High occurrence of rare inland halophytes on post-mining sites in western Ukraine
11 May 2014
Woch, MarcinRare inland halophytic vegetation: Salicornietum prostratae, Spergulario marginatae-Suaedetum prostratae, Puccinellietum limosae, com. Puccinellietum limosae – a variant of Aster tripolium subsp. pannonicus and Astero pannonici-Bolboschoenetum compacti were found on 3 localities in Drohobych region. These are isolated (”islands”) localities, near unknown until today. Halophytes grew there on salted sites, connected with the old salt industry. The floristic composition of these communities was given and taxonomic position of some critical species e.g. Aster tripolium subsp. pannonicus, Limonium gmelinii and Suaeda prostrata was discussed. Species of halophytes previously not known in this region: Aster tripolium subsp. pannonicus, Bolboschoenus maritimus, Gypsophila paniculata, Limonium gmelinii, Lotus tenuis, Puccinellia distans, Sonchus palustris, Suaeda prostrata, Trifolium fragiferum var. bonannii, Triglochin maritima, Typha laxmannii and Zannichellia palustris subsp. pedicellata were discovered. The growth of found plants strictly depends on the presence of salt in the soil. They are endangered by shrinkage of salted sites due to the termination of the salt industry in Drohobych region.