Relic (botany)
In geobotany, a relic (often relics ) is a type of plant that was widespread in another area in the past due to climatic conditions. As a result of climate change, these species have withdrawn to places of persistence, have almost disappeared and are now unable to spread in the cultural landscape . The exchange of genes and diaspore is restricted by isolated occurrences .
Classification
The glacial and xerothermal relics that occur are divided into three groups:
- Regressive relics like the Alpine Pasque Flower have declined sharply.
- Conservative relics show isolated growth sites, such as bog sites . These relics include the Alpine turf rush or the impoverished sedge .
- Progressive relics have moved to anthropogenic areas, for example the earth sedge or the meadow bluegrass .
distribution
The relic sites include raised bogs , stone rubble corridors, mountain peaks and heavy metal soils . They can be found in the southern Alps as crevice corridors. In Central Europe, according to Ellenberg, the Colorful Earth Lichen Society can be seen as a relict society of the postglacial warm period .
Examples
Floristically diverse relict societies from the Tertiary can be found in the sub-Mediterranean region. Especially as a glacial relic , for example, cool, acidic moor waters in the foothills of the Alps are home to the rare society of the lesser pond rose ( Nupharetum pumilae ). In the area of the Carnic Alps you can still find, for example, blue mänderle ( Paederota bonarota ) or crested devil's claw ( Physoplexis comosa , formerly called Phyteuma sieberi ) , which is still restricted to the place of persistence . In the Pannonian Flora Province , u. a. Tátorján sea kale and European horn melde as relics of the Ice Age cold steppe.
literature
- Heinz Ellenberg : Vegetation of Central Europe with the Alps from an ecological, dynamic and historical perspective. 5th, heavily changed and improved edition. Ulmer, Stuttgart 1996, ISBN 3-8001-2696-6 .