Alder-ash and willow communities and their diversity in the Pogorze Strzyzowskie foothills [western Carpathians]

The results of phytosociological studies on the diversity of alder-ash and willow communities in the Pogórze Strzyżowskie foothills are presented. These communities, especially Carici remotae-Fraxinetum are increasingly rare in the landscape of the Carpathians. The paper supports new data allowing better understanding of the diversity of the Carici remotae-Fraxinetum in the southern Poland. On the basis of 59 phytosociological releves two sub-associations were identified: C.r.-F. chrysosplenietosum and C. r.-F. equisetetosum maximii and the form with Alnus incana. The association Carici remotae-Fraxinetum belongs to submontane regional form and to East Carpathian variant. The significance of Caltha palustris-Chaerophyllum hirsutum community is also presented, along with the role of Carex pendula and Matteucia struthiopteris. The paper provides also documentary data on sporadic occurrence of Salicetum triandro-viminalis and Salicetum albo-fragilis communities.