THE DENDROFLORA (TREES FUND) IN THE JEWISH CEMETERY
The area of the Jewish cemetery has a plush and diversified dendroflora represented by many deciduous trees, coniferous trees and undergrowth. The trees are mainly concentrated along the sides of the pathways. The cemetery trees also forms a physical fence encircling the perimeter of the cemetery.
Presently, the elaboration of a project is in progress with the aim to study the physical condition of the trees and plants inside the Jewish cemetery. Engaged in the realization of the project are professors of entomology and phytopathology of the Belgrade Faculty of Forestry.
The task of this diploma paper is a survey of the Jewish Cemetery dendroflora. Exemplary types have been collected, established and described. It can be said of this area that it possesses an abundant dendrofund of exquisite esthetic value. During the process of on-site data gathering and research no evidence of any kind of disease was found except for a number of individual cases of tree desiccation.
The conclusion of the paper should propose ways of further plant development within the Jewish cemetery or at least ways to preserve its current state.
A TABLE OF THE TYPES OF TREES IN THE JEWISH CEMETERY
No. Type of tree Life form Incidence Vitality 1. Acer negundo Tree frequent * Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Sapindales Family: Sapindaceae Genus: Acer Species: A. negundo
2. Aesculus hippocastanum Tree frequent * Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Sapindales Family: Sapindaceae Genus: Aesculus Species: A. hippocastanum
3. Ailanthus glandulosa Tree Very frequent * Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Sapindales Family: Simaroubaceae Genus: Ailanthus Species: A. altissima
4. Buxus bush - tree Very frequent * sempervirens
Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Buxales Family: Buxaceae Genus: Buxus Species: B. sempervirens
5. Betula pendula Tree frequent * Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Fagales Family: Betulaceae Genus: Betula Subgenus: Betula Species: B. pendula
6. Broussonetia papyrifera Tree Very frequent *
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Rosales Family: Moraceae Genus: Broussonetia Species: B. papyrifera
7. Celtis occidentalis Tree Very frequent * Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Rosales Family: Cannabaceae Genus: Celtis Species: C. occidentalis
8. Cedrus atlantica Tree Small * frequent Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Pinophyta Class: Pinopsida Order: Pinales Family: Pinaceae Genus: Cedrus Species: C. libani
9. Chamaecyparis pisifera CV Tree Small * ˝squarosa˝ frequent Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Pinophyta Class: Pinopsida Order: Pinales Family: Cupressaceae Genus: Chamaecyparis Species: C. pisifera
10. Cotoneaster horizontalis shrub Small * frequent Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Rosales Family: Rosaceae Subfamily: Maloideae Genus: Cotoneaster M e dik. Species
11. Cornus sanguinea shrub Very frequent * Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Cornales Family: Cornaceae Genus: Cornus Subgenus: Swida Species: C. sanguinea
12. Gleditsia triacanthos Tree Very frequent * Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Fabales Family: Fabaceae Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae Genus: Gleditsia Species: G. triacanthos
13. Hedera helix climbing plant Very frequent * Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Apiales Family: Araliaceae Genus: Hedera Species: H. helix
14. Juniperus horizontalis shrub Very frequent * Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Pinophyta Class: Pinopsida Order: Pinales Family: Cupressaceae Genus: Juniperus Species: J. horizontalis
15. Juniperus chinensis shrub Very frequent * Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Pinophyta Class: Pinopsida Order: Pinales Family: Cupressaceae Genus: Juniperus Species: J. chinensis
16. Juglans regia Tree frequent * Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Fagales Family: Juglandaceae Genus: Juglans Species: J. regia
17. Lоnicera pileata shrub Very frequent * 18. Parthenocissus quinquefolia climbing plant Very frequent * Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Vitales Family: Vitaceae Genus: Parthenocissus Species: P. quinquefolia
19. Picea pungens Tree Small * frequent Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Pinophyta Class: Pinopsida Order: Pinales Family: Pinaceae Genus: Picea Species: P. pungens
20. Populix euramericana Tree Small * frequent 21. Prunus cerasifera Tree frequent * Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Rosales Family: Rosaceae Subfamily: Prunoideae Genus: Prunus Subgenus: Prunus Section: Prunus Species: P. cerasifera
22. Prunus avium Tree Small * frequent Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Rosales Family: Rosaceae Subfamily: Prunoideae Genus: Prunus Subgenus: Cerasus Species: P. avium
23. Prunus domestica Tree Small * frequent Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Rosales Family: Rosaceae Subfamily: Prunoideae Genus: Prunus Subgenus: Prunus
24. Pseudotsuga menziesii Tree Small * frequent Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Pinophyta Class: Pinopsida Order: Pinales Family: Pinaceae Genus: Pseudotsuga Species: P. menziesii
25. Ribes sanguineum shrub frequent * Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Saxifragales Family: Grossulariaceae Genus: Ribes Species: R. sanguineum
26. Robinia pseudoacacia Tree Very frequent * Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Fabales Family: Fabaceae Subfamily: Faboideae Tribe: Robinieae Genus: Robinia Species: R. pseudoacacia
27. Rosa silvestris shrub Very frequent * 28. Rosa domestica shrub Very frequent * 29. Rubus fruticosus shrub frequent * Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Rosales Family: Rosaceae Genus: Rubus L. Species
30. Sambucus nigra shrub frequent * Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Dipsacales Family: Adoxaceae Genus: Sambucus Species: S. nigra
31. Syringa vulgaris shrub frequent * Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Lamiales Family: Oleaceae Genus: Syringa Species: S. vulgaris
32. Thuja orientalis Tree Very frequent * Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Pinophyta Class: Pinopsida Order: Pinales Family: Cupressaceae Genus: Thuja L . Species
The table shows the life forms, the incidence and vitality of the itemized types of trees and shrubs existing inside the Jewish cemetery.
32 different types of trees and shrubs have been recorded within the Jewish cemetery of which 7 are coniferous and 25 deciduous. Out of this number there are 18 types of trees, 9 types of shrubs, 2 types of transitory forms of shrubs-undergrowth and 3 types of climbers.
Common types present: Aesculus hippocastanum, Buxus sempervirens, Broussonetia papyrifera, Cornus sanguinea, Gleditsia triacanthos, Hedera helix, Juniperus horizontalis, Juniperus chinensis, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Robinia pseudoacacia, Rosa silvestris, Rosa domestica, Thuja orientalis.
Rare types in the cemetery: Celtis occidentalis, Cedrus atlantica, Chamaecyparis pisifera CV ˝squarosa˝, Cotoneaster horizontalis, Picea pungens, Prunus avium, Prunus domestica, Pseudotsuga menziesii.
The state of tree vitality at the Jewish cemetery could be characterized as sound except for the presence of individual cases of withering trees caused by factors of phytopathological nature.
CONCLUSION
The Jewish cemetery has for nearly three centuries been the resting ground of Zemun Jews and Jews from neighboring towns and villages and is one of the oldest cemeteries in the territory of Belgrade. A large part of it is covered with vegetation and it is safe to say that its flora is abundant. Numerous types of trees adorn the cemetery and the shrubbery is perfectly incorporated with the flowerbeds and lawns. All this indicates that the dendrofund has an exceptional esthetic value. There are 18 types of trees, 9 types of shrubs, 2 types of shrubs- undergrowth and 3 types of climbers.
The majority of the plants are of sound health. The exception is a number of individual cases of withered trees, mainly coniferous trees which are in various staged of desiccation. It is essential that these should be replaced with nursery plants of the same type of tree or similar.
The absence of trees representative of the area ecology has been noted. These types of trees should also be planted. Of unfamiliar/exotic types the following should be taken into consideration: Catalpa bignonioides, Magnolia acuminate, Magnolia grandiflora, Magnolia liliflora, Liriodendron tulipifera, Paulownia tomentosa, Camellia japonica…
The upkeep and preservation of the cemetery vegetation is done by the Zemun Jewish Community. The task of the community should be to further the process of plantation or at least to preserve the already existing dendrofund.
REMARK
The tree fund of the Jewish Cemetery has been elaborated by Dragica Miladinovic, student of the Belgrade Faculty of Forestry as part of her diploma paper entitled ”Dendroflora of the Zemun cemetery”.
Mentor: Prof. Rade Cvijeticanin, PhD.