Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov Series II: Forestry • Wood Industry • Agricultural Food Engineering • Vol. 4 (53) No. 1 - 2011
THE OCCURRENCE OF QUERCUS CERRIS IN COVASNA COUNTY
Adrian INDREICA1
Abstract: The aim of this study is to describe the site and vegetation conditions of the populations of Turkey oak (Quercus cerris L.) discovered in the southeastern Transylvania, in order to find indices of species origin. Four sites, isolated from each other, were mapped and characterized through phytosociological releves. The isolation from the known area of Turkey oak and some practices in oak regeneration suggest the artificial origin of the species. Hence, the naturalness could be inferred from the floristic composition and coincidence of sites. The results are important for the knowledge of species ecology and vegetation description of the area.
Key words: Quercus cerris, chorology, phytosociology.
1. Introduction Due to its frequent yield of acorns and sprouts, the Turkey oak is able to take the The Turkey oak (Quercus cerris L.) is a place of other species on dry-mesic sites. submediterranean-mediteranean species, In the whole area of Braşov depression, growing in areas with warm climate and to which Covasna county belongs, grow long vegetation season. Its distribution in naturally only two species of oak - sessile Romania covers mostly the west and south oak (Quercus petraea s.l., including the regions, with a significant penetration three subspecies Q.p. petraea, Q.p. polycarpa inside the Carpathian arch on the western and Q.p. dalechampii) and common oak side of Transylvanian Plateau [8], [12] (Quercus robur) [3], [4], [6], [12], 13]. The (Figure 1). The intolerance of the continental presence of Quercus pedunculiflora near climate determines a scattered distribution Sânpetru village, Braşov county [10], on East and Southeast of the country. The needs to be confirmed, as long as species is able to form pure stands or morphological separation from Q. robur is admixed with other oaks, forming not clear and therefore its taxonomic phytocenoses of the following associations: position is still disputed [2]. Outside the Lychno coronariae - Quercetum cerris, basin of Braşov depression, on the west side Quercetum frainetto-cerris, Cytiso of Perşani Mountains Quercus pubescens nigricantis - Quercetum cerris, Potentillo also grows, in a small and isolated micranthae - Quercetum petraeae-cerris, population [13]. Thus, considering the Quercetum petraeae-cerris, Querco cerris - current state, our aim is to describe the Carpinetum betuli, Quercetum robori- identified populations of Quercus cerris in cerris [8], [10]. the Southeastern side of Transylvania, with
1 Dept. of Silviculture, Transilvania University of Braşov. 50 Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov • Series II • Vol. 4 (53) No. 1 - 2011 respect to distribution, site conditions, 46°06'34" N, 25°40'21" E; altitude 590- population parameters and species 610 m, exposition SE, inclination of the composition. The main question that arises slope 5-10°. The geologic substrate is regards the naturalness of these volcanic sediments. Five trees were populations, considering the distance from identified, with the diameter at breast high the continuous range of this species and (dbh) of 45-47 cm. They are relatively the climate conditions of the studied area. close to each other, on less than 200 m between the farthest pair. In the year of 2. Material and Methods observation (2007), only two seedlings were recorded, in spite of the relatively The data were collected during the large number of cupules on the ground. researches on the oak forests from the The stand is dominated by Quercus robur, upper basin of Olt river (between the and the total number of species in the spring and Racoş), when most of such phytocenoses is quite high - 74. forests were investigated from a floristic and phytosociological point of view. The E3 (70%): Quercus robur 4, Quercus petraea sites with Quercus cerris were analysed 2, Quercus cerris + minutely in order to identify the size of E2 (2%): Fagus sylvatica +, Crataegus population and its dimensional structure. monogyna + Four releves, with a surface of 400 m2, E1 (75%): Lysimachia nummularia 2, Agrostis tenuis 2, Stachys officinalis 2, Potentilla alba were made in the phytocenoses with 2, Ajuga reptans 2, Carex montana 2, Fragaria Turkey oak, using the Braun-Blanquet vesca 2, Melampyrum bihariense 2, Serratula method. The term “population” was used tinctoria 1, Festuca rubra 1, Lysimachia here not in its strict sense, but to indicate vulgaris 1, Peucedanum carvifolia 1, Poa the group of individuals on different sites. angustifolia 1, Dactylis polygama 1, Cruciata The mean annual values for temperature glabra 1, Viola reichenbachiana 1, Vicia and precipitations, recorded at the sepium 1, Trifolium medium 1, Clinopodium meteorological station of Sfântu-Gheorghe vulgare 1, Chamaecytisus hirsutus 1, are: 7.5 ˚C and 550 mm [7]. Euphorbia amygdaloides 1, Quercus petraea 1, The names of the vascular species follow Veronica chamaedrys 1, Galium schultesii 1, Filipendula vulgaris 1, Lotus corniculatus +, Ciocârlan [1]. For vertical structure of the Corylus avellana +, Rosa gallica +, Sedum phytocoenoses the following abbreviations maximum +, Fagus sylvatica +, Frangula alnus were used: E3 - tree layer, E2 - shrub +, Campanula rapunculoides +, Pulmonaria layer, E1 - herb layer, E0 - moss layer. mollis +, Succisa pratensis +, Stellaria graminea +, Valeriana wallrothii +, 3. Results Campanula patula +, Achillea millefolium +, Centaurea indurata +, Crepis sp. +, Genista In the studied area, Quercus cerris was tinctoria +, Ranunculus auricomus +, identified in four independent sites (Figure Pimpinella saxifraga +, Vincetoxicum 1), noted with A, B, C and D: two in Bodoc hirundinaria +, Clematis recta +, Symphytum tuberosum +, Melittis melissophyllum +, Pyrus Mountains, one in Baraolt Mountains and pyraster +, Sanicula europaea +, Euphorbia one in the south of Harghita Mountains. cyparissias +, Pulmonaria officinalis +, Along with the sites location, the Agrimonia eupatoria +, Hieracium sabaudum population parameters are indicated below. +, Brachypodium sylvaticum +, Lathyrus niger The first population identified (site A) is +, Campanula persicifolia +, Cephalanthera located between Biborţeni and Băţanii longifolia +, Avenula adsurgens +, Ranunculus Mici villages (Covasna county), at polyanthemos +, Lapsana communis +, Malus Indreica, A.: The Occurrence of Quercus cerris in Covasna County 51 sylvestris +, Hieracium lachenalii +, Veronica oak was identified, with dbh = 21 cm, and officinalis +, Geum urbanum +, Hieracium no seedlings. The hosting phytocenoses is umbellatum +, Galium pseudaristatum +, dominated by sessile oak and includes 56 Salvia glutinosa +, Tilia cordata +, Fraxinus vascular species. excelsior +, Mycelis muralis + E0 (1%): Mnium sp. + E3 (70%): Quercus petraea 4, Quercus cerris
+, Sorbus torminalis +, Carpinus betulus + Site B is located toward the north of E2 (10%): Carpinus betulus 1, Crataegus Araci village (Covasna county), at monogyna 1, Pyrus pyraster +, Acer campestre 45°49'52" N, 25°39'45" E; altitude 570- + 580 m, exposition SE, inclination of the E1 (50%): Carex michelii 2, Allium oleraceum slope 5-10°. The geologic substrate is 2, Carex divulsa 2, Sedum maximum 1, Poa flysh. On an area of near two hectares, nemoralis 1, Stellaria holostea 1, Campanula there are 31 trees with dbh of 24-57 cm. rapunculoides 1, Fragaria vesca 1, Cruciata More than 50 seedlings were recorded, as glabra 1, Symphytum tuberosum 1, Carpinus the stand has a low canopy cover (less than betulus 1, Luzula luzuloides 1, Euphorbia 0.4 in some points) due to silvicultural amygdaloides 1, Quercus petraea 1, Veronica chamaedrys 1, Galium schultesii 1, Stachys cuttings. The number of vascular species is officinalis +, Tanacetum corymbosum +, 47. Ferulago sylvatica +, Bromus ramosus +, Valeriana wallrothii +, Ajuga reptans +, Carex E3: Quercus robur 3, Quercus cerris 2, montana +, Ranunculus auricomus +, Lilium Carpinus betulus 1, Fagus sylvatica +, Quercus martagon +, Galium aparine +, Viola petraea + reichenbachiana +, Iris graminea +, Melittis E2: Ligustrum vulgare 2, Crataegus monogyna melissophyllum +, Astragalus glycyphyllos +, 1, Viburnum opulus +, Prunus spinosa +, Acer Euphorbia cyparissias +, Vincetoxicum campestre +, Lonicera xylosteum +, Rhamnus hirundinaria +, Pulmonaria officinalis +, Vicia saxatilis +, Cornus sanguinea +, Corylus sepium +, Hieracium sabaudum +, Lathyrus avellana +, Viburnum lantana +, Frangula niger +, Peucedanum oreoselinum +, alnus + Campanula persicifolia +, Trifolium medium +, E1: Carex digitata 1, Ajuga reptans 1, Carex Clinopodium vulgare +, Polygonatum montana 1, Fragaria vesca 1, Brachypodium odoratum +, Rosa gallica +, Festuca sylvaticum 1, Clinopodium vulgare 1, Veronica heterophylla +, Achillea distans +, Moehringia officinalis 1, Calamagrostis epigeios +, Crocus trinervia +, Hieracium umbellatum +, Neottia banaticus +, Festuca sp. +, Viola hirta +, Viola nidus-avis +, Rosa canina +, Dactylis mirabilis +, Verbascum chaixii +, Campanula polygama +, Melampyrum bihariense +, sibirica +, Melica nutans +, Fragaria viridis +, Lathyrus vernus + Cruciata glabra +, Astragalus glycyphyllos +, Sanicula europaea +, Euphorbia cyparissias +, Site D is located toward the east of Pulmonaria officinalis +, Festuca drymeja +, Lathyrus niger +, Coronilla varia +, Zoltan village (Covasna County), at Chamaecytisus hirsutus +, Rubus sp. +, 45°55'05" N 25°53'57" E, on the altitude of Veronica chamaedrys +, Salvia glutinosa +, 810-820, exposition S-SV, inclination of Mycelis muralis +, Hypericum perforatum +, the slope 5-10°. On an area of 1 ha there Daphne mezereum + are 47 trees with dbh between 5 and 37 cm (Figure 2). In this case, measurements with Site C is located toward the east of the Pressler borer shows that trees with Olteni village (Covasna County), at dbh 5 and 37 respectively have almost the 45°58'25" N, 25°52'14" E, at altitude of same age. Thus, it seems that the Turkey 740 m, exposition S, and inclination of the oak has a high tolerance to competition (for slope 15°. Here only one tree of Turkey light, water and nutrients). Few seedlings 52 Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov • Series II • Vol. 4 (53) No. 1 - 2011
Fig. 1. The distribution of Quercus cerris in Covasna county (red dots), comparing with its area in Romania (green areas and black dots - map printed by Forest Research and Management Institute, Bucharest) and some sprouts were recorded. The forest the occurrence here of Potentilla micrantha, is dominated by sessile oak, but the releve a subtermophilous taxon rare in the studied was made on the place where Turkey oak area. prevails. The floristic composition, with 64 species shows a peculiar combination of E3 (60%): Quercus cerris 3, Quercus petraea 2 acidophytes (Vaccinium myrtillus, V. vitis- E2 (2%): Fagus sylvatica + idaea, Luzula luzuloides, Genista tinctoria) E1 (65%): Luzula luzuloides 2, Pteridium and xerophytes (Potentilla alba, Carex aquilinum 2, Vaccinium myrtillus 2, Poa montana, Poa angustifolia, Lathyrus niger, angustifolia 1, Symphytum tuberosum 1, Trifolium medium 1, Carex montana 1, Trifolium aplestre). The most noticeable is Achillea distans 1, Quercus petraea 1, Melampyrum bihariense 1, Fragaria vesca 1,
10 Cruciata glabra 1, Maianthemum bifolium 1, Hieracium murorum 1, Avenula praeusta 1, Thesium linophyllon +, Astrantia major +,
5 Viola reichenbachiana +, Pulmonaria mollis +, Melittis melissophyllum +, Carpinus betulus +, Vicia sepium +, Hieracium sabaudum +, No. of trees trees of No. Lathyrus niger +, Peucedanum oreoselinum +, 0 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 Campanula persicifolia +, Potentilla alba +, Clinopodium vulgare +, Serratula tinctoria +, Chamaecytisus hirsutus +, Quercus cerris +, Fig. 2. The structure on diameter classes of Euphorbia amygdaloides +, Malus sylvestris +, the Quercus cerris population in Bodoc Festuca heterophylla +, Valeriana wallrothii +, Mountains (site D) Hieracium lachenalii +, Veronica officinalis +, Indreica, A.: The Occurrence of Quercus cerris in Covasna County 53
Trifolium alpestre +, Hieracium umbellatum +, cerris Soó 1963. In some regions of Solidago virgaurea +, Veronica chamaedrys +, Europe, these two syntaxa are hard to be Rosa canina +, Galium schultesii +, Festuca separated [9]. rubra +, Lathyrus vernus +, Ajuga reptans +, In spite of the absence of evidence in the Geranium sanguineum +, Hierochloe australis forest management documents or the +, Anemone nemorosa +, Potentilla micrantha +, Genista tinctoria +, Hypericum montanum testimony of local foresters, the unnatural +, Populus tremula +, Potentilla erecta +, Iris origin of Quercus cerris should not be ruthenica +, Juniperus communis +, Viola rejected. The introduction of the species canina +, Lychnis viscaria +, Hieracium could happen or not by the will of caespitosum +, Ranunculus auricomus +, foresters. Since the acorn production of Q. Vaccinium vitis-idaea +, Hypericum robur and Q. petraea, the natural oaks in perforatum +, Daphne mezereum + the area have a long periodicity, it was E0 (2%): Polytrichum formosum 1 possible to use acorns from other region to regenerate some of the oak forests from In almost all cases, the large trees have Covasna County. It is also known that frost wounds. Sometimes dead branches Turkey oak is preferred to be cultivated in could be seen in the canopy. the areas with a high interest for wildlife management. 4. Discussions 5. Conclusions Each studied population of Quercus cerris has a narrow distribution, the trees The occurrence of Quercus cerris in being concentrated on a relatively small Covasna County, away from the area of the area. The sites have the potential of the species, brings important information for extrazonal conditions for Turkey oak. This phytogeography and species ecology. At statement could be sustained by the relict this point, its naturalness is not proved, occurrence in the upper basin of Olt river even if there are some ecological of other subtermophilous species: convergences to sustain this hypothesis. Potentilla micrantha, Silene viridiflora, Aremonia agrimonoides, Piptatherum Acknowledgements virescens, Sedum cepaea Galium pseudaristatum etc. [5], [11]. Besides, the The study was supported by CNCSIS- area of site C is the only place where UEFISCSU, project TD 74/2007. Lithospermum purpureocaeruleum grows in Bodoc Mountains (anyway, this References xerophyte is known only from three sites in the area of Braşov depression). Not far 1. Ciocârlan, V.: Flora ilustrată a from site B grows Dictamnus albus, României. Pteridophyta et another relict xerophilous species of the Spermatophyta (The Illustrated Flora studied area. For the other two sites, the of Romania. Pteridophyta et favorability for Turkey oak could be Spermatophyta). 2nd ed. Bucureşti. indicated by the phytosociological traits. Editura Ceres, 2000. The vegetation composition and site 2. Curtu, L., Şofletea, N., et al.: Stejarul conditions resemble those of the brumăriu: specie sau unitate subcontinental association Potentillo interspecifică a stejarului pedunculat? albae-Quercetum petraeae Libbert 1933, (The Greysh Oak: Species or which is related with Quercetum petraeae- Interspecific Unit of Pedunculate 54 Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov • Series II • Vol. 4 (53) No. 1 - 2011
Oak?). In: Revista Pădurilor (2009) România, edificate de Quercus cerris No. 5, p. 24-30. şi Q. frainetto (Comparative Study 3. Danciu, M.: Aspecte fitocenologice din upon Forest Communities Dominated gorunetele Munţilor Baraolt by Quercus cerris and Q. frainetto in (Phytosociological Studies in the Romania). In: Contribuţii Botanice 35 Sessile Oak Forests of Baraolt (2002) No. 2, p. 255-284. Mountains). In: Buletinul Universităţii 9. Roleček, J.: Vegetation Types of Dry- din Braşov 14 (1972), Seria B, p. 129- Mesic Oak Forests in Slovakia. In: 134. Preslia 77 (2005), p. 241-261. 4. Danciu, M.: Studii geobotanice în 10. Sanda, V., Barabaş, N., et. al.: Atlas sudul Munţilor Baraolt (Geobotanical Florae Romaniae. III - Genul Quercus. Studies in the South of Baraolt Bacău. Editura Ion Borcea, 2004. Mountains). In: Ph.D. Thesis, Bucureşti, 11. Şofletea N.: Insule de vegetaţie 1974. lemnoasă azonală în judeţul Braşov 5. Indreica, A.: Species of Thermophilous (Patches of Azonal Vegetation in Forests in the Upper Basin of Olt Braşov County). In: Revista de River. In: Bulletin of the Transilvania Silvicultură (1996) No. 2, p. 29-30. University of Braşov (2007) Vol. 14 12. Şofletea, N., Curtu, L.: Dendrologie. (49), Series II, p. 301-304. Vol. II - Corologia, ecologia şi 6. Kovacs, Al.: Flora şi vegetaţia însuşirile biologice ale speciilor Munţilor Bodoc (The Flora and the (Dendrology. 2nd vol. - Chorology, Vegetation of Bodoc Mountains). In: Ecology and Biological Traits of Ph.D. Thesis, Cluj-Napoca, 1979. Species). Braşov. Editura Pentru Viaţă, 7. Mihai, E.: Depresiunea Braşovului. 2001. Studiu climatic (The Braşov 13. Ularu, P.: Cercetări asupra Depression. Climatic Study). Bucureşti. cormofitelor din Munţii Perşani Editura Academiei Române, 1975. (Researches upon the Cormophytes of 8. Pop, I., Cristea, V.: Studiu comparativ Perşani Mountains). In: Ph.D. Thesis, asupra comunităţilor silvice din Bucureşti, 1972.