a higher proportion of Carex pilosa and Corylus avellana, also in the montane altitudinal form.
Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)
Scree and ravine forests (Lunario-Acerenion pseudoplatani), montane brookside forests (Stellario-Alnetum).
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
Alpine rose-dwarf pine shrub (C38), mixed fir forests (D27), spruce forests (D36, D37), acidophilous oak- and mixed oak forests (F20, F22), mixed oak-hornbeam forests (F42, F43, F58, F60, F61, F62, F64), species-poor beech and mixed beech forests (F96, F97, F102), species-rich beech-and mixed beech forests (F118, F120, F123, F124, F125, F126), Tatar maple-sessile oak forests (G2), tree-rich raised bogs (S12), alluvial and moist forests (U9, U16, U18, U27).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
Fir and spruce forest as a rule. Forest clearing vegetation: mostly Fragarion vescae communities (including Atropetum belladonnae quite often), on poorer sites the montane form of the Senecioni sylvatici-Epilobietum angustifolii with Senecio ovatus, on moist and nutrient-rich sites Arctietum nemorosi; Rubo-Sambucetum racemosi usually appears in later stages.
grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Meadows (Arrhenatherion elatioris, Polygono-Trisetion), pastures (Cynosurion), with excessive use matgrass communities and dwarf-shrub heaths (Nardetalia). The most frequent (at least in the Polish part) fresh grass meadow is an association that is presumably endemic to the western Carpathians, i.e. the Gladiolo-Agrostietum; in moist, slightly swamped depressions and hollows the Valeriano-Caricetum flavae develops alongside annually cut meadows. On very base-rich and especially lime-containing heavy loam soils a colourful meadow arises (Anthyllidi-Trifolietum montani) that is characterised by many normally rare orchid species wherever traditional forms of use are practiced (hay harvesting only every 2-3 years with only moderate fertilisation).
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
At lower altitudes (e.g. to 600 m, and sometimes to 700 m) rye, potato and even wheat is grown; higher up and up to 1000 m only potatoes and oats are cultivated. Cereal as well as root crop fields are accompanied by the same weed community, i.e. the Geranio-Silenetum gallicae.
settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
Ruderal communities within the zone of the rich Carpathian beech forests remain little studied to this point in time.
Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
Montane belt of mountainous country, all exposures and slope orientations
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
montane-altimontane; 500-1400(1600) m; generally higher in the east than in the west
Geology (bedrock)
flysch-sandstone and conglomerates; limestone of different formations, dolomite; gneiss, granites, durite, young volcanic rocks (especially andesite), (Tertiary, Cretaceous, Jurassic, Palaeozoic, Precambrian)
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
eutrophic brown soils, deep brown ranker, mull humus carbonate soil, humus form mull, in poorer formations also mull-like mor; (stony eutric cambisols; eutric and rendzic leptosols)
soil texture
loam, weakly sandy loam, partly stone-rich
soil moisture, water balance
fresh to moderately moist
soil reaction
moderately to weakly acidic, lime-rich soils neutral to weakly alkaline
soil fertility
meso-eutrophic to eutrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
VI(VII), VI2a, VI9b, VI(X)b
average annual temperature
3-7 EC
average annual precipitation
700-1200 mm; Poland: 1200-1800 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
15-16 EC
average temperature of the coldest month
-7 to -4 EC
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
---
Importance for nature protection
Present state and development trend of natural vegetation (degree of endangerment)
Poland, Czech republic, Slovakia: semi-natural stands are still quite frequent, but barely cover 20 % of the potential range. Ukraine: semi-natural beech and fir-beech forests cover 75 % on south-facing slopes, and 40% on north-facing slopes. Large-sized primeval forests still exist.
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
Ukraine: protected species: Aconitum spp., Neottia nidus-avis, Listera cordata, Listera ovata, Erythronium dens-canis, Epipactis helleborine, Epipactis atrorubens, Cephalanthera rubra, Platanthera bifolia, Platanthera chlorantha, Orchis purpurea, Dactylorhiza sambucina, Lunaria rediviva, Allium ursinum, Galanthus nivalis, Scopolia carniolica, Crocus vernus subsp. vernus; Czech Republic/Slovakia: Cardamine glanduligera (Carpathian endemic species), Symphytum cordatum, Helleborus purpurascens, rare species: Daphne mezereum, Polystichum brownii.
causes of endangerment
Transformation into spruce forest, afforestation with habitat-foreign species (spruce forestry); increasing pollution by industrial and traffic emissions.
required measures for protection and restitution
Semi-natural cultivation of the forest; semi-natural remnants of the unit as a characteristic community of the montane landscape is worthy of protection wherever it is encountered.
Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection
of the natural vegetation
Poland: above all in the national parks Babia Gora, Tatra, Pieninen, Gorce and Bieszczady; also several smaller nature reserves; Slovakia: Veporské vrchy – primeval forest Dobro…ský prales, Bukovské vrchy - Stuñica; Ukraine: eastern Carpathians, nature reserve Karpatskij gosud and National park Karpatskij prirodnyj, national nature park Sinevir.
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
Poland: The coulourful meadows with rare plant species (Anthyllidi-Trifolietum montani) are carefully attended in the national park Pieninen; Slovakia: orchid-rich meadows with Trollius europaeus, Hypochoeris maculata.
Most important references (author, year)
Doniţă, Ivan, Coldea, Sanda, Popescu, Chifu, Paucă-Comănescu, Mitetelu & Boşcaiu 1992; Guzikowa & Kornaś 1969; Ivan, Doniţă, Coldea, Sanda, Popescu, Chifu, Boşcaiu, Mititelu & Paucă-Comănescu 1993; Klika 1942; Klika 1949; Kosec’ 1971; Magic 1986; Matuszkiewicz 1989; Matuszkiewicz & Matuszkiewicz 1973; Medwecka-Kornaś 1955; Mikyška 1936; Oberdorfer (Hrsg.) 1992; Oberdorfer & Müller Th. 1984; Pancer-Kotejowa 1973; Šeljag-Sosonko & Andrienko 1985; Sillinger 1933; Soó 1962; Zarzycki 1963; Zlatník 1959
Compiled by
W. Matuszkiewicz; Z. Neuhäuslová after D. Ivan et al. 1993 and based on documents by Ju.R. Šeljag-Sosonko, completed by Š. Maglocký and U. Bohn
