Flora and vegetation of the Principality of Liechtenstein

Rhine valley near Vaduz

Topographic map of Liechtenstein

The flora and vegetation of the Principality of Liechtenstein is very varied and species-rich due to the natural diversity for this relatively small area.

Natural area of ​​the Principality of Liechtenstein

The land area of ​​the Principality of Liechtenstein is around 160 km².

Landscape structure

Confluence of the Malbunbach (in front) and Valünerbach in Steg, Liechtenstein

Samina

The hamlet of Gnalp is located in the late glacial Triesenberg landslide area

The vegetation levels in Liechtenstein range from the lowlands to the alpine high altitudes. Hypsographically, the area extends from the Alpine Rhine valley floor with the lowest point in the northern Rhine Valley plain near Ruggell at an altitude of 430 meters to the Grauspitz on the southern border with Switzerland at an altitude of 2599 meters. About a quarter of the country's area is in the valley area. Two fifths of the land area is accounted for by the slopes on the Rhine valley side, from the foot of the Rhine valley to the foothills of the Rätikon massif at altitudes of over 2000 meters. About a third of the country's area lies behind the Rhine Valley watershed in the inner-Alpine region, with its lowest point at altitudes of around 890 meters in the Samina valley and its mountain peaks reaching altitudes of around 2500 meters.

The structure of Liechtenstein clearly shows three rooms that differ in climate, exposure and use with a great variety of landscapes in this small area:

The inner-alpine area of ​​Liechtenstein consists of different terrain chambers , which mainly correspond to the catchment areas of the three main waters Valünabach , called Samina from the footbridge , Malbunbach and Valorschbach . The Samina collects most of the inner-Alpine surface water and discharges it into the Vorarlberger Ill .

The slopes on the Rhine Valley side are also richly structured. From the north between the steep walls of the Drei Schwestern massif to the south with the Lawenatal dominated by the Falknis massif , the gentle, late glacial Triesenberg landslide area pushes itself . To the south and north of it, the forest dominates the landscape. Halfway up this forest is only interrupted by individual agricultural terraces. Vertically, a multitude of rubble compartments at the foot of the slope are followed by rugged rock walls or deep cuts at higher altitudes (very clear in the case of the Three Sisters).

The valley area is divided into at least two areas. A narrow valley clearly bordered by the surrounding mountains stretches from Balzers to Schaan, the narrowest point of which - on the southern border - is barely more than 1.5 km wide. The mountains recede like a funnel north of Schaan and a wide plain extends.

The landslide area has many structured small spaces with hedges, woody plants and fruit trees in the transition to the valley floor. In the example, landslide gullies a clear transition from the woody portion to the river bed which is subject to the dynamics of the white water. Another example is the valley level of the Liechtenstein Unterland, which is clearly divided into landscape by the Eschnerberg.

In the Rhine Valley along the river and in the southern half of the country there are predominantly alluvial soils over clay and / or gravel and in the northern part of the country there is pure bog soils. The floodplain forests of the Rhine were largely cleared and now only take up almost 3% of the valley floor as gallery forests that are no longer flooded . The previously typical single-mowed, species-rich litter meadows have decreased significantly to only about 160 hectares.

In the mountains, limestone and dolomite predominate as the subsurface , and there is also carbonate Graubünden slate . There are only isolated and locally limited silicate rocks ( e.g. red sandstone , glauconite ).

climate

The Rhine valley plain and the west-exposed slopes are to be assigned to the submontane / montane-central European climate type. In these climatic conditions, the common beech forms the climax forests in suitable locations . The European beech would probably make up around 70% of the forest area. In Liechtenstein, the transition between the Atlantic-toned, damp and cool climate of the Lake Constance area and the more continental, dry and warm climate of the inner-Alpine dry island around Chur is noticeable (for example, the striking distribution limit of the European holly ( Ilex aquifolium ) on the southern border of the Principality of Liechtenstein). The annual average temperature in the valley is around 9 ° C. In the rain shadow of the Säntis massif, the main town Vaduz is a relatively dry island with around 1000 mm of annual precipitation; Adjacent to the north and south, the areas receive 1100 mm. The foehn, with around 40 foehn days per year, has a significant share in the relative favorable climate with the occurrence of extremely xerothermophilic plant species and communities .

Plant communities

Landscape around Oberschan with change of forest, arable and pasture use

Due to its natural spatial requirements (see above), natural vegetation in the Principality of Liechtenstein is potentially very different. There is a loss of primary biotopes and biodiversity , particularly in the intensive anthropogenic landscape of the Alpine Rhine Valley . In addition to intensive, technical agriculture , construction activities in the transport and settlement areas as well as the regulation and construction of water bodies for flood protection and drainage lead to the loss of near-natural habitat. There is a uniformization of the landscape with a dominance of the anthropogenically influenced, competitive plant communities in a severely disturbed cultural landscape. A large number of different plant communities occur in mostly small areas in the valley area. Almost half of these plant communities are degraded, these are mainly ruderal and segetal communities. This negative situation decreases with increasing altitude. Since the end of the World War, neophytes and heat-loving plant species in the climate-favored valley area have been able to keep up with the rapid changes and are increasingly spreading in biotopes such as litter meadows and reed beds . The original plant associations only occur sporadically or in protected areas. This is especially true for plant communities of water bodies or wetlands that suffer from changed hydrological conditions due to river barriers and drainage. The number of species on the Red List of Endangered Plants is by far the highest in these biotopes. The meager meadow areas are also being used more and more intensively in the mountainous regions as wasteland and in the valley areas. The area of ​​the mountains was largely spared from industrialization and the economic changes. Despite the anthropogenic changes in the higher areas, the semi-extensive to semi-intensive cultivation there contributes to the preservation of biodiversity. The dangers of wasteland and the effects of tourism are to be rated higher in mountain areas than the dangers of intensification.

There are forest communities and many other plant communities .

The main occurrences of forest communities are in the montane level . A total of 40 forest communities were described by Schmider & Burnand in 1988 (the special forms, e.g. Pulmonario-Fagetum caricetosum albae, were not counted separately). The height distribution of the forest communities corresponds to 7% in the valley, 70% in the montane zone, 3% in the transition area to the subalpine area and 17.5% in the zone of the tree line.

There are 185 vegetation units in forest-free areas in the Principality of Liechtenstein, they are assigned to 22 classes. These are distributed in different frequencies over the four most important natural areas: 92 associations and plant communities occur in the valley, in the montane level of the Rhine Valley-side mountain slopes at altitudes of 500 to 1600 meters there are 30, in the mountains over 1600 meters 37 and in the various bodies of water 27 plant communities occur.

Vegetation units

Auwald-Rest and Mühlebach in the nature reserve Ruggeller Riet

Heavily fertilized meadow with dandelions as the main flowering aspect

There are 185 associations and plant communities in Liechtenstein.

Vegetation units from Mühlbauer 2008:

• Segetal and ruderal societies, Central European economic grasslands (anthropogenic)
  • Class Therophyte-rich synanthropic arable herb communities Stellarietea mediae

    Subclass Violenea arvensis

    • Order of soil acidic cereal weed communities = Sperguletalia arvensis
      • Association of finger mills and millet societies = Panico-Setarion
        • Association of millet buttonwort society = Setario-Galinsogetum parviflorae
        • Association foxglove society = Digitaria sanguinalis society
        • Association of the chicken millet society = Spergulo-Echinochloetum crus-galli
        • Association Whorled millet society = Setaria verticillata society
        • Association Panicum Capillare Society
        • Association Panicum dichotomiflorum society
        • Association carrot millet society = Sorghum halepense society
        • Association Amaranthus hybridus society
        • Association Senecio inaequidens Society
        • Association Amaranthus blitoides Society
      • Association of Knöterich-Spörgel-Societies Polygono-Chenopodion polyspermi
        • Association polygonal goose foot - wood sorrel society = Chenopodio-Oxalidetum fontanae
    • Order Basiphile arable weed communities Papaveretalia rhoedias
      • Association Ehrenpreis-Sonnenwolfsmilch-Societies Vernico-Euphorbion
        • Association Bingelkraut-Flur = Mercurialietum annuae
        • Association Ackerehrenpreis-Gesellschaft = Soncho-Veronicetum agrestis
        • Association poppy seeds = Papaveretalia fragment society

    Subclass Annual Ruderal Societies Sisymbrietea

    • Order arugula Sisymbrietalia
      • Association of Sisymbrion officinalis
        • Association Rain Protection-Hühnerhofscheisse-Wegmalvengesellschaft = Urtico urentis-Malvetum neglectae
        • Association Kompasslattichflur = Conyzo-Lactucetum serriolae
        • Association Sophienraukengesellschaft = Agropyro-Descurainietum sophiae
        • Association mouse barley society = Hordetum murini
        • Association Annual Fleabane Society = Erigeron annuus Society
        • Association Acker-Doppelrauke-Gesellschaft = Diplotaxis muralis society
  • Class annual steps Polygono-Poetea annuae
    • Order Annual member societies Polygono-Poetalia annuae
      • Association Vogelknöterich Tritt societies Matricario matricarioides-Polygonion arenastri
        • Association of Knotweed Association Polygono arenastri-Matricarietum discoideae
        • Association Eragrostis minor-Polygonum avicular society
        • Association Polygonum calcatum Society
        • Association annual bluegrass turf = Poa annua society
      • Association of fattening herb stepping societies Saginion procumbentis
        • Association Mastkraut-Silbermoos Gesellschaft = Sagino procumbentis-Bryetum argentei **** Association of common bluegrass associations Alchemillo-Poion supinae
        • Association mountain peak grass path = Alchemillo-Poetum supinae
  • Class economic grassland Molinio- Arrhenatheretea
    • Order of mesophilic turf turf and corridors of the Plantagini Prunelletalia forest paths
      • Bandage damp to wet turf Plantagini Prunellion
        • Association of the tender rush society = Juncetum tenuis
        • Association Wegwarten-Wegrand-Scrub = Cichorium intybus society
        • Association of flat spring ledges-turf = Blysmus compressus society
    • Order of creeping turf communities Potentillo-Polygonetalia
      • Association flood turf Potentillion anserinae
        • Association of creeping ostrich grass = Agrostis stolonifera- Potentilla anserina society
        • Association of the Platthalm bluegrass = Poa compressa society
    • Order nutrient-rich hay meadows and pastures Arrhenatheretalia
      • Association of fat willows and park lawns Cynosurion
        • Association ryegrass-willow = Lolio perennis-Cynosuretum
        • Association ryegrass-plantain lawn = Lolietum perennis
        • Association of red fescue and ostrich willow = Festuco-Cynosuretum
        • Association Alopecurus Dominance Society
      • Association Planar-colline fresh meadows Arrhenatherion elatioris
        • Association Glatthaferwiese = Dauco Arrhenatheretum elatioris
    • Order of alpine meadows and pastures Poo alpinae-Trisetalia
      • Association of Mountain Gold Oat Meadows Polygono Trisetion
        • Association Mountain Gold Oat Meadow = Trisetetum flavescentis
      • Association Alpine Fettweiden Poion alpinae
        • Association subalpine crested willow = Crepido-Cynosuretum
        • Association Subalpine milkweed willow = Crepido-Festucetum commutatae
        • Association violet fescue lawn = Trifolio thalli-Festucetum violaceae
    • Order Wet meadows and tall herbaceous vegetation Molinietalia coeruleae
      • Association of pipegrass litter meadows Molinion caeruleae
        • Association rush-pipe-grass-meadow = Junco-Molinietum
        • Association Iris Sibirica Pfeifengraswiese = Iris sibirica Society
        • Association Holcus lanatus Dominance Society
      • Association of Wet and Wet Meadows Calthion
        • Association forest rush meadow Scirpetum sylvaticae
      • Association of meadowsweet herbaceous plants Filipendulion
        • Association of loosestrife-meadowsweet-corridor = Lysimachio vulgaris-Filipenduletum
  • Class semi-rudderal semi-arid grasslands and nitrophytic fringing societies Artemisietea vulgaris
    • Order Xerotherme biennial ruderal societies Onopordetalia acanthii
      • Association of carrots-sweet clover-ruderalfluren Dauco-Melilotion
        • Association sweet clover scrub = Echio-Melilotetum
        • Association Rotkelchige Abendkerzengesellschaft = Oenothera erythrosepala Gesellschaft
        • Association Verbascum thapsiformae-Dominazgesellschaft
        • Association coltsfoot = Poo-Tussilaginetum farfarae
        • Association bitter herb Hichhicking hallway = Dauco-Picridetum hieracioides
      • Bandage Burdock Arction lappae
        • Association Black Nettle-Good Heinrich Flur = Balloto-Chenopodietum boni-henrici
        • Association pigeon nettle-black nettle hallway = Lamio albi-Ballotetum nigrae
        • Association Alpenampfer Flur = Rumicetum alpini
        • Association Artemisia vulgaris Society
  • Class Persistent nitrophilic ruderal and bush societies Galio-Urticetea
    • Order Nitrophile perennial corridors, border and leaning societies = Lamio albi-Chenopodietalia boni-henrici
      • Bandage fresh nitrophile hems Aegopodion podagrariae
        • Association stinging nettle-groundwater herbaceous ground = Urtico-Aegopodietum podagrariae
        • Association gloss chervil hem = Aegopodio-Anthriscetum nitidi
        • Association Attich Hall = Heracleo-Sambucetum ebuli
        • Association nettle hallway = Urtica dioica Dominazgesellschaft
        • Association masterwort hallway = Peucedanum ostruthium society
        • Association of Hesperis Matronalis Society
        • Association Japan-Knotweed-Tall Perennial Corridor = Reynoutria japonica Society
        • Association giant hogweed society = Heracleum mantegazzianum society
        • Association tree of gods wood = Ailanthus altissima society
        • Association butterfly bushes = Buddleja davidii society
        • Association Robinia wood = Robinia pseudoacacia society
        • Association yellow dogwood wood = Cornus stolonifera society
      • Association Nitrophile Forest Edges = Geo-Alliarion petiolatae
        • Association scaly card border = Cephalarietum pilosae
    • Order Nitrophile river banks Convolvuletalia sepium
      • Association of Ragwort Veil Societies Senecionion fluviatilis
        • Association Goldenrod Society = Solidago serotina Society
        • Association Nettle-Hop Society = Humulus lupulus Society
        • Association corridor of the glandular balsam = Impatiens glandulifera society
      • Association of Butterbur-Fluren Petasition officinalis
        • Butterbur-herbaceous association = Chaerophyllo-Petasitetum officinalis
  • Class Rubus caesius societies
    • • • Association scratchberry scrub = Rubus caesius society
• Semi-arid grassland
  • Class dry, semi-arid and basiphile grasslands Festuco Brometea
    • Order semi-arid grassland Brometalia erecti
      • Association of Sub-Mediterranean-Subatlantic Trespen-Semi-Arid Grasslands Bromion erecti
        • Association of lean limestone semi-arid grasslands = Onobrychido viciifoliae-Brometum
• Wet locations
  • Class Scheuchzerio-Caricetea fuscae
    • Order of transitional moor and Schlenkengesellschaft Scheuchzerietalia palustris
      • Association of vibrating lawn and transitional moor societies Caricion lasiocarpae
        • Association of thread sedge society = Caricetum lasiocarpae
    • Order of small sedge societies in low-lime fens Caricetalia fuscae
      • Association of small sedge societies for low-lime fens Caricion fuscae
        • Association Braunseggengesellschaft = Caricetum nigrae
        • Association Society of Hedgehog Sedge = Carex echinata Society
    • Order of small sedge societies of base-rich fens Caricetalia davallianae
      • Association of small sedge societies of base-rich fens Caricion davallianae
        • Davalliana Sedge Grass Association Caricetum davallianae
        • Association Streuwiesen, Gesellschaft d. Rust-red head rush = Schoenetum ferruginei
        • Association Society of the obtuse bulrush = Juncetum subnodulosi
        • Association Gebirgsbinsengesellschaft = Juncetum alpini
        • Association of the Real Yellow Sedge Society = Carex Flava Society
        • Association Society of Flea Sedge = Carex pulicaris Society
  • Class reed and great sedge (Phragmito-Magnocaricetea) Phragmitetea australis
    • Order reed = Phragmitetalia australis
      • Association of large roe dishes = Phragmitetum vulgaris
        • Association Seebinsen-Röhricht = Phragmition communis
        • Association amphibious zone = reeds, reed beds = Scirpetum lacustris
        • Association reed of the broad-leaved cattail = Typhetum latifoliae Litoral eutrophic waters
        • Association Wasserschwaden-Röhricht = Glycerietum aquaticae
        • Association rice mercury swamp = Leersietum oryzoides
        • Association of the Hedgehog Trench Society = Glycerio-Sparganietum neglecti
        • Association reed of the gray-green pond rush = Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani society
        • Association Typha shuttleworthii society
        • Association Teats Swamp Ried = Eleocharis austriaca Society
      • Grossseggenrieder mesotrophic sites Association Magnocaricion elatae
        • Association Steifseggenried = Caricetum elatae
        • Association Rispenseggenried = Caricetum paniculatae
        • Association Schnabelseggenried = Caricetum rostratae
        • Association Zypergrasseggen-Gesellschaft = Carex pseudocyperus Gesellschaft
        • Association Schneidried = Cladietum marisci
        • Association swamp sedge society = Caricetum acutiformis
        • Association cane grass-reed bed = Phalaridetum arundinaceae
      • Association of Grossseggenrieder eutrophic sites Caricenion gracilis
        • Association swamp rag society = Eleocharietum palustris
    • Order of reedbeds accompanying the stream Nasturtio Glycerietalia
      • Association of Lower Bachröhrichte Glycerion-Sparganion
        • Association Glycerietum fluitantis
        • Association sweet grass Bachried = Glycerietum plicatae
        • Association Society of Watercress = Nasturtietum officinalis
        • Association of the Bachbunge Society = Veronica beccabunga Society
    • Order water fennel small reeds Oenanthetalia aquaticae
      • Association of small roe dishes Eleocharito-Sagittarion
        • Association swamp rims - fir fronds - small beetroot = Eleocharito palustri-Hippuridetum vulgaris
        • Association society of the simple hedgehog = Sparganium emersum society
  • Class water float and water plant societies Lemnetea
    • Order duckweed Lemnetalia minoris
      • Association societies of the small duckweed Lemnion minoris
        • Association of the small duckweed society = Lemnetum minoris
        • Association Pond Lentil Society = Lemno-Spirodeletum polyrrhizae
        • Association Society of the Submerged Duckweed = Lemnetum trisulcae
    • Order frog-bite societies Hydrocharitetalia
      • Association of frog bite societies Hydrocharition
        • Association Krebsscheren-Gesellschaft = Stratiotetum aloides
        • Association of Canadian Waterweed Society = Elodea canadensis Society
    • Order water-hose societies Utricularietalia minoris
      • Association of water hose companies Utricularion vulgaris
        • Association Society of the Ordinary Water Hose = Utricularietum neglectae
  • Class Aquatic Plant Societies Potametea
    • Order aquatic plant communities Potametalia
      • Association of Water Lily Societies Nymphaeion albae
        • Association Society of the Small Water Lily = Nymphaetum minoris
      • Association of Flute Hahnfuss societies Ranunculion fluitantis
        • Association hair-leaved buttercup society = Ranunculus trichophyllus society
        • Association dense pondweed society = Groenlandia densa society
• Subarctic-subalpine tall herbaceous vegetation
  • Class subarctic-subalpine high herbaceous communities Mulgedio-Aconitetea
    • Order Subalpine tall herbaceous corridors and bushes Adenostyletalia
      • Association Subalpine Hochstaudenfluren Adenostylion alliariae
        • Association alpine milk lettuce-tall herbaceous flora = Cicerbitetum alpinae
        • Association Alpenscharten-Flur = Centauretum rhaponticae
        • Association Alpendost-Fluren = Adenostyles alliariae society
      • Association of Subalpine Tall Perennial Bushes Alnion viridis
        • Association of green alder bushes = Alnetum viridis
        • Association maple laying bushes = Salici appendiculatae-Aceretum pseudoplatanae
        • Association sapling willow bushes = Salicetum waldsteinianae
        • Fragment societies
    • Order high grass corridors Calamagrostietalia villosae
      • Association of Acid High Grass Floors of the High Mountains Calamagrostion villosae
        • Association hall of woolly rit grass = Calamagrostis villosa society
        • Association alpine fern field = Athyrietum alpestris
        • Association mountain women's fern field = Athyrietum filicis-feminae
    • Order Subalpine and alpine storage areas Rumicetalia alpini
      • Association of Subalpine and Alpine Lägerfluren Rumicion alpini
        • Association of alpine sorrel corridor = Rumicetum alpini
        • Association field of alpine hawkweed = Senecietum alpini
        • Association Meisterwurzfluren = Peucedanetum ostruthii
        • Association goosefoot corridors = Poo supinae-Chenopodietum boni-henrici
        • Association corridor of Horstschmiele = Deschampsia caespitosa society
        • Association Berg-Bärenklau-Flur = Heracleum montanum society * Alpine lawn and snow soil societies
  • Class Circumpolar naked steppes and high alpine wind-edge lawns Carici rupestris-Kobresietea bellardii
    • Order of nude lawns of central and southwest European high mountains Oxytropido-Kobresietalia
      • Association of Naked Lawns in Central and Southwestern European High Mountains Oxytropido-Elynion
        • Association Naked Trash = Elynetum myosuroides
        • Fragment societies
  • Class subalpine-alpine limestone grasslands of the Central and Southern European high mountains Seslerieta albicantis
    • Order Alpine blue grass societies Seslerietalia coeruleae
      • Association of upholstered sedge lawns Caricion firmae
        • Association upholstered sedge lawn = Caricetum firmae
      • Association of Kalkalpine rock and rubble lawns Seslerion coeruleae
        • Association blue grass-Horstseggenhalde = Seslerio-Caricetum sempervirentis
        • Fragment societies of the Seslerio Caricetum sempervirens
        • Societies of order transition between Caricetum firmae and Seslerio-Caricetum sempervirens
  • Class arctic-alpine snow bottom and snow valley societies on silicate Salicetea herbaceae
    • Order Arctic-Alpine silicate snow soils Salicetalia herbaceae
      • Association of silicate snow soils of the Alpine mountains Salicion herbaceae
        • Association net willow trellis = Salicetum retusae-reticulatae
        • Association of net willow trellis with alpine grove = Salicetum with Luzula alpino-pilosa
• Dwarf shrub heaths and grass drifts
  • Class dwarf shrub heaths and Calluno-Ulicetea grass grazers
    • Order Atlantic dwarf shrub heaths Vaccinio-Genistalia
      • Association of subatlantic dwarf shrub heaths Genistion pilosae
        • Association blueberry dwarf shrub heather = Vaccinio myrtilli-Callunetum
    • Order grass grass Nardetalia
      • Association of Atlantic and sub-Atlantic grass lawns Violion caninae
        • Association orchid-bristle grass mat = Gymnadenio-Nardetum
        • Association of finial-bristle grass willow = Polygalo-Nardetum
      • Association of subcontinental grass mats Nardo-Agrostion tenuis
        • Association subalpine-alpine brush willow = Nardetum strictae
        • Association of grass grass = Leontodonto-Nardetum
• Dwarf rushes and spring corridors, thermophilic fringing societies (anthropogenic)
  • Class European dwarf rush companies Isoeto-Nanojuncetea
    • Order Central European dwarf rush communities Nanocyperetalia
      • Association of dwarf rush associations Nanocyperion
        • Association Cyprus grass step society = Cyperetum flavescentis
        • Association toad rush lane society = Juncetum bufonii
        • Association Society of the Brown Sedge = Cyperus fuscus Society
        • Association society of the limbs = Juncus articulatus society
  • Class source corridors Montio-Cardaminetea
    • Order source corridors Montio-Cardaminetalia
      • Association of silicate source corridors Cardamino-Montion
        • Association bitter foam herb hallway = Cardamine amara society
        • Companies of the class Veronica beccabunga society
  • Class Thermophilic Fringing Societies Trifolio-Geranietea
    • Order Thermophilic fringing communities on deep, nutrient-rich soils Organetalia vulgaris
      • Association (Sub) Xerophile Blood Cranesbill Fringing Societies Geranion sanguinei
        • Association of Blood Cranesbill Society = Geranium sanguineum Society
        • Association oregano society = Origanum vulgare society
        • Association Schwalbenwurz-Gesellschaft = Vincetoxicum hirundinaria stock
        • Association Tower Rockcress Society = Arabis turrita Society
        • Association deer root hem = Peucedanetum cervariae
      • Association of Mesophile Clover Fringing Societies Trifolion medii
        • Association Wirbeldost-Hem = Clinopodium vulgare dominance society
        • Association laser herb hem = Trifolio-Laserpitium latifolii
        • Association Middle-Klee-Saum = Trifolium medium dominance society
        • Association Waldwicken-Schleier = Vicietum sylvaticae
• Clearcuts and clearings (anthropogenic)
  • Class corridors and forest shrubs Epilobietea angustifolii
    • Order of Central European Schlag- und Vorwald-Societies Atropetalia
      • Association of deadly nightshade and kain burl beats Atropion
        • Association of deadly nightshade = Epilobium-Atropetum bellae-donnae
        • Association Wasserdost-Schlagflur = Eupatorietum cannabini
        • Association of hornbills and flares = Arctietum nemorosi
      • Association of soil acid flares = Carici piluliferae-Epilobion angustifolii
        • Association of narrow-leaved fireweed litter = Epilobium angustifolium society
        • Land reed-logging association = Calamagrostis epigejos society
      • Association for forest shrubbery Sambuco-Salicion capreae
        • Association raspberry beat = Rubetum idaei
        • Association ragwort blow = Senecionetum fuchsii
        • Association grape-elder-bush = Sambucetum racemosae
        • Association of the black pickle loft = Sambucus nigra society
        • Association Dewberry Strike = Rubus caesius Society
• Rock, rubble and wall vegetation
  • Class rock rubble and rubble companies Thlaspietea rotundifolii
    • Order societies based on basic rock Thlaspietalia rotundifolii
      • Association society on actively sliding alpine limestone scree slopes Thlaspion rotundifolii
        • Association of Taschelkraut-Halde = Thlaspietum rotundifolii
        • Association mountain dandelion corridor = Leontodontetum montanii
        • Association large-flowered Gemswurz-Flur = Doronicum grandiflorum society
      • Association of Subalpine Kalkschutthaldegesellschaften = Petasition paradoxi
        • Association Schneeplestroot-Flur = Petasitetum paradoxi
        • Association of shield fern corridor = Polystichetum lonchitis
    • Order pioneer societies on acidic glacial moraines or moving debris Androsacetalia alpinae
      • Association of Silicate Rubble Societies = Androsacion alpinae
        • Association Alpensäuerlings-Flur = Oxyrietum digynae
    • Order Alpine gravel beds Epilobietalia fleischeri
      • Association of Alpigene gravel beds Salicion incanae
        • Association of Pioneers on the Rhine (Society of the German Tamarisk) = Myricaria germanica Society
    • Order Heat-loving Kalkschutgesellschaft Galio-Parietarietalia officinalis
    • Association of Montane societies on dry, warm limestone rubble sites Stipion calamagrostis
      • • Association Stipetum calamagrostis
  • Class rock and wall crevice societies Asplenietea trichomanis
    • Order Limestone column societies Potentilletalia caulescentis
      • Association of Northern Alpine Limestone Fissure Societies Potentillion caulescentis
        • Association of the Swiss Man's Shield = Androsacetum helveticae
        • Association dolomite rock walls Stengelfingerkraut-Flur = Hieracio humilis-Potentillietum caulescentis
        • Association Fragmentary formation of Potentilletalia caulescentis wall sites
      • Association of shadow-loving limestone societies at rock sites Cystopteridion
        • Association of corridors with radiant seeds and alpine bladder fern = Heliospermo-Cystopteridetum alpinae
        • Association of bladder fern corridor = Cystopteridetum fragilis
    • Order of wall joint societies in temperate Europe Tortulo-Cymbalarietalia
      • Association of brick-cymbal herb association Cymbalario-Asplenion
        • Association rhombus hallway = Asplenietum trichomano-rutae-murariae
        • Association cymbal herb-wall joint-hallway = Asplenietum trichomano-rutae-murariae cymbalarietosum
        • Association of white stonecrop and crevices corridor = Sedum album variant
        • Association wall crown society = Sedum dasyphyllum society
• Montane lime rubble and alluvial companies
  • Class sand lawns, rock gravel corridors and rock band societies Koelerio-Corynephoretea
    • Order of rock gravel and rock band societies Sedo-Scleranthetalia
      • Verband Felsgrus- und Felsbandgesellschaften Seslerio-Festucion pallentis
        • Association eyelash-pearl-grass-corridor = Melica ciliata society
        • Association Edel-Germander-Flur = Teucrium chamaedrys dominance society

natural reserve

The protection of nature and landscape is a social concern that is formulated in the law for the protection of nature and landscape. The law of 23 May 1996 on the protection of nature and the landscape was enacted for the Principality of Liechtenstein .

Nature reserves

Äulehäg Birka Gampriner lake Matilaberg Ruggeller Riet Snail column / Au Schwabbrünnen / Äscher Triesner Heilos Wisanels Mareiesen

Nature reserves in Liechtenstein

Ten nature reserves are protected by ordinance in Liechtenstein. The location and shape of these nature reserves can be viewed in the geodata portal of the Office for the Environment of the State Administration of the Principality of Liechtenstein.

Gampriner lake

Triesner Heilos nature reserve

• Äulehäg in Balzers

It is a near-natural, re-irrigated “groundwater pouring” (this is a wet area that is fed purely by groundwater) with the accompanying trees and vegetation on the banks as relict vegetation of the former floodplain landscape of the Rhine.

• Birka in Moors

It is a flat moor fragment with excavated peat puddles, individual trees typical of the location and a considerable number of species of aquatic plants .

• Gampriner lake

It was created by scouring the Rhine dam in 1927. This body of water is a habitat for valuable aquatic flora and fauna. The silting belt and the gallery forest edge with its species-rich herb layer are habitats for birds and small animals.

• Matilaberg

The dry and humid rough meadows are home to around 280 species of plants, including 15 species of orchids. The rough meadows and pastures are framed by species-rich forest edges, hedges and individual trees. This richly structured landscape with diverse vegetation contains an equally diverse animal world with many rare species.

• Ruggeller Riet, municipality of Ruggell and Schellenberg

The Ruggeller Riet and the Hasler Mahd are vegetation and cultural-historical important litter and moor meadow areas of international importance. The Riet cultural landscape is a flat moor and contains a rich and rare variety of plant communities, biotopes and landscape structures.

• Snail column and partial area in the Au in Ruggell

The Schneckenäule area and the partial area in the Au consist of a sparse population of pines with individual pedunculate oaks and littered meadows of great natural and cultural-historical importance.

• Schwabbrünnen / Äscher, municipality of Eschen, Planken and Schaan

The Schwabbrünnen / Äscher protected area is an important moor from a botanical and faunistic point of view with unique habitats for rare animal populations and plant communities. Ponds, springs, sintered areas , streams and ditches, forest areas and the mud collectors increase the diversity of biotopes and ecological niches.

• Triesner Heilos

This area includes a pond landscape consisting of open water areas of different depths, various forms of the shore zones and natural forest areas.

• Wisanels in Moors

The Wisanels protected area is the last flat moor plot with remnants of the Siberian iris in Moors.

• Mareewiesen in Vaduz

It is a dry, lean site with a variety of rare and protected plant species, including some orchid species.

Mushroom and plant species in Liechtenstein

Vascular plant species are only partially listed in the Red List below, as a total of 1531 species occur in the area. The types of moss are listed here.

Mosses

Limestone mosses are most common in Liechtenstein . Types of moss that thrive best on acidic substrates only occur on forest and heather soils rich in raw humus , rotten wood, erratic blocks (= erratic boulders ) or sandstones containing silicate . In Liechtenstein, moss species were most common in parts of the Ruggeller- and Schellenberger-Rietes , in the remains of the floodplain forests in the valley area, on the Eschnerberg (Vordere Gantenstein), in the Lutzengütle and Malanserwald , on the Gutenberg castle hill , in the Mälsner Allmend , in the Ellholz in Balzers , in the mountain forests in the lower Saminatal , on the wooded west and east slopes of the red sandstone area between Krüppel and Heubühl , on the Sareiser ridge, on the summit plateau of the Augstenberg , in the swampy and water-rich terrain of Weiherboden / Fluh and Sass , found in the ridge areas of Plasteikopf , Demmerahöhe and Grauspitz . Many species of moss live as epiphytes in Liechtenstein .

In 2000, Hans-Peter Senn listed 100 species of liverworts (Hepaticae) and 340 species of mosses (Musci):

Mushrooms

In 2004 a list of the so-called “large mushrooms”, ie mushroom species that can be seen in the landscape with the naked eye, was drawn up. The well-known edible and poison mushrooms are important. 145 genera with a total of 313 species or subspecies Ascomycetes and 288 genera with a total of 1392 species or subspecies Basidiomycetes were collected in Liechtenstein . (Species and information on the respective species in Prongué 2004)

Red lists

Red lists of endangered species were drawn up. There is a classification that largely follows the IUCN classification in order to be comparable . The category R = "Rare" has been added, because the country is so small, there are many plant species that occur naturally only in a few locations, but are not endangered in their populations due to their habitat :

• RE = "regionally extinct" = "extinct in the Principality of Liechtenstein": Species are extinct or lost if reference is made in the area of ​​distribution to which historical information is available, but no recent finds are available at the time of monitoring. It is believed that these populations are extinct.
• CR = "critically endangered" = "threatened with extinction": There are only one or two known sites and there are possible risk factors, such as changes in use or abandonment, there are only a few sites (a maximum of five) and there has been a strong decline in the population or they are very small, isolated stocks.
• EN = "endangered" = "highly endangered": There are only one or two known sites, hazard factors cannot be completely ruled out, for example changes in the groundwater level in the nature reserves, there are only three or four known sites, possible hazard factors (e.g. change of use, - task) are available, there are several known sites (up to a maximum of ten) and there has been a strong decline in the population.
• VU = "vulnerable" = "vulnerable" = formerly "rare": There are only a few known sites, risk factors cannot be completely ruled out, at least at partial sites. There are several sites (a maximum of ten) and a population decrease has taken place.
• R = "extremely rare (not endangered)": There are only a few known sites, risk factors are not recognizable at the time of monitoring. They have always been extremely rare or very locally occurring species. There is no noticeable decline or threat. However, due to their rarity, these species can be suddenly exterminated or significantly decimated by unforeseeable influences.

Red list of endangered and rare vascular plants of the Principality of Liechtenstein

There are 1531 vascular plant species in the Principality of Liechtenstein . Of these, 379 species, or almost 25%, were placed on the Red List of threatened and rare vascular plants in the Principality of Liechtenstein. The red list of endangered and rare vascular plants of the Principality of Liechtenstein was published for the first time in 1984 and the last time in 2006 (as of 2019).

RE = "regionally extinct" = "extinct in the Principality of Liechtenstein"

CR = "critically endangered" = "critically endangered"

EN = "endangered" = endangered

VU = "vulnerable" = "vulnerable" = formerly "rare"

R = "extremely rare (not endangered)"

In 2006, there were 84 species in Liechtenstein as R = "extremely rare (not endangered)". These are mostly alpine locations that are less endangered due to their location. But one-time events can cause the species to disappear. Long-term changes (e.g. climate) pose a potential threat.

See also

• List of protected areas in Liechtenstein

swell

literature

• Edith Waldburger, Vojislav Pavlovic, Konrad Lauber: Flora of the Principality of Liechtenstein in pictures. Publisher: Botanical-Zoological Society Liechtenstein-Sargans-Werdenberg, Verlag Haupt, 2003, ISBN 978-3-258-06622-6 .
• Edith Waldburger: Supplements for the flora of the Principality of Liechtenstein and the Werdenberg-Sargans region 2010. In: Report Botanical-Zoological Society Liechtenstein-Sargans-Werdenberg , Schaan 2011, pp. 201–204. Full text PDF.
• Jean-Pierre Prongué, Rudolf Wiederin, Brigitte Wolf: The mushrooms of the Principality of Liechtenstein. In: Natural history research in the Principality of Liechtenstein. Volume 21, 2004, 592 pages. Full text PDF.
• H.-J. Rheinberger, B. Rheinberger, P. Rheinberger: Orchids of the Principality of Liechtenstein. In: Natural history research in the Principality of Liechtenstein. Volume 13, 2nd edition, Government of the Principality of Liechtenstein 2000, 269 pages.
• Hans-Peter Senn: The mosses of the Principality of Liechtenstein. In: Natural history research in the Principality of Liechtenstein. Series of publications of the Government of the Principality of Liechtenstein, Volume 17, Official Teaching Aid Publishing House, 2000, 248 pages, ISBN 978-3-9521855-1-3 . Full text PDF.
• Mario F. Broggi, Edith Waldburger: Red list of endangered and rare vascular plant species in the Principality of Liechtenstein. In: Natural history research in the Principality of Liechtenstein. Volume 1, 1984, 40 pages.
• Mario F. Broggi, Edith Waldburger, Rudolf Staub: Red List of Endangered and Rare Vascular Plants of the Principality of Liechtenstein 2006. In: Report Botanical-Zoological Society Liechtenstein-Sargans-Werdenberg , Volume 32, Schaan 2006, pp. 53-88. Full text PDF.
• Sven Braden, Oliver Müller: 4th National Report on the Implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity in the Principality of Liechtenstein. Published by: Government of the Principality of Liechtenstein, Office for the Environment, Vaduz December 2009. Full text PDF.
• Sven Braden, Oliver Müller: 5th National Report on the Implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity in the Principality of Liechtenstein. Published by: Government of the Principality of Liechtenstein, Office for the Environment, Vaduz August 2014. Full text PDF.
• Stefan Mühlbauer: Synopsis of the Plant Societies of the Principality of Liechtenstein - Diploma thesis at the Institute of Botany - Department for Integrative Biology and Biodiversity Research at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, February 2008. Full text PDF.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} Environmental short report PDF of the Office for the Environment of the State Administration of the Principality of Liechtenstein .
2. ↑ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w} Mario F. Broggi, Edith Waldburger, Rudolf Staub: Red List of Endangered and Rare Vascular Plants of the Principality of Liechtenstein 2006 In: Botanical Report -Zoological Society Liechtenstein-Sargans-Werdenberg , Volume 32, Schaan 2006, pp. 53-88. Full text PDF.
3. ↑ ^{a b c d e f} Stefan Mühlbauer: Synopsis of the Plant Societies of the Principality of Liechtenstein - Diploma thesis at the Institute of Botany - Department for Integrative Biology and Biodiversity Research at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, February 2008. Full text PDF.
4. ^ Office for the Environment of the State Administration of the Principality of Liechtenstein. on-line.
5. ↑ Act of 23 May 1996 for the protection of nature and landscape (= Nature Conservation Act; NSchG) online.
6. ↑ Nature reserves in Liechtenstein: PDF from the Office for the Environment of the State Administration of the Principality of Liechtenstein .
7. ↑ Geodata portal of the Office for the Environment of the State Administration of the Principality of Liechtenstein .
8. ^ Ruggeller Riet of the municipality of Ruggell .
9. ^ ^{A b c} Hans-Peter Senn: The Mosses of the Principality of Liechtenstein. In: Natural history research in the Principality of Liechtenstein. Series of publications of the Government of the Principality of Liechtenstein, Volume 17, Official Teaching Aid Publishing House, 2000, 248 pages, ISBN 978-3-9521855-1-3 . Full text PDF.
10. ↑ ^{a b} Jean-Pierre Prongué, Rudolf Wiederin, Brigitte Wolf: The mushrooms of the Principality of Liechtenstein. In: Natural history research in the Principality of Liechtenstein. Volume 21, 2004, 592 pages. Full text PDF.

Web links

Commons : Liechtenstein's natural area  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• Office for the Environment of the State Administration of the Principality of Liechtenstein. on-line.
• Bangs-Matschels - Natura 2000 area in the border triangle between Austria, Liechtenstein and Switzerland
• Conservation in the Historical Lexicon .
• Edith Waldburger, Rudolf Staub: Neophytes in the Principality of Liechtenstein In: Report Botanical-Zoological Society Liechtenstein-Sargans-Werdenberg , Volume 32, Schaan 2006, pp. 95–112. PDF.