20F3

F. Shrub communities

Moesian lilac (Syringa vulgaris) thickets

Relationships with habitat classifications. EUNIS: F3.2432 Moesian lilac thickets; PAL. CLASS.: 31.8B32 Moesian lilac thickets.

Conservation status. None.

Category. Vulnerable [VU – B1 C1 D3 F1 G1 H1 I L2].

General characteristics. Syringa vulgaris is a Tertiary relic and a Balkan-Carpathian floristic element distributed in W Ukraine, Romania, Hungary and the Balkan Peninsula. It occurs in thickets on dry, stony and rocky places, mainly on limestone, and makes small, monodominant communities (up to several decares). The xerothermic shrub communities are distributed on the hills and low mountains in the areas of Quercion frainetti, Fagion moesiacum, and Ostryo-Carpinion. They are rich in continental Moesian species and dominated by Syringa vulgaris.Its populations have high projective cover (from 15% up to 80%). In some places in the country, mainly calcareous, rocky places, and sometimes on volcanic rocks (riolites, andesites, and volcanic tufts) the lilac shrubs are of primary origin. However, in most places they are of secondary origin replacing polydominant coenoses of Acer hyrcanum, Carpinus orientalis, Cornus mas, C. sanguinea, Cotinus coggygria, Fraxinus ornus, Juniperus oxycedrus, Pistacia terebinthus, Quercus pubescens, etc. where the lilac participates more or less as an understorey species. The formation of lilac thickets take place after the destruction of the tree layer in these coenoses and their further degradation as a result of grazing and trampling as well. The lilac phytocoenoses have the following vertical structure: single trees – Acer spp., Carpinus orientalis, Cerasus mahaleb (= Prunus mahaleb), Fraxinus excelsior, F. ornus, Juglans regia, Quercus spp., Sorbus domestica;shrub layer – Cornus mas, C. sanguinea, Coronilla emerus, Cotinus coggygria, Crataegus monogyna, Jasminum fruticans, Juniperus oxycedrus, Ligustrum vulgare, Paliurus spina-christi, Prunus spinosa, Rhamnus saxatilis, Rosa spp., Viburnum lantana, etc.;herbaceous layer – Achillea clypeolata, Alyssum tortuosum, Asperula cynanchica, Bromus squarrosus, Dactylis glomerata, Bothriochloa ischaemum (= Dichanthium ischaemum), Digitalis lanata, Geranium macrorrhizum, Melica transsilvanica, Poa bulbosa, P. compressa, Potentilla pilosa, Sideritis montana, Stipa capillata, Teucrium chamaedrys, T. polium, etc. The coenoses of Syringa vulgaris on limestone in the areas with continental and sub-Mediterranean climate and humus-carbonate soils belong to the alliances Amygdalion nannae and Pruno tenellae-Syringion. In the Forebalkan and the Thracian Lowland Syringa vulgaris participates in the plant formation Syringeta vulgaris, which reach up to 1200 m alt. In the Forebalkan (Vrachanska Mts.) the following associations have been found: Syringa vulgaris-Dactylis glomerata (300–600 m alt.), Syringa vulgaris-Geranium macrorrhizum (300–400 m alt.), Syringa vulgaris-Poa nemoralis (900–1100 m alt.), and Syringa vulgaris-Spiraea media (900–1030 m alt.). From the Thracian Lowland two associations have been reported, namely Syringa vulgaris-Dactylis glomerata (300–600 m alt.) and Syringa vulgaris-Jasminum fruticans, which have also been found in the easternmost parts of Rhodopi Mts. and represents a more advanced stage in the degradation of the lilac communities.

In East Rhodopi Mts. – along Arda river (Studen Kladenets and Madzharovo villages) monodominant lilac coenoses occur on several tens of decares on volcanic rocks. Many sub-Mediterranean species participate: Hypericum olympicum, H. rumeliacum, Micropyrum tenellum, etc. Parts of these coenoses are of primary origin on rocky places. Syringa vulgaris is a heliophilic plant. This habitat does not require specific slope exposure and the soils are mainly of humus-carbonate type and more rarely Cambisols. In some cases the soils are shallow, skeletal and eroded with rock outcrops, in others they are strong with small and medium-size skeletal elements that make it more loose throughout its depth profile. The soil humidity is only of atmospheric origin and is insufficient, but as a result of the shadow of the neighbouring coenoses the humidity is retained for longer periods of time. However, in summers the habitats are subjected to drought. The areas of distribution can be flat or with slight depressions, while in some places the slopes can be 10–20o, sometimes reaching 40o.

The anthropogenic impact on this habitat type is significant in most cases, due to the low altitude at which it occurs. These are areas where the anthropogenic pressure is due to trampling by humans and domestic animals, grazing, stone-pits, road construction, etc.

Characteristic taxa.

Distribution in Bulgaria. North-East Bulgaria, Black Sea coast (northern), South-West Bulgaria – southern parts of Vitosha Mts., Lyulin and Lozenska Mts., Golo Bardo Mts., Belidie Han locality, Chepan Mts., Ossogovo Mts., Zemenska Mts., Konyavska Mts., Vrachanska Mts., Shumen Plateau, East Balkan Range, Thracian Lowland, East Rhodopi Mts.; up to 1300 m alt.

Conservation importance. The following species of conservation importance occur in this habitat: Acanthus balcanicus, Achillea clypeolata, A. serbica, Adonis vernalis, Anemone sylvestris, Cachrys alpina, Cyclamen hederifolium, Edraianthus serbicus, Fritillaria orientalis, Galium rhodopeum, Goniolimon tataricum, Gypsophila tekirae, Hypericum rumeliacum, Inula aschersoniana, Paeonia tenuifolia, Rhamnus rhodopeus, Ruta graveolens, Tragopogon balcanicus, Tulipa urumoffii and the fungus of conservation importance, Haasiella venustissima.

Threats. Stone pits; road construction, grazing, trampling, erosion and earth slides.

Conservation measures taken. Parts of the habitat are within Shumensko Plato, Vitosha and Vrachanski Balkan Nature Parks, in Vrachanski Karst Strict Nature Reserve and in sites of the European Ecological Network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.

Conservation measures needed. Scientific studies on the syntaxonomy of the phytocoenoses and monitoring of the habitat.

References. Ganchev 1961; Stanev 1986; Urumov 1935; Velchev 1971.

Authors: Antonina Vitkova, Alexander Tashev


Moesian lilac (Syringa vulgaris) thickets (distribution map)