Ramondo-Ostryetum carpinifoliae – a new association from the hop-hornbeam forests of the Sharri Mountains, Kosovo

Abstract

In Europe, the genus Ramonda is represented with three species: Ramonda nathaliae, Ramonda serbica and Ramonda myconi. The first two are endemic Balkan species that are distributed also in Kosovo. These species grow in limestone as well as serpentine substrates, forming chasmophytic vegetation. The species Ramonda nathaliae is found in Macedonia, Greece, Serbia and in two localities in Kosovo, in the Sharri Mountains (Luboten and Gotovushë). R. nathaliae forms the following plant associations in the serpentines of Macedonia: Asplenio­Ramondetum nathaliae and Scorzonero-Ramondetum nathaliae, and the Achilleo­Ramondetum nathaliae in limestone substrates. Ostrya carpinifolia is charateristic species in Querco pubescentis-Ostryetum carpinifoliae, Ostryo-Fagetum, Querco-Ostryetum carpinifoliae and Corylo colurnae-Ostryetum carpinifoliae. This paper presents plant communities of Ramonda nathaliae and Ostrya carpinifolia in a limestone habitat, where the proposed new plant association named Ramondo­Ostryetum carpinifoliae ass. nova. is described. This plant community belongs to the class Quercetea pubescentis, order Quercetalia pubescenti­petraeae and alliance Fraxino orni­Ostryion. It was found and described on the limestone substrate on Mt. Luboteni (at 960–982 m a.s.l.).

Contribution to the knowledge on the flora of Mt. Luboten, Sharri Mts., Kosovo

“…Studies with wild vascular plants especially during the last two decades in Kosovo were intensified and they were used to evaluate the long-term changes in floristic composition (Millaku et al 2008;Millaku et al 2017;Prodanović et al 2018;Rexhepi et al 2005;Rexhepi et al 2009;Veselaj et al 2006;etc. ), in vegetation studies on mountain ecosystems (Amiđžić et al 2012;Berisha et al 2019;Millaku et al 2011;Millaku et al 2012;Rexhepi 1994, etc. ) as well as studies concerning the risk assessment ending up with the compilation of the Red list (Anonymous 2014a) and the Red Book of Vascular flora of the Republic of Kosovo (Millaku et al 2013), among other aspects.…”