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Ranunculus lingua is an Euro-Siberian vascular plant species of freshwater habitats. Distribution and vegetation preferences of this rare species, which is native to the Slovak flora, have not yet been critically revised. The present paper aimed i) to provide the first complex distribution pattern of this species in Slovakia and ii) to analyse all available vegetation plots with species occurrence in order to elucidate the variability of plant communities. The distribution data were retrieved from herbarium specimens, literature records and field surveys. Our revision suggests that R. lingua was found particularly in the lowland areas of the western, south-western and south-eastern parts of the country. It was very rare in other regions of Slovakia, and several populations have become extinct due to drainage or habitat destruction. New localities of secondary origin were additionally documented in some human-made habitats. The temporal trend showed a strong decrease in the number of localities in natural habitats, mainly in the hilly and mountainous regions of the Western Carpathians from the 1980s to the end of the twentieth century. R. lingua was recorded in both forest and treeless swamp communities. Vegetation analysis revealed numerous records mainly in eutrophic marshes (Phragmito-Magnocaricetea class), willow and alder carrs (Franguletea and Alnetea glutinosae). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Typha shuttleworthii (Shuttleworth's bulrush) is a rare species throughout its distribution range including Carpathians. However, a substantial increase in its finds has been noticed in the last twenty years. This study summarises the present knowledge and brings new data on vegetation with T. shuttleworthii occurrence from the western part of the Carpathians (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Ukraine) with the aims of evaluating the phytosociological affinity of this species and providing new information about the ecology of the relevant plant communities. We found that T. shuttleworthii mainly occurred in marsh vegetation (the Phragmito-Magnocaricetea class) including the Typhetum shuttleworthii association. Some plots also corresponded to transitional stands between marshes and wet meadows of the Molinio-Arrhenatheretea class (Molinietalia caeruleae order). Moisture and soil reaction were identified as principal factors responsible for variation in species composition of the vegetation. Typhetum shuttleworthii was recognised as new for the territory of Slovakia and confirmed in all other countries, Czech Republic, Poland and Ukraine. Our results could contribute to better preservation of the species and its habitats and thus be very important for practical nature conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetation with high coverage by the alien species Mimulus guttatus was studied in the hilly regions of central Slovakia in 2015 and 2016. The floristic composition of these stands was recorded in ten phytosociological relevés corresponding to the Veronico beccabungae-Mimuletum guttati (alliance Glycerio-Sparganion) association. This association was reported for the first time in Slovakia in this study. This association was found to be closed or almost closed (mean coverage value of herb layer = 92%) and formed relatively species-rich stands (15 species per relevé), usually in narrow and small patches along the upper parts of streams and their spring areas in uplands at altitudes from 561 to 1,048 m. Localities with the Veronico beccabungae- Mimuletum guttati association were characterized by typical mountain climates, with both relatively low mean annual air temperature (5.5°C) and high mean annual precipitation (885 mm). While water temperature (~13°C) of these habitats varied considerably among streams (7.4-19.9°C), their herbaceous vegetation preferred neutral to slightly alkaline water (pH = 6.1-7.5) with low amounts of soluble mineral matter (~72.6 µS cm-1). This kind of vegetation was most often developed on sites with coarser sediments (stone, gravel, and sand) formed from crystalline bedrock. A comparison of vegetation data of the Veronico beccabungae-Mimuletum guttati association across Central Europe demonstrated considerable floristic variability among regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]