Analele ştiinţifice ale Universităţii “Al. I. Cuza” Iaşi Tomul LV, fasc. 2, s.II a. Biologie vegetală, 2009

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STUDY OF MEADOWS VEGETATION FROM THE SUPERIOR BASIN OF PUTNA RIVER (VRANCEA COUNTY)

ROTARU RAMONA∗, T. CHIFU∗

Abstract: This paper presents two vegetal associations identified on moderately inclined slopes of the superior basin of Putna river: Festuco rubrae-Agrostietum capillaris Horvat 1951, Festucetum rupicolae Burduja et al. 1956. Each association is described in a phytocoenological table and analysed from the point of view of bioforms, floristic elements and ecological indices. Key words: vegetal associations, phytocoenology.

Introduction

The presentation of this paper contains the result of the studies made in the superior

basin of the Putna until the Valea Sãrii, Vrancea County, between 2005-2009, regarding the vegetation meadows [4, 5, 6]. From a geographic point of view, the Putna river hydrographic basin has a total area of 2742 Km² and it is situated in the South side of Moldova, in the Vrancea country, and it collect rivulets in the zone to Curvature of Oriental Carpathians, from a spring of wisp, its directional on the North slope of Lăcăuţ-Arişoaia summit, which it belong to Vrancea Mountains, from a maximum altitude approximately 1700 meters and over Vrancea Depression, again from Balta Raţei, for an approximate distance of 24 kilometres, Putna make for to South, where it is collect of Siret river. The superior basin of Putna river is situated between longitude 26˚30' -27˚50' East and latitude 45˚50' - 46˚10' North which make as it to be situated, through in temperate area, namely at contact between the continental climate region and mountain climate region. Through succession, it is contents between two tendency: the continentale tendency which it make sniffing the effects on the East side, and mountains tendency, which it make sniffing in special on the West side. Relief arrangement on stages which climb down from East in a large open space Putna river basin in the first row, the East influence continentale. Also and the North influence climate and the South influence climate retrievable in this mode of relief arrangement, where there are favorable conditions for their ingress. Relief arrangement on stages which climb down from West to East, productive of favorable exposure at the sun and a banks heating orientated to East and South –East.

∗ University “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” Iaşi, Faculty of Biology

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Material and methods The results of field research conducted between 2005 -2009 in the superior basin of the river Putna, which were realized by making the school spirit of reports in the central European flora, supplemented and adapted to local conditions. Taxonomic nomenclature, organic forms and floristic elements were outlined by V. Ciocârlan [2]. Regarding fitocenosistemul were used appointments of T. Chifu [1] and V. Sanda [7]. Analysis of ecological indices based on the system adopted by H. Ellenberg [3].

Results and discussions

This paper presents two vegetal meadows associations included in the following

phytocoeno-system by Chifu T. and collaborators, 2006 [1]: Class Molinio-Arrhenatheretea R. Tx. 1937

Order Arrhenatheretalia R. Tx. 1931 Alliance Cynosurion R. Tx. 1947

Ass. Festuco rubrae-Agrostietum capillaris Horvat 1951subass. typicum Coldea 1991 Class Festuco-Brometea Br.-Bl. et R. Tx in Br.-Bl. 1949

Order Festucetalia valesiacae Br.-Bl. et R. Tx. ex Br.-Bl. 1949 Alliance Festucion valesiacae Klika 1931 Suballiance Jurineo arachnoideae-Euphorbinenion nicaeensis Dobrescu et Kovacs 1971 corr. Sârbu, Coldea et Chifu 1999

Ass. Festucetum rupicolae Burduja et al. 1956

1. Ass. Festuco rubrae-Agrostietum capillaris Horvat 1951 subass. typicum Coldea 1991

The association has a widespread within the superior basin of the river Putna, the ribs moderately inclined, with moderate moisture regime, luvice on brown soils, and deep brown acid, moderately weak acid rich in humus and total nitrogen, with varying degrees of saturation in the base [5]. Fitocoenosis of this association have been identified in: Cheile Tişiţei [1], Cheile Tişiţei, Culmea Babovici, Culmea Porcului, Lepşa –Zboina, Nereju, Piscul Mesteacănului, Poiana Mãrului.

The floristic composition and the analysed phytocoenosis (Tabel I): The two species edifying, Festuca rubra and Agrostis capillaris, have coverage of 80 - 100%. Agrostis capillaris is dominant on land recently covered with grass vegetation and fertilized, while Festuca rubra dominate the land in May beaten and less rich in nutrients. This type of vegetation to install secondary, from deforestation [5].

Floristic composition is rich and varied. The species characteristic are constantly accompanied of 7 species characteristic to Cynosurion alliance, 23 species characteristic to Arrhenatheretalia order, of them mention the consistently high Achillea millefolium, Briza media, Leucanthemum vulgare, Rhinanthus minor, and 27 species characteristic to Molinio – Arrhenatheretea class, most common being Achillea millefolium, Plantago lanceolata, Trifolium pretense, Cerastium holosteoides.

After the analysis of the relevées, we notice the following:

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The bioform spectrum (Fig. 1) shows the dominance of hemicryptophytes (70.4%), followed by hemitherophytes (8%), geophyte (4.8%), therophytes (4%), chamaephytes (3.2%), hemicryptophytes (chamaephytes) (1.6%), hemicryptophytes (geophyte) (1.6%), hemicryptophytes - chamaephytes (0.8%), hemicryptophytes - chamaephytes (0.8%), hemitherophytes - hemicryptophytes (2.4%), therophytes - hemicryptophytes (0.8%), therophytes - hemitherophytes (0.8%) and chamaephytes (hemicryptophytes) (0.8%).

The phytogeographic spectrum (Fig. 2) shows the predominance of Eurasian elements (46.4%), followed by European (16%), Central European (9.6%), cosmopolitan (6.4%), circumpolar (5.6%), Eurasian continentale (5.6%), eurasian (submediterranean) (3.2%), Central European - mediterranean (0.8%), Central European - submediterranean (0.8%), European.asian (0.8%), eurasian - arctico - european alpine (0.8%), adventitious (0.8%), eurasian - submediterranean (0.8%), European continentale (0.8%), European (submediterranean) (0.8%) and pontico - mediterranean elements (0.8%).

Within the spectrum of ecological indices (Fig. 3), there is a predominance of species which have a low lever of tolerance of shade (L7 - 40%), with a spreading area in central european (Ct3 - 36.8%), developing on dry to moderately moist soils (U4 - 19.2%), amphitolerant to the soil reaction (Rx - 42.4%), temperature (Tx - 42.4%) and to the content of mineral nitrogen in soil (Nx - 19.2%).

Importance: the economic value of the association is high due to the presence of numerous best forage species (32 species), (Festuca rubra, Alchemilla vulgaris, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Phleum pretense, Poa pratensis, Trifolium repens, Medicago lupulina, etc.), bee species (41 species) (Taraxacum officinale, Medicago falcata, Bellis perennis, etc.) and medicinal species (19 species). Asserting number of toxic species (25 species) is given by some medicinal species are toxic (Colchicum autumnale, Valeriana officinalis, etc.). Together they participate and 8 species of food, 3 ornamental species, and 10 species used in industry.

Fr. Me. Al. In. Importance

economic 1 2 3 1 2 3 Tx.

cu. ar. De. D. Md.

tc. Nr. species 15 9 8 8 30 3 25 7 1 3 1 19 10

Comments: The association has been reported in 1958 by Rãvãruţ M. and Mititelu

D., in the superior basin of the Putna river, of Coza. In 1997 is cited and by Ştefan N., of Cheile Tişiţei, where he presented a phytocoenological table.

2. Ass. Festucetum rupicolae Burduja et al. 1956 The fitocoenosis enlightened by Festuca rupicola populating the moderate slope,

soared to an altitude of 600-650 meters, with predominantly southern exhibition. These types of grassland are highly degraded due to the grazing and due to periods

of drought ever longer not allow vegetation cover a good development. Fitocoenosis of this association have been identified in Negrileşti. The floristic composition and the analysed phytocoenosis (Tabel II): Regarding

floristic composition of the association notes the presence of a number of 54 species, with an average of 32 species/relevee. Festuca rupicola is the main species in this association, realizing coverings of 95-100%. The species characteristic is constantly accompanied of species characteristic to classes: Artemisietea (Artemisia absinthium, Berteroa incana, Cynoglossum officinale, Verbascum phlomoides), Festuco–Brometea (Dianthus

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carthusianorum, Echium vulgare, Eryngium campestre, Euphorbia cyparissias, Festuca rubra, Galium verum, Medicago falcata, Potentilla argentea, Salvia pratensis, Salvia verticillata, Sanguisorba minor, Trifolium ochroleucon), Molinio–Arrhenatheretea (Dactylis glomerata, Erodium cicutarium, Genista tinctoria ssp. tinctoria, Gymnadenia conopsea, Potentilla erecta, Trifolium pretense, Vicia cracca) and Stellarietea mediae (Convolvulus arvensis, Muscari racemosum).

The bioform spectrum (Fig. 4) shows the dominance of hemicryptophytes (57.40%), due to moderate climate and and the domination of herbaceous plants, followed by chamaephytes (9.25%), hemitherophytes (9.25%), therophytes (9.25%), geophyte (7.40%) hemicryptophytes (chamaephytes) (1.85%), hemitherophytes - hemicryptophytes (1.85%), geophyte (hemicryptophytes) (1.85%) and phanerophytes (1.85%).

The phytogeographic spectrum (Fig. 5) shows the predominance of Eurasian elements (37.03%), followed by eurasian continentale (16.66%), European (12.96%) and Central European elements (5.55%). These species are accompanied by Central European - submediterranean (5.55%), Central European (submediterranean) (3.70%), cosmopolitan (3.70%) pontic - balkan (1.85%), pontic - caucasian (1.85%), pontic - mediterranean (1.85%), Central European - mediterranean (1.85%) and circumpolar elements (1.85%).

Within the spectrum of ecological indices (Fig. 6) there is a predominance of species which have a low lever of tolerance of shade (L7 - 40.74%), with a spreading area in Central European (Ct3 - 29.62%), which develops on dry soils (U - 35.18%), intermediate 3type of neutral (from weak acid to slightly alkaline) to basic (R8 - 33.33%), amfitolerante to temperature (Tx - 35.18%) and and to the content of mineral nitrogen in soil al (Nx - 20.37%).

Important: High economic value of the association is given by the presence of forage species (16 species) and the bees (22 de species). They are accompanied by toxic species (12 species), food species (2 species), medicinal species (10 species) and species used in industry (4 specii), etc.

Fr. Me. Al. In. Importance economic 1 2 3 1 2 3

Tx. cu.

Md. tc.

Nr. species

6 7 3 4 17 1 12 2 10 4

Comments: The association is first mentioned in the superior basin of Putna river.

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REFERENCES

1. CHIFU T., MÂNZU C., ZAMFIRESCU OANA, 2006 - Flora şi vegetaţia Moldovei (România), I, II, Edit. Univ. “Al. I. Cuza” Iaşi.

2. CIOCÂRLAN V., 2000 - Flora ilustrată a României, Edit. Ceres, Bucureşti: 254, 359, 558, 570, 585, 610, 642, 785, 821, 832, 927, 930, 934. 3. ELLENBERG H., 1974 - Indicator values of vascular plants in Central Europe, Scripta Geobotanica, 9, Verlag Erich Goltze KG, Göttingen. 4. GRUMĂZESCU H., ŞTEFĂNESCU IOANA, 1970 - Judeţul Vrancea, Edit. Acad. R.S.R., Bucureşti: 5- 55. 5. MATEESCU ŞT. I., 1970 - Présentation de la carte géologique de la Région de Vrancea dist. Putna, Valea Putnei, Edit. Ştiinţifică, Bucureşti. 6. RESMERIŢĂ I., BURDUJA C., RAŢIU C., 1977 - Caracterizarea areal-ecologică şi floristică a pajiştilor din

alpinul Carpaţilor Româneşti, S.S.B., Bucureşti: 152-183. 7. SANDA V., POPESCU A., BARABAŞ N., 1998 - Cenotaxonomia şi caracterizarea grupărilor vegetale din

România, Com., Muz. Şt. Nat., 14, Bacău.

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Tabel I. Ass. Festuco rubrae-Agrostietum capillaris Horvat 1951 subass. typicum Coldea 1991

Number of relevée 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Altitude (m.s.m.) 960 Exposition V - - - - N - - - E Inclination in degree 5 - - - - 3 - - - 60 Coverage of herbaceous layer (%)

95 95 100 95 90 80 100 90 90 95

Surface of relevée (m2)

100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100

Number of species 26 45 43 35 22 39 47 50 45 48

K

Caract. ass. Festuca rubra 2 3 3 4 3 4 3 3 3 4 V Cynosurion Agrostis capillaris 3 2 2 1 2 + 1 1 1 - V Bellis perennis + + + 1 1 1 - - - + III Centaurea phrygia - - - - - + + + + - III Cynosurus cristatus 1 1 + + 1 + - - - + III Hypochoeris radicata

- - - - - - - - - + I

Knautia arvensis - - - - - - + + + + II Leontodon autumnalis

+ + + + + - - - - + III

Polygala vulgaris - + + - - + + + + + III Prunella vulgaris - - - - - + + + + + IV Rumex acetosella + - - + - - - - - - I Stellaria graminea - + + + + + + + + - V Thymus pulegioides - + + - - + + + + + IV Arrhenatherion Carum carvi - - - - - + + + + - II Dactylis glomerata + + + + + + + + + + IV Leontodon hispidus - - - - - + + + + + III Stachys officinalis - - - - - - + + + + II Tragopon pratensis ssp. orientalis

- - - - - - + + + + II

Arrhenatheretalia Briza media - + 1 - - + + + + - III Bromus commutatus - + + - - - - - - + I Campanula glomerata

- + + - - - - + + + III

Campanula patula - + + + + + - - + - III Centaurea jacea - - - - - - - - - + I Cichorium intybus - - - - - - - - - + I Crepis biennis - - - - - - - - - + I Daucus carota - - - - - - - - - - I Genista tinctoria ssp. tinctoria

- - - - - - - - - - I

Leucanthemum vulgare

- + + - + + + + + + III

Lotus corniculatus - + + - - - + + + + III Lychnis flos-cuculi - - - + - - - - - - I Medicago lupulina - 1 + - + + - - - + III

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Plantago media + + + + + + + + - + V Ranunculus acris - - - - - + - - - + I Rhinanthus minor - + 1 - - - 1 1 1 1 III Taraxacum officinale

- - - + - + - - - + II

Trifolium campestre - - - - - - + + - + III Trifolium montanum - + + - - - + + - 1 III Molinietalia caeruleae Carex pallescens - + + - - + 1 1 + - III Cirsium erysithales - - - - - - - - - - IV Deschampsia caespitosa

+ - - + - - - - - - I

Equisetum telmateia - - - + - - - - - - I Glechoma hederacea - - - + - - - - - - I Gymnadenia conopsea

- - - - - - - - + - I

Holcus lanatus - + + - - - + + + - II Linum catharticum - - - - - - - + - + II Mentha longifolia - - - - - + - - - - I Orchis militaris - - - - - - - - + - I Phleum pratense + - - + - - - - - - I Potentilla erecta - - - - - - - - - + I Serratula tinctoria - - - - - - + + + - II Valeriana officinalis - - - + - - - - - - I Poo alpinae - Trisetetalia Hypericum maculatum

- + - - - - - - - - I

Luzula campestris - - - - - + - - - - I Trisetum flavescens - + + - - - - - - + II Potentillo - Polygonetalia Potentilla reptans + - - + - - - - - - II Ranunculus repens - - - - - - - - - - I Molinio - Arrhenatheretea Achillea millefolium + - - + + + 1 1 1 - V Ajuga reptans - + + + - - - - - - I Alchemilla vulgaris - - - - - + + + + - III Anthoxanthum odoratum

- - - - - - 1 + + - II

Cerastium holosteoides

+ - - + + + + + + + IV

Colchicum autumnale

- - - - - - - - - - II

Festuca pratensis - + + - - - + + + - II Lysimachia nummularia

- - - + - - - - - - I

Plantago lanceolata + - - + + + + + + + V Poa pratensis - - - - - + - - - - I Rumex acetosa - - - - - - + + + - II Silene vulgaris - - - - - - - - - + I Trifolium pratense + - - + + + + + + + V Trifolium repens 1 - - 1 - - - - 1 - II Veronica chamaedrys

+ - - - - + - - - + II

Festuco - Brometea Ajuga genevensis - - - - - + + + + - II Carlina vulgaris + - - - - - - - - - I

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Coronilla varia - + + - - + + + + + III Dianthus carthusianorum

+ - - - - - - - - - II

Echium vulgare - + + - - + + + - + III Euphorbia cyparisias - + + + + - - - - + III Filipendula vulgaris - + + - - - + + - + III Galium verum - + + - - - - - - - I Helianthemum nummularium ssp. obscurum

- + + - - - + + + - III

Hieracium bauhinii - - - - - - - + + - II Hypochoeris maculata

- - - - - - + + - - I

Medicago falcata - - - - - - + + - - I Muscari comosum - - - - - - + + - - II Pimpinella saxifraga + + + + + + - - - - III Polygala amara - - - - - - - - - - I Potentilla argentea + + + + - - - - - - I Potentilla recta - - - - - + - - - - I Primula veris - + + - - + + + + - III Prunella grandiflora - + + - + - - - - + II Salvia pratensis - + + - - - - - - - I Salvia verticillata - - - - - - - + - + I Trifolium alpestre - - - - - - + + - - I Trifolium ochroleucon - - - - - - - - + - I

Trifolium pannonicum

- - - - - - - - + - II

Astragalus glycyphyllos

- - - - - - - - - + II

Inula hirta - - - - - - - - - - I Lychnis viscaria - - - - + - - - - - I Melampyrum cristatum

- - - - - - - - - - I

Nepeta nuda - + + - - - + + + + II Peucedanum oreoselinum

- - - - - - + + + - III

Trifolium medium - 1 + - - - - - - - I Vincetoxicum hirundinaria

- - - - - - + + + - II

Artemisietea vulgaris s. l. Arctium lappa - - - - - - - - - - I Cirsium arvense + + + + - - - - - - I Cynoglossum officinale

- - - - - - - - - - I

Dipsacus laciniatus - - - - - - - - - - I Erigeron annuus - + + - - - - - - + II Verbascum phlomoides

+ - - + - - - - - - II

Querco - Fagetea s. l. Campanula trachelium

- - - - - - - - - - I

Geum urbanum - - - - - + - - - - II Symphytum tuberosum

- - - - - - - - - - I

Tanacetum - - - - - - - - - + I

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corymbosum Vicia sepium - + + + + - - - - - II Variae syntaxa Aegopodium podagraria

- - - - - - - - - + I

Carex michelii - - - - - 1 - - - - I Cirsium decussatum + - - + - - - - - - I Cruciata glabra + + + + + + + + + - IV Cruciata laevipes + - - - - - - - - - I Fragaria vesca - + 1 + - - - - - + II Hieracium aurantiacum

- - - - - + - - - - I

Laser trilobum - - - - - - + - - + I Poa nemoralis - - - - - - + + + - II Viola arvensis - + - - - - - - - - I Urtica dioica - - - + + - - - - - II

Relevée place: 1. Piscul Mesteacănului, 30.07.2007; 2. Lepşa–Zboina, 6.06.2007; 3. Lepşa–Zboina, 6.06.2007; 4. Poiana Mãrului, 8.06.2008; 5. Culmea Babovici, 12.06.2008; 6. Cheile Tişiţei, 18.06.2008; 7. Cheile Tişiţei, 18.06.1008; 8. Cheile Tişiţei, 18.06.2008; 9. Cheile Tişiţei, 18.06.2008; 10. Culmea Porcului, 18.06.2008

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Table II. Ass. Festucetum rupicolae Burduja et al. 1956

Number of relevée 1 2 3 4 5 Altitude (m.s.m.) Exposition S S S S S Inclination in degree 20 20 20 20 20 Coverage of herbaceous layer (%) 100 95 95 100 95 Surface of relevée (m2) 100 100 100 100 100 Number of species 26 32 43 33 30

K

Caract. ass. Festuca rupicola 4 4 3 3 3 V Jurineo arachnoideae - Euphorbinenion nicaeensis Alyssum hirsutum - - + - - I Eryngium campestre 1 + + + + V Festucion valesiacae Allium rotundum - + + - - II Artemisia austriaca + + + + + V Astragalus onobrychis 1 1 1 1 1 V Elymus hispidus + + + + + V Medicago falcata + + + + + V Salvia pratensis + + + + + V Sanguisorba minor - - + - - I Scabiosa ochroleuca - - - - + I Stachys recta + + + + + V Teucrium chamaedrys - 1 1 1 1 IV Trifolium montanum - - + - - I Festucetalia valesiacae Achillea setacea - - + - - I Dianthus carthusianorum + + + - 1 IV Echium vulgare + + + + + V Euphorbia cyparissias - - - + - I Galium verum + + + + + V Salvia nemorosa + - - - - I Brometalia erecti Onobrychis arenaria + + + + + V Dorycnium pentaphyllum ssp. herbaceum

- - + 1 - II

Salvia verticillata + + + + + V Trifolium ochroleucon + + + + + V Trifolium pratense + + + + + V Festucetalia vaginatae Anchusa ochroleuca - - + - - I Festuco – Brometea Euphrasia stricta - + - + - II Festuca rubra - - - + - I Plantago lanceolata - + + - - II Potentilla argentea + + + - + IV Rhinanthus minor - - + - - I

Molinio - Arrhenatheretea Achillea millefolium + + + + + V Cichorium intybus + + + + + V Crepis biennis - + + - - II

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Dactylis glomerata + + + + + V Erodium cicutarium + + + + + V Genista tinctoria ssp. tinctoria - - + - - I Gymnadenia conopsea - - - + - I Leucanthemum vulgare - + + - - II Lotus corniculatus - - - + - I Medicago lupulina + + + - + IV Potentilla erecta - + + - - II Thymus pulegioides - - - + + II Vicia cracca + + + + + V Artemisietea s. l. Artemisia absinthium - - + - - I Berteroa incana + + + + + V Cynoglossum officinale - - - - + I Verbascum phlomoides - - + - - I Stellarietea mediae s. l. Convolvulus arvensis + + + + + V Muscari racemosum - - + - - I Variae syntaxa Agrimonia eupatoria - - + + - II Coronilla varia 1 1 2 1 1 V Galium album - - - 1 1 II Rosa canina juv. - - - + - I

Relevée place: 1. Negrileşti, 19.06.2008; 2. Negrileşti, 19.06.2008; 3. Negrileşti, 19.06.2008; 4. Negrileşti, 19.06.2008; 5. Negrileşti, 19.06.2008; 6. Negrileşti, 19.06.2008

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Fig. 1. The bioform spectrum for

Ass. Festuco rubrae –Agrostietum capillaris Horvat 1951

Fig. 2. The phytogeographic spectrum for

Ass. Festuco rubrae –Agrostietum capillaris Horvat 1951

Fig. 3. The spectrum of ecological indices for Ass. Festuco rubrae –Agrostietum capillaris Horvat 1951

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Fig. 4. The bioform spectrum for Ass. Festucetum rupicolae Burduja et al. 1956

Fig. 5. The phytogeographic spectrum for

Ass. Festucetum rupicolae Burduja et al. 1956

Fig. 6. The spectrum of ecological indices for Ass. Festucetum rupicolae Burduja et al. 1956

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