Phytosociology and Ecology of Cressa Cretica L. (Convolvulaceae) on the Eastern Adriatic Coast

Abstract

The present phytosociological study of the eastern Adriatic coastal salt-marsh at Blato, Croatia, is based on the Braun-Blanquet approach. Five plant associations were recorded in the area: Juncetum maritimo-acuti, Puccinellio festuciformis-Sarcocornietum fruticosae, Scirpetum maritimi, Enteromorpho intestinalidis-Ruppietum maritimae and Cressetum creticae. The association Cressetum creticae was found for the first time in Croatia as well as on the eastern Adriatic coast. This therophytic and halo-nitrophilous association shows a monospecific or paucispecific character and occupies the most haline and the driest parts of the salt-marsh. The association develops during the summer on silty clay substrates with organic matter derived from the decay of plants of the neighboring communities. According to key soil factor analysis no differences of grain size of the soils among the associations were found, while regarding electrical conductivity, Cl -and Na + concentrations were higher in the Cressetum creticae than in any of the others associations. The particular original features of the site regarding its flora and vegetation would justify some measures of protection and management. Key words: halophytic vegetation, soil analysis, Thero-Suaedetea splendentis, syntaxonomy, Croatia, central Adriatic, NE Mediterranean. IzvlečekPredstavljamo fitocenološko raziskavo obalnega slanega mokrišča Blato (Hrvaška) v vzhodnem Jadranu, ki smo jo naredili po Braun-Blanquetovi metodi. V raziskovanem območju smo zabeležili pet asociacij: Juncetum maritimo-acuti, Puccinellio festuciformis-Sarcocornietum fruticosae, Scirpetum maritimi, Enteromorpho intestinalidis--Ruppietum maritimae in Cressetum creticae. Asociacija Cressetum cretice je na ozemlju Hrvaške in tudi na vzhodni obali Jadranskega morja opisana prvič. Terofitska in halo-nitrofilna asociacija je monospecifična ima siromašno vrstno sestavo in se pojavlja na najbolj slanih in suhih delih slanišča. Sestoji se razvijajo poleti na glineni podlagi z organsko snovjo, ki jo sestavljajo odmrli rastlinski deli s sosednjih združb. Analiza tal je pokazala, da med asociacijami ni bilo razlik v velikosti talnih delcev, električni konduktivnosti, koncentraciji Cl-in Na+ ionov pa sta bili v asociaciji Cressetum creticae višji kot ostalih asociacijah. Zaradi posebnosti v flori in vegetaciji bi bilo potrebno na preučevanem območju zagotoviti določene mere zaščite in ustrezen način upravljanja.

Contribution to the study of Adriatic island flora: Vascular plant species diversity in the Croatian Island of Olib

“…associated with halophilous or nitro-halophilous habitats (Jasprica et al, 2016), while others were related to the dry rocky grasslands and garrigue. Threatened taxa (2.8 %) are primarily distributed within the coastal brackish and halophilous communities, particularly on gravelly or sandy soils rich in nutrients, which are among the most threatened habitats in the eastern Adriatic (Alegro et al, 2004;Pandža et al, 2007;Jasprica et al, 2015b).…”

Cressa cretica Pharmacognosy, and Pharmacology (A review )

“…C.cretica begins to shoot or develop with June onset. Meanwhile from the June ending to the August ending flowering and fruiting period is observed (13,23) in another reference the flowering and fruiting period is all over the year (21) . The plant gradually shrivels in September and October and producing seeds.…”

“…Australia, South America, Central and parts of South-east Asia. Also in south to northern and central Africa (11,(13)(14)(15)(16) . It is dominant near the Arabian sea coastal region (17) .…”

Vegetation of the coastal dunes and wetland of Schinias National Park (NE Attica, Sterea Ellas, Greece)

“…27; differential taxa: Cressa cretica). According to Jasprica et al (2015) the communities of Cressa cretica in the Mediterranean region are correlated to the most haline and dry soils of salt marshes. Authors note that the appearance of salty efflorescences is frequent on these soils, as it was also observed in our study area.…”