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Simple Summary: Dropwort (Filipendula vulgaris Moench) is a perennial plant (hemicryptophyte), growing on xerothermic grasslands Festuco-Brometea and changing-wet Molinia meadows in the Eurasian area. Due to the production of active substances, the species is used in folk medicine and phytotherapy. This study includes determining which of the two different habitats occupied by F. vulgaris creates better conditions for its growth and development. Selected physiological parameters of dropwort plants (PSII activity, chlorophyll content, electrolyte leakage, hydrogen peroxide content, and biomass), the occurrence of mycorrhiza, and soil characteristics were investigated. Soil analysis showed a higher content of nutrients in grasslands, and a higher content of heavy metals in meadows. Plants of F. vulgaris growing in the wet meadows achieved a significantly lower mass compared to plants growing in grasslands. The colonization degree of F. vulgaris by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) from both stands oscillated around high values; dropwort formed the Arum type of mycorrhiza. A much higher content of chlorophylls was observed in plants from grasslands. F. vulgaris showed different photosynthetic activity depending on the habitat. Based on chlorophyll fluorescence imaging, higher activity was found in plants from grasslands, compared to plants from meadows, but in specimens from grasslands, there are symptoms of damage to the PSII system. The analyses carried out showed that better conditions for growth and physiological activity of this species are probably associated with grasslands on a calcareous substrate, although the irradiance stress of excess light is visible, manifested, e.g., by little dysfunction of photosynthetic structures. This study attempts to determine which of the habitats occupied by Filipendula vulgaris creates better conditions for its growth and development. Selected physiological parameters—PSII activity, chlorophyll content, electrolyte leakage, hydrogen peroxide content as well as biomass, the occurrence of mycorrhiza, and soil characteristics—were investigated. Grassland soils had a higher content of macronutrients and a lower concentration of heavy metals. The degree of colonization of F. vulgaris by AMF (Arum type) oscillated around high values in both types of stands. Plants growing on xerothermic grasslands achieved much better fluorescence parameters than those collected from meadows. Similar results were obtained from the analysis of chlorophyll content. The destabilization degree of cell membranes was significantly higher in plants collected in meadows than in grasslands. Biomass analysis showed higher values of these parameters in grassland plants. In the case of the parameters of fluorescence emission, plants growing on grasslands achieved significantly lower values than plants collected from meadows. The analyses carried out showed that better conditions for growth and physiological activity of F. vulgaris are probably associated with grasslands on a calcareous substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carlina acanthifolia subsp. utzka (Hacq.) Meusel & Kästner) is one of the rarest plant species of Central and Eastern Europe and is under strict protection in this region. In view of the unfavourable tendency for the C. acanthifolia subsp. utzka population to decrease, this study attempts to assess the danger to its habitats. Polish and Ukrainian populations representing the north-western distribution limits of the species were studied. All habitat features, such as the area, number of specimens, being overgrown by trees and shrubs, or dead biomass quantity, were varied and, according to the guidelines for natural habitat monitoring, most of these parameters had an unsatisfactory index. A molecular analysis of specimens representing these habitats was performed using the ISSR (Inter Simple Sequence Repeats) method. The results of the molecular survey revealed a very low genetic diversity of C. acanthifolia subsp. utzka. Moreover, 95% of the observed genetic variability was due to variation among groups. The significant difference in the level of genetic variation was ascertained between Polish and Ukrainian populations. The lack of intrapopulation diversity indicates that the analysed populations presumably reproduce using apomixis, and rare polymorphism is the result of somatic mutations rather than facultative sexual process. This reinforces the hypothesis that unfavourable environmental and stressful conditions are natural triggers for expressing apomixis. Genetic intrapopulation uniformity makes C. acanthifolia subsp. utzka especially susceptible to climatic fluctuation. Climate changes also affect xerothermic grasslands, i.e. areas where this species occurs. In Europe, xerothermic calcareous grasslands are restricted to small extra-zonal stands and are threatened by extinction. The best method of protecting grassland areas and, consequently, C. acanthifolia subsp. utzka is the extensive grazing of mostly small ruminants. However, this method of land management cannot be used systematically. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the causes of extinction as well as develop other effective strategies for the conservation of this rare and endangered species.

The paper presents characteristics of a new locality of Pulsatilla patens subsp. patens found in 2019 near Kowala village in the Świętokrzyskie Mountains. The locality is a part of an isolated island at the southern limit of the species range. The newly found population of P. patens numbers ~100 aggregations of rosettes (61 fruiting shoots) and grows in overgrowing xerothermic grassland of the Festuco-Brometea class. The conservation status of the largest population of P. patens in the Świętokrzyskie Mountains is stressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to determine the long-term changes of the Senecio macrophyllus M.BIEB. population traits: the abundance, reproduction mode, individual fecundity, seed rain and recruitment of new genets in the course of xerothermic grassland overgrowing. The study had also the applied goal: to estimate the chances of "special care" species to survive in the changing environment without management regime for the maintenance of grassland. The model object was the island population of large-leaved ragwort on Biała Góra (the White Mountain) near Tomaszów Lubelski, South-East Poland. To achieve these aims I used the following sets of data: phytosociological relev,s made in plant communities in an interval of 16-18 years; repeated elaboration of the numbers and life-stage structure of the population, both by non-surface and surface method; observation of plants, life cycle in 50 labelled genets; population reproduction and seed rain amounts. The area of an open xerothermic grassland decreased due to the process of overgrowing by bushes which was accompanied by the increasing coverage of forest and meadow herbs as well as monocotyledons, mainly Brachypodium pinnatum and Calamagrostis epigejos. The abundance of the S. macrophyllus population noticable diminished. The flowering mode has been changing during years from an oscillation to a chaotic type which caused the significant decreasing of the individual fecundity, population reproduction and seed rain. In last years it was reflected in the interruption of juveniles’ recruitment.

Chamaecytisus albus (Hacq.) Rothm. is an extremely rare species, which is inserted in many European red lists and red books. Its continuous range covers the south-eastern part of Europe. That species grows in intensely insolated and calcareous habitats of xerothermic grasslands. Only one station of White Broom had been known in the valley of the Bug river, near Hrubieszów, but in 2007 a new one was discovered near Jędrzejów. That station is located the farthest in the north and the west in Europe and it is completely detached from the continuous range.

The study analyses the quantity and spatial structure of the seed bank of the xerothermic grassland located in the Biała Góra near Tomaszów Lubelski (Central Roztocze Region). The seed stock of the bank was compared with the vegetation found in two different patches of the examined grassland. The number of seeds per square meter was estimated at 5328 and 5355, depending on the patch. The seed bank's spatial organisation is clustered. The most important factors determining this spatial distribution are: remaining of the seeds in close vicinity of parent plants, and the "group" dispersal of the seeds and fruits.

The aim of my study was to determine changes in the seed bank and vegetation during the process of overgro-wing of the xerothermic grassland situated on the slopes of the White Mountain (349 m a. s. l., the Central Roztocze Region, South-Eastern Poland). I also examined whether the changes of vegetation can be predicted if we know the structure of the burned seed flora. To achieve this goal I used two sets of data: one collected from three different environments (grassland, brushwood and woodland) at the same time (toposequence), and the other collected twice from the same place at the interval of seven years (chronosequence). I stated that the appearance of even a small number of ornitochorous seeds and their seedlings can be treated as a signal that the bush encroachment will accelerate. Seed number seems to decrease during succession in the analysed sequence of plant communities. The total number of species in the seed bank did not change in the most dynamic plant communities: grassland and brushwood, and it was significantly higher there than in the seed bank of woodland. During the time of observation, the most important quantitative and qualitative changes took place in grassland vegetation, which is more similar to brushwood vegetation now than it was at the beginning of the study.

The research, in 2004, was focused on the whole population of Anemone sylvestris (Snowdrop Windflower) present in the area of a kettle hole (0.8 km2) in north-eastern Poland (52°50’00’’N; 23°11’20’’E). The location of 56 clumps of generative specimens was surveyed. They numbered from several to approx. 1500 specimens. The number of generative specimens in this population exceeded 10 000. On account of this, it is a unique stand of A. sylvestris in Poland. The relationship between the occurrence of the Snowdrop Windflower and the presence of kame hills and ridges has been proven. Low slopes of kame with an inclination of 10-20o, and a north-eastern or eastern exposition has been found as the local ecological optimum for this species. Research carried out in 1970-2001 on 5 permanent plots (25 m2 each) has shown that: 1) Anemone sylvestris is an essential element of xerothermic grasslands of the order Festucetalia valesiacae; 2) the species suddenly withdraws from the parts of land on which woody species have already reached the shrub layer; 3) the greatest danger for the population of A. sylvestris in this area is the process of secondary succession initiated by the discontinuation of grazing on the kame hills.

Abstract: Fifty years ago on the south-facing slope of a limestone hill 4km NE of Göttingen (Germany) a small plot of 4m2 size was chosen in a xerothermic calcareous grassland (Mesobromion alliance) for investigation. The formerly grazed slope was abandoned a few years prior to the study, but in 1987 intermittent grazing started again. The mean annual temperature in Göttingen (1953–2003) was 8.8°C on the average; the annual mean increased by 1.1°C during the study period. Mean annual precipitation amounted to 642mm (393–1093mm). The mean monthly precipitation during summer (April–August) varied in the range between 29 and 101mm. In the years 1953–2003 the presence of species was recorded annually in 400 subplots (100cm2 each). In part of this time also the amount of bare soil within the plot was recorded, and standing crop and the nitrogen contents in leaves of Bromus erectus were measured in the immediate surrounding of the plot. In fall 1953 the vegetation was removed completely in half of the plot, in the other half the two dominant grasses Bromus erectus and Brachypodium pinnatum were left. The differences between the two halves vanished already after 2 years (starting phase 1953–1955). Thus, only results concerning the plot as a whole are reported here. During the investigation three periods could be distinguished. After the starting phase in period I (1955–1986) total presence, presence of the most important species, species richness, number of endangered species, diversity and evenness increased. In this way the grassland regenerated after the heavy disturbance, and a dense, species-rich vegetation formed. Only a few species showed maximum values already within the first 10 years and faded out later. Period II (1987–1997) spanned 10 years of grazing. During this time total presence, presence of many important species, species richness, number of endangered species, diversity and evenness decreased, whereas areas with bare soil increased. Only two species showed maximum values during this phase, and just one new species invaded (Lolium perenne). During this period a more open type of grassland was formed. Period III (1998–2003) spanned 5 years without grazing and only one grazing year (2002). Here, a partial regeneration of a more closed grassland took place with traits similar to period I. Several phenomena occurred continuously through all three periods. Bromus erectus always was the dominating species. Nevertheless, proportions of graminoids (in % total presence) were lowered, and the proportion of herbs increased. The ratio Bromus erectus/Brachypodium pinnatum was determined mainly by Brachypodium. Seedlings of woody plants were always present, but in most cases survived only one summer. Shrubs did not settle inside the plot, although small bushes developed in the immediate surrounding. In summary the 50-year process can be described as a slow recovery of a calcareous grassland after very heavy disturbance, modified by intermittent grazing, without formation of shrub vegetation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]