Xerothermic relic

Xerothermal relicts ( ancient Greek ξηρός xerós "arid, dry" and ancient Greek θερμός thermós "warm" ) are called populations of plant species in botany and biogeography which are adapted to drought and warmth and which could survive on "warm islands" after climatic changes.

In Central Europe , these include the island-like occurrences of steppe plants . These species were relatively widespread during the last ice age and postglacial warm period when the climate was drier. In today's humid forest climate , they can only be found as relics in naturally forest-free locations where there is no shade. Shallow stone or sandy soils (for example in the Großer Sand nature reserve ) or steep southern slopes are possible. An example of these species from the Pontic flora is the earth sedge ( Carex humilis ).

Examples in Germany

scientific name	Common name	Occurrence	Biotopes	image
Adonis vernalis	Spring Adonis	Central German dry area , Kyffhäuser , NSG Großer Sand , central Oder area	Semi-arid and dry lawns, light oak and pine forests
Astragalus exscapus	Ground tragacanth	Central German dry area, u. a. in the Lower Saale Valley Nature Park	continental dry and semi-arid grasslands
Carex humilis	Earth sedge	Central German dry area, low mountain ranges , Alps	Rock corridors, dry u. Semi-arid grassland, pine forests
Dianthus gratianopolitanus	Peony	National Park basement Edersee , nature reserve Thuringian Slate Mountains / Upper Saale , Swabian Alb	xerothermal limestone and silicate rock crevices, rock corridors
Fumana procumbens	Ordinary needle rose	Central German dry area, Rhine-Main dry area (e.g. Großer Sand), Dürrenastheide	Limestone corridors and dry grasslands, dry sandy grasslands
Onosma arenaria	Sand solder root	Large sand (nationwide only occurrence)	continental sand dry grassland, sandy pine dry forests
Podospermum purpureum	Red salsify	Rhine-Main dry area (e.g. Großer Sand), Kyffhäuser, eastern Brandenburg	Continental dry and semi-arid grasslands
Seseli annuum	Steppe fennel	Central German dry area, Eifel , Nördlinger Ries , Brilon plateau	Xerothermal lawns, dry shrubbery borders
Teucrium montanum	Mountain germander	Central German dry area, Saale Valley , Swabian Alb, Alps	Rock and gravel corridors, dry and semi-dry lawns

literature

• Heinrich Walter , Siegmar-W. Breckle: Ecology of the Earth. Volume 3: Special ecology of the temperate and arctic zones of Euro-North Asia. Zonobiom VI – IX (= Ecology of the Earth. Vol. 3; UTB for Science. Large Series. Vol. 8022). G. Fischer, Stuttgart 1986, ISBN 3-437-20310-X , pp. 178-179; 2., revised. Ed. With Mathilde Rahmann, Okmir E. Agachanjanc. G. Fischer, Stuttgart / Jena 1994, ISBN 3-437-20504-8 .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Eckehart J. Jäger (ed.): Rothmaler - Exkursionsflora von Deutschland, vascular plants: basic volume . 21st edition. Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg 2017, ISBN 3662497077 , see entries for the respective type.
2. ↑ ^{a b} Eckehart J. Jäger (ed.): Rothmaler - Exkursionsflora von Deutschland, vascular plants: basic volume . 21st edition. Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg 2017, ISBN 3662497077 , p. 30.
3. ↑ Thomas Becker: The steppe relic species Astragalus exscapus - a key species of the steppe remains of Central Europe? scientific publication, University of Trier .
4. ↑ The Erd-Sedge: A Cold Age Relic In: Main-Post from March 20, 2012.
5. Jump up ↑ Pink flowers on bare rock - For the Whitsun blossom in the Kellerwald-Edersee National Park Website of NABU .
6. ↑ Norbert Müller: For the socialization of Fumana procumbens Gr. et Godr. on the Lechfeld near Augsburg scientific report, Office for Environmental Protection and Green Regulations Augsburg.
7. ↑ Hessian Ministry for the Environment, Climate Protection, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (ed.): Animals, Plants, Habitats - Guidelines for Implementing Objectives I and II of the Hessian Biodiversity Strategy in the Districts and Urban Cities 2015, p. 29.