Aceri platanoidis-Tilietum platyphylli Faber 1936 association in Opole Silesia.

Abstract

Results of geobotanical studies conducted in Opole Silesia in the years 2006 and 2007 are presented. The main goal of this research was to find the association of Aceri platanoidis-Tilietum platyphylli Faber 1936, which was suspected to occur within the region. Our studies resulted in the discovery of three sites of that plant association which is rare in Poland; two of them being located within the Opawskie Mts. (eastern Sudetes), in the Złoty Potok and Biała Głuchołaska river valleys. The third was found in the Silesian Upland, at the Góra św. Anny Massif, on a gorge slope. The maple-lime forests studied by us are well developed, have a rich tree layer and the total species number varies between 28 and 35. Slope inclination was between 30 and 55% with main exposure to the west. The altitude of the plots sampled was between 260 and 385 m a.s.l.. We conclude that phytocoenoses of Aceri platanoidis-Tilietum platyphylli deserve special conservation and monitoring because of the fact that they are rare and endangered.

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Aceri platanoidis-Tilietum platyphylli Faber 1936 association in Opole Silesia
Arkadiusz NOWAK & Sylwia NOWAK
Abstract: Results of geobotanical studies conducted in Opole Silesia in the years 2006 and 2007 are presented.
The main goal of this research was to find the association of Aceri platanoidis-Tilietum platyphylli Faber 1936,
which was supposed to occur within the region. Our studies resulted in the discovery of three sites of that plant
association which is rare in Poland; two of them being located within the Opawskie Mts. (eastern Sudetes), in the
Zoty Potok and Biaa Guchoaska river valleys. The third was found in the Silesian Upland, at the Góra w.
Anny Massif, on a ravine slopes. The maple-lime forests studied by us are well developed, have a rich tree layer
and the total species number varies between 28 and 35. Slope inclination was between 30 and 55% with main
exposure to the west. The altitude of the sampled relevés was between 260 and 355 m a.s.l.. We conclude that
phytocoenoses of Aceri platanoidis-Tilietum platyphylli deserve special conservation and monitoring because of
the fact that they are rare and endangered.
Keywords: Aceri platanoidis-Tilietum platyphylli, ravine forest, endangered phytocoenoses, Poland, Silesia,
Introduction
The maple-lime wood Aceri platanoidis-Tilietum platyphylli Faber 1936, which grows on
steep slopes, is amongst the rarest and most poorly studied forest communities in Poland. It is
a species-rich association in which Tilia platyphyllos and Tilia cordata predominates and, in
some cases, Acer pseudoplatanus in the tree layer. The undergrowth also comprises many
species which occasionally form a dense herbaceous cover, with significant geophyte and
blue-bells contribution. Tilia platyphyllos is considered to be typical of this association and as
differential species, Acer platanoides, Acer pseudoplatanus, Tilia cordata, Carpinus betulus
and Campanula trachelium, C. rapunculoides and C. latifolia (Pott 1995, Matuszkiewicz
2001).
The phytocoenosis develops on fertile soils which undergo strong slope denudation. In
the subsoil, a considerable amount of gravel and rocks often occurs (Matuszkiewicz 2001).
Until now, the slope maple-lime forests were recorded in Poland only from Lower Silesia,
having been observed in the Ostrzyca Proboszczowicka Nature Reserve (Anio-Kwiatkowska
& wierkosz 1992), at the Kaczawskie Foothills (Kwiatkowski 1993, 1995a, 1995b, 1996,
2001), in the Karkonosze Foreland (wierkosz 1994), Strzegomskie Hills and Bolkowskie
Foothills (Szczniak 1997, 1998), Izerskie Foothills (wierkosz 2000; Potocka 2001) and
also in the Central Sudetes (wierkosz 2003). It is assumed that in Poland this forest type
covers an area of some 380 ha (wierkosz 2003). The association of Aceri-Tilietum occupies
slopes with inclinations between 5 and 55% (ca. 30% on average), differently exposed but
mostly W, SW and NE and also S, N, SE, at altitudes between 250-650 m a.s.l. The
association was described from hill slopes, block fields, in river valleys – especially in their
gorge sections, and occasionally in anthropogenic habitats like a quarry at Póczki Dolne
within the Izerskie Foothills (wierkosz 2000).
So far the Aceri-Tilietum association was not reported from Opole Silesia. The main
goal of the present study was to confirm the occurrence of the maple-lime forest there.
Methods
The geobotanical studies were conducted in the southern part of the Opole region within the area with the most
differentiated geomorphology: the Góra w. Anny Massif (Silesian Upland) and Góry Opawskie Mts. (eastern
Sudetes) (Fig. 1). Studies were carried out in 2006 and 2007. As phenological aspects were also considered in

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the fieldwork, basic investigations were conducted from June to August. Generally, three sites and six vegetation
plots with lime-maple forests were sampled using the phytosociological Braun-Blanquet approach (1964). The
species nomenclature follows Mirek et al. (2002). The syntaxonomical classification was done according to Pott
(1995), Schubert et al. (1995) and Matuszkiewicz (2001).
Results
Our studies confirmed the presence of Aceri platanoidis-Tilietum platyphylli Faber 1936 in
Opole Silesia; three sites with that phytocoenosis were found, two of them in the Opawskie
Mts. along the Zoty Potok (ATPOL: CF13) and Biaa Guchoaska (ATPOL: CF14) river
gorges on the western, northern and southern slopes, and the third one at the Góra w. Anny
Massif in the village of Porba (ATPOL: CF72) on a steep gorge slope with exposure to the
west (Fig. 1).
Aceri-Tilietum occurs within a very restricted area on slopes with inclinations between
30 and 55% and exposure mainly to the west or north, or south. The altitude of the patches
ranges between 265 m a.s.l. (Góra w. Anny) and 355 m (Góry Opawskie). The
phytocoenoses are rich and comprise between 28 and 35 species (Table 1).
The community patches in the Opawskie Mts. are different as far as their slope
exposure is concerned. This has consequences for floristic structure. On the southern slopes of
Olszak Hill the wood is quite bright, with bell flowers occurring in the herbaceous layer,
especially Campanula trachelium and C. persicifolia. In the tree stand Tilia platyphyllos has a
small participation. Hornbeam Carpinus betulus is found in the tree as well as shrub layer.
The undergrowth has a high cover rate of Poa nemoralis.
In patches growing on the northern slopes of Bukowa Hill, species typical of Fagion
communities occur more frequently, in this montane Prenanthes purpurea and Festuca
altissima. Aruncus sylvestris and Actaea spicata also were found here. The tree stand is
markedly rich. In addition to Acer pseudoplatanus and A. platanoides, Tilia cordata,
Carpinus betulus, Picea abies and Fraxinus excelsior were noted by us. The lime Tilia
platyphyllos is absent.
Even more tree species were noted in the maple-lime forest on the western slopes of
Góra Chrobrego Hill. This can probably explained by anthropogenic disturbance, e.g. forest
management. Tilia cordata predominates in the tree stand. The considerable contribution of
Fagus sylvatica is apparent. This could be an effect of the location within the beech woods,
where foresters prefer this species.
The patches at Góra w. Anny differs from that one in the Opawskie Mts. by the
absence of montane plants such as Prenanthes purpurea and Luzula luzuloides. In the tree
stand, apart from a predominance of Acer platanoides other species like Tilia platyphyllos and
Ulmus glabra were recorded. Among the differential species in the Aceri-Tilietum
association, Campanula trachelium and Actaea spicata were noted.
Discussion
The sites of Aceri-Tilietum discovered have considerable significance from a biogeographical
point of view, because they widen the range of this association in Poland by some 100 km to
the east. The patches studied are not well developed. The main characteristic species, Tilia
platyphyllos is present only in fifty percent of these patches. In some phytocoenoses, alien
species disrupt the floristic structure, especially Robinia pseudoacacia which threatens the
wood at Porba or coniferous trees planted at Góra Chrobrego.

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The Aceri-Tilietum association bears a significant conservation value. In the region, it
covers an area of no more than a few hectares. The maintenance of this forest community
should have high priority in conservation and management strategies of nature protection and
forest administration. One of the main threats to this type of wood is synanthropisation.
Almost all patches studied are crosscut by tourist routes, even by public roads, which is
conducive to expansion of alien species.
References
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Arkadiusz Nowak & Sylwia Nowak
Department of Biosystematics, Laboratory of Geobotany & Plant Conservation,
University of Opole, ul. Oleska 22, 45-052 Opole;
anowak@uni.opole.pl, snowak@uni.opole.pl

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Relevé number 123456
day 15 16 14 14 18 18
Date: month 667787
year 2007 2007 2006 2006 2007 2007
Aspect S N W N W W
Inclination (degrees) 553055405040
Altitude (m) 345 350 355 330 265 265
Cover of trees layer (%) 908065609090
Cover of shrub layer (%) 205025201515
Cover of herb layer (%) 60 100 80 100 100 65
Cover of moss layer (%) - - - - 1 5
Relevé area (m
2
)200 200 200 200 200 200
Locality J J G J P P
Number of species 293133283529
Ch. et D.* Ass.
A
ceri-Tilietum
Tilia cordata * a 44321+
Acer platanoides * a 211144
Acer platanoides * c ++ . 132
Tilia cordata * b 211. + .
Tilia platyphyllos a 1.. .+1
Campanula trachelium * +. . .11
Tilia cordata * c +.++..
Acer platanoides * b .1...1
ChAll. Tilio-Acerion
Acer pseudoplatanus c.2++22
Acer pseudoplatanus a12+2 . 1
Ulmus glabra b .+..1+
Actaea spicata ...11.
Ulmus glabra a....1+
Sporadic species: Acer pseudoplatanus b 2(3), Ulmus glabra c 6.
ChAll. Carpinion
Carpinus betulus a1.11.+
Carpinus betulus b1..2. .
Sporadic species: Carpinus betulus c 1.
ChAll. Fagion
Prenanthes purpurea +312. .
Luzula luzuloides 1111 . .
Fagus sylvatica a.+2.1.
Fagus sylvatica c..2++.
Festuca altissima .+.2. .
Sporadic species: Fagus sylvatica b 3(2).
Ch. et D.* O. Fagetalia
Galeobdolon luteum .11+++
Dryopteris filix-mas 1.22..
Viola reichenbachiana ....21
Galium odoratum .11...
Polygonatum multiflorum .1.+..
Carex sylvatica .++...
Phyteuma spicatum .+.. .+
Stachys sylvatica . .+.+.
Epilobium montanum * ....++
ChCl. Querco-Fagetea
Poa nemoralis 3+11 . +
Corylus avellana b12. 1+1
Fraxinus excelsior a.1.112
Fraxinus excelsior cr+.. +.
Aegopodium podagraria ....21
Carex digitata ....1+
Euonymus europaeus c++....
Anemone nemorosa ....++
Accompanying species
Calamagrostis arundinacea +++1. .
Senecio fuchsii +++1. .
Sorbus aucuparia c++++ . .
Mycelis muralis +.+.++
Impatiens parviflora . .++++
Aruncus sylvestris .2++. .
Oxalis acetosella .111..
Hieracium murorum 1.1..+
Maianthemum bifolium .++1..
Betula pendula a.++.1 .
Sambucus nigra c.+..+1
Rubus caesius .1.1..
Picea abies a..11..
Geum urbanum ....11
Sambucus nigra b....11
Solidago virgaurea 1..+. .
Fissidens taxifolius d....+1
Robinia pseudoaccacia a....+1
Veronica chamaedrys +. . .+.
Ribes uva-crispa ....++
Urtica dioica ....++
Luzula pilosa ..r+..
Localities: J - Jarnotówek, G - Guchoazy, P - Porba
Sporadic species: Asarum europaem 5, Circaea lutetiana 5, Daphne
mezereum b2(r),Impatiens noli-tangere 2, Mercurialis perennis 2,
Milium effusum 3, Scrophularia nodosa 5.
Sporadic species: Acer campestre a5,Acer campestre c1,
Campanula persicifolia 1(1), Corylus avellana c2,Euonymus
europaeus b 5(1), Melica nutans 3.
Sporadic species: Ajuga reptans 6, Alliaria petiolata 5, At hyrium filix-
femina 6, Betula pendula c3,Bromusbenekenii 4(1), Calamagrostis
epigejos 3, Carex pallescens 3, Carex brizoides 3(1), Deschampsia
caespitosa 2, Dryopteris carthusiana 2, Fragaria vesca 1, Geranium
robertianum 6(1), Gymnocarpium dryopteris 4, Hier acium lachenalii
1(1), Hypericum perforatum 1, Picea abies b1,Pinussylvestris a3,
Polygonatum odoratum 3, Polypodium vulgare 1, Quercus petraea c
1, Quercus rubra c5,Solidago gigantea 5(r ), Vaccinium myrtillus 1,
Veronica officinalis 3.
Tab. 1. Aceri platanoidis-Tilietum platyphylli Faber 1936

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Fig. 1. Distribution of Aceri platanoidis-Tilietum platyphylli Faber 1936 association in Opole Silesia
/1 – Guchoazy, 2 – Jarnotówek, 3 – Porba/