12F2
Mountain heathsof Chamaecytisus absinthioides
Relationships with habitat classifications. EUNIS: F2.2B2 – Balkan-Rhodopide Chamaecytisus absinthioides heaths; PAL. CLASS.: 31.4В2 Balkan-Rhodopide Chamaecytisus absinthioides heaths; HD 92/43: 4060 Alpine and boreal heaths; Bondev (1991): 6 Siberian juniper community (Junipereta sibiricae) mostly mixed with secondary shrub (Chamaecytiseta absinthioides, Vaccinieta myrtilli, Vaccinieta vitis-idaeae, Vaccinieta uliginosi etc.) and grass (Nardeta strictae, Festuceta validae etc.) communities, 9 Calciphilous shrub, dwarf shrub and grass communities (Festuceta penzesii, Seslerieta korabensis, Astragaleta angustifoliae, Dryeta octopetalae, Chamaecytiseta absinthioides, Junipereta sibiricae, Junipereta pygmaei etc.), 25 Shrubs of Siberian juniper (Junipereta sibiricae), small-sized juniper (Junipereta pygmaei), Chamaecytiseta absinthioides etc. replacing spruce (Picea abies), Balkan pine (Pinus peuce) and Silver pine (Pinus sylvestris), 31 Shrub (Junipereta sibiricae, Chamaecytiseta absinthioides) and grass (Festuceta penzesii, Festuceta pirinensis, Festuceta hirtovaginatae etc.) communities replacing Pinus heldreichii forests.
Conservation status. BDA, HD.
Category. Nearly Threatened [NT – A1, 2 B2 C1 D1 E1 F1 G1 H1 I L3].
General characteristics. Chamaecytisus absinthioides is a, polymorphic species complex. Two subspecies with numerous transitional forms identified as varieties have been described. The areas occupied by these coenoses usually face South, the soils are of different strength but are mainly shallow, eroded, dry, acidic or alkaline, and the bedrock varies from limestone to silicate. This Balkan endemic is a sub-Mediterranean element that occurs in SW Bulgaria. Very few coenoses of Chamaecytisus absinthioides are autochthonous, of primary origin. Most have developed on places of cut-off or burned forests of Picea abies, Pinus peuce, Pinus sylvestris,and Pinus mugo coenoses in the upper subalpine sub-belt and at lower altitudes, and also in communities of deciduous forests (mostly beech and different oak species). Chamaecytisus absinthioides invades open places in the forests: clearings, burned places, glades. The vertical range of distribution is between 500 and 2500 m alt. and presupposes diverse species composition of the coenoses in which Chamaecytisus absinthioides is the edificator.
The phytocoenoses of Chamaecytisus absinthioides are very widely distributed on the slopes of Slavyanka and Ossogovo mountains (large areas contain Festuca valida). In Slavyanka Mts. they occur also on the mountain ridge (mostly with the participation of Festuca penzesii). In Pirin Mts. they most often occur in the coniferous forest belts, often with the participation of Festuca penzesii. In Rila Mts. the coenoses of Chamaecytisus absinthioides replace the coenoses mainly of Festuca valida above the timberline. In some places they already climb up at higher altitudes on the southern slopes in the sub-alpine belt, reaching 2500 m alt. In Rhodopi Mts. these coenoses have an irregular distribution and occur mainly in the more southern areas and in some places cover whole slopes. In the remaining mountains to the South of the Balkan Range the phytocoenoses of Chamaecytisus absinthioides play a more restricted role in their vegetation cover. In many cases the communities are monodominant, with high density. In some places (Belasitsa Mts.) they form complexes with Siberian juniper, and at lower altitudes with the Common juniper. In some areas they form patches together with Hypericum maculatum or Calamagrostis arundinacea, Deschampsia caespitosa, or Festuca valida. In the southernmost areas of the country some Mediterranean elements such as Genista rumelica, Juniperus oxycedrus, etc. also participate in these coenoses. The floristic composition of the coenoses of Chamaecytisus absinthioides also depends on the altitude. In the upper sub-alpine sub-belt the phytocoenoses of Chamaecytisus absinthioides form complexes with the coenoses of Pinus mugo (mainly in Rila Mts.), Juniperus sibirica (Pirin, Belasitsa, Ossogovo Mts.). In sunny, open foothills of slopes Bothriochloa ischaemum (= Dichanthium ischaemum), Cleistogenes serotina (= Diplachne serotina), Koeleria spp., Melica ciliata, Satureja montana subsp. kitaibelii, Stipa capillata participate in the coenoses of Chamaecytisus absinthioides. Chamaenerion angustifolium (= Epilobium angustifolium), Verbascum longifolium subsp. pannosum also occur in burned places. There are communities of Chamaecytisus absinthioides with Daphne oleoides, Calamagrostis arundinacea and many others.
The cutting of forests in the last two decades will stimulate the distribution of the secondary coenoses of Chamaecytisus absinthioides. The high conservation value of some of the thermophilic and xerophilic coenoses in which Chamaecytisus absinthioides subsp. Absinthioidesis most often the dificator is due to the presence of rare, mainly sub_Mediterranean plants together with relics and endemics. These conenose occur in the lower, more southern pasrt of the country. Chamaecytisus absinthioides subsp. rhodopaeus (= Cytisus rhodopaeus) is a Bulgarian endemic that occurs at higher altitudes (Osogovo, Belasitsa, Rila and Rhodopi Mts.) are characterized by more mezophilic and microthermic features.
Characteristic taxa.
- Vascular plants: Chamaecytisus absinthioides.
- Fungi: Micromycetes – Uromyces fulgens (on Chamaecystis absinthioides).
Distribution in Bulgaria. West Frontier Mountains (Ossogovo Mts.), Belasitsa, Slavyanka, Pirin, Rila and Rhodopi Mts.
Conservation importance. Great importance for the preservation of the biological diversity in the mountains of Bulgaria.
Threats. Construction of tourism infrastructure and fires.
Conservation measures taken. The habitat is included in Annex № 1 of BDA. Some of the phytocoenoses are within protected areas - Rila and Pirin National Parks, etc. and in sites of the European Ecological Network NATURA 2000.
Conservation measures needed. Monitoring of the state and dynamics of the plant communities.
References. Kuzmanov 1976.
Author: Veska Roussakova
