Observations on N.W. European Limestone grassland-vegetations I. Limestone grassland—vegetations in the central part of the French Jura, South of Champagnôle (Dept. Jura) BY J.H. Willems (Communicated by Prof. J. Lanjoxjw at the meeting of September 30, 1972). Summary In June, 1969, the author studied a number of limestone grassland-vegetations in the French Jura Mountains, South of Champagnôle, on the methods of theFrench- Swiss School of phytosociology. These vegetations can be assigned to the alliance Mesobromion Br.-Bl. & Moor 1938, and belong to the: A. Pinguicula Vulgaris - Bromus ERECTUS-VEGETATION. B. Eu-MesobromionOberd. 1957. Mesobrometum collinum (Scherr. 1925) Oberd. 1957. 1. subass. typicum 2. hypericetosum subass. nov. a. Achillea millefolium-variant b. Teucrium chamaedrys-variant Special attention was paid to the cryptogams ocouring in these associations. More than of and lichens met with. There 40 taxa bryophytes were proved to be a distinct correlation between the phanerogamic communities and the distribution of the cryptogams. I. Introduction In 1925 Schereer described an open plant community from moderately calcareous stations and named it, on Braun-Blanquet’s oral suggestion, Meso-Brometum. Since that time this association has been the subject of Diemont numerous studies (i.a. Koch 1931, Schwickerath 1932, & van de Ven Wiedmann Zoller 1954 1954 Bornkamm 1953, 1954, a, b, 1960, Shimwell Gigon 1968, Brand 1970, 1971 a, 1971 b). The limestone in also grassland-vegetations question were often included, with other in local studies of all communities of associations, plant a given area, (Kaiser 1926, Schleumbr 1934, Libbert 1939, Pottier-Alapetite 1943, Schwickerath 1944, von Rochow 1951, Muller 1966). These vegetations rich in also these are cryptogams, notably bryophytes, locally lichens, were thoroughly takeninto account by only a few investigators (Tansley 1939, 232 Bhaun-Blanquet & Tuxen 1952, Barkman 1953, Bornkamm 1960, the Brand 1970, Shimwell 1971 a, 1971 b). The present paper reports of limestone from results of a study of a number grassland-vegetations and diverse stations. attentionwas to lichens. very Special paid bryophytes in the central of The field work was carried out in June, 1969, part the French Jura Mountains, South of the town of Champagnole (dept. Jura). See fig. 1. II. Methods basis of The vegetation releves were made on the of the principles the French-Swiss school of phytosociology (Bratjn-Blanquet 1964). In each in The cryptogams were only partly identified in the field. plot and the whole open places, in grass tufts, spread over surface, a represen- to and iden- tative sample was collected and subsequently sorted species tified in the laboratory. it to the abundance and do- As a consequence was impossible assess in table minance of a considerable number of species. Therefore, II, which marked X. includes bryophytes and lichens, only theirpresence is by an In the middle of the was measured at a of ca. 5 cm every plot pH depth indicator solution These by means of a pH-meter with color (Hellige). the measurementsare recorded at top of the table ofphanerogams (table I). and the For topographical toponymical purposes topographic maps (scale 1:25 000) Champagnole 1/2, 5/6, 7/8, and the Cartes Michelin 1: 200 000 nos. 70 and 74 were used. The altitude of the sample plots was aid of these and with an altimeter. The determined with the maps, slope- bank-indicator & For exten- angle was measured with a (Hilger Watts). sive climatological, geological, and pedological data of the region the reader is referred to Pottier-Alapbtite (1943). III. The place in the system of vegetation classification The vegetations described below must be assigned to the association Swiss Jura. described by Scherrer (1925) from the LimmatValley in the of Brahn-Blanqtjet & Moor (1938) gave a detailed circumscription it, called it Mesobrometum erecti typicum Scherrer 1925, and placed it in the suballiance Mesobromion Br.-Bl. & Moor 1938, alliance Bromion erecti (Br. - Bl. 1925 n.n.) 1936, order Brometalia erecti (W. Koch 1926 n.n.) Br.-Bl. 1936. Knapp (1942) described from the central French Jura as the only as- sociation of the limestone grassland-vegetations the Koelerio - Gen- tianetum praealpino-jurassicum Knapp 1942. Our releves differso much in their constituent species from this association that they cannot be referred to it. subal- The Mesobromion Br.-Bl. & Moor 1938, originally treated as a in 1957 Oberdorfer. The com- liance, was raised to an alliance by plant suballiance described the are referable to the munities in present paper V V V V V V V A A A V 0 A V A В В 0 A A A В В 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 V V A A A В В В В В В В В В Order Alliance Character Diff.species Differential Poa Companions Companions Diff.species Vicia Diff.species Diff.species Carex Also: R-unus Orchis Viola Galium Ononis Carex Galium Linum Lotus Carex Briza Stachys Salvia Carlina Orchis Bromus Orchis Cirsium Association Galium Sedum Sedum Luzula Beilis Cirsium Achillea Ophrys Ophrys Ophrys Carex Listera Tetra Succisa Knautia Calluno Genista Trifolium Thymus Koeleria Prunella Primula Sesleria Veronica of Dactylis Trifolium Polygala Doucus Festuca Plantago Asperula Gentiana Oianthus Teucrium of of Trifolium Leontodon Rirnassia pH Gentiana Juniperus Hierocium Plantago Anthyllis Anemone Globularia Scabiosa Potentilla Origanum Hypericum of Centaurea Pinguicula lupulinal; (5) Crataegus Cynanchum Taraxacum Genistella Orobanche Onobrychis Euphorbia character Cerostium Agrimonia Botrychium Cynosurus Alchemilla Platanlhera host species Ranunculus Campanula Rhinanthus Sanguisorba Ranunculus Hippocrepis Anacamptis acre Gymnadenia Tragopogon Ranunculus Slope spin pratensis hirta Brochypodium Helianthemum morio species Helictotrichon crocca Anthoxanthum Coeloglossum ovata Cover of Aspect repens flacca media character Achillea insect apifera gonolobus of Species Altitude Mowing Quadrat Number Chrysanthemum 0 osa verum rubra veris panicea iana Mesobromion (U) lutea militons erectus mollugo perennis sub-ass. pumilum ustulata Teucrium if pratensis arvensis vulgaris acris tinctoria repens carota cristata pratensis vulgaris medio acaulon caerulea vulgare % the elatior pratense comosa officinalis character vulgare sexangulare campestris hispidus of Sieglingia glomerata caryophyllea s.L lanceolata pilosella catharticum pulegioides corniculatus grandiflora minor species pulsatilla elongate germanica arvense lunoria millefolium montanum scabiosa sphegodes era repens palustris vulgaris (Ml monogyna officinale sagittalis communis viciifolia cynanchica vulneraria columbaria comosa perforatum chamaedrys chamaedrys cristatus viride vulgaris Ai size Festuca cyparissias bulbosus species according eupaloria chlorantha conopsea pratensis Pinguicula or the vincetoxicum rotundifotia pinnatum pyramidalis pratense carthusionorum odoratum millefolium maritimus typicum number alectorolophus to nummularium tabernaemontani sub-ass.hypericetosum chamaedrys (m species 2 decumbens horizon grazing ) record leucanthemum Braun- variant pratensisi. 1 variant vulgoris-Bromus (B) :17) 1 1 1 2 1 2 + в _ - и 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ■fr + + 22 907-75 500 grasslands 1 • • • 1 • • • • • • • • • • 2 + + _ _ Berberis, 2 1 1 11 7 4 2 erectus В 1 500 • Blanquet 20 90 + + + + + + Quercus + • • • • • + + 2 • • 2 • 1 1 2 A 1 1 В _ - 3 1 1 + 2 7 25 vulgaris 1 1 1 1 1 • 1 1 1 1 • • • • 1 2 32 80 485 + 2 + + 2 + + + + 2 + • • • - + + + + + 1— robur • Moor community from 1 * • • • 1 7 _ 4 : 1 • 1 1 1 1 1 + + • + 36 80 В _ 1 1 1 • - • • • 2 2 485 10' ; + + + + + + + 2 2 + + 2 + + + • • + 1 • • • 1938 (181 1 - 6 5 [9) 12 2 2 1 * • + + • • 7 В 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 • 1 • • • + + + 37 510 _ • • • 2 2 • • 2 + 2+ + 2 • + + + + + • + the 1 1 1 • 11 7 _ - 6 1 1 1 1 3 + + + + 35 510 в « 1 1 1 • 1 1 11 • 1 • 1 1 • • • • • • 2 2 + • • • • • • 2 2 + 2 + 2 Festuca • 11 M N 7 + • • • + • • 5 15 10 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 i 1 23 • 30 580 1 + • • • • + • • • • i Equisetum • • • • 1 * 1 1 1 • 7 Ю 8 1 1 1 + + + + 2 470 M 20 w 1 1 1 1 • • 1 • • 22+ + 22 2 1 + + 2 + + 36 • + 2 2 • Г • • 2 1 9 • W 1 1 2 7 M 10 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12 • • • • + Г + + + + 42 20 1 • • 2 + • 2 + + 2 2 4 Г •2 + 480 prolensis arvense • + +Г + + + 2 central « 1 1 1 1 • 7 M Ю 10 1 1 1 11 1 1 1 1 • + 3 . + + 39 15 W + 1 1+ 1 1 1 1 + + + • 1 2 2 3 • • 22 480 2 2 + Г + . 2 1 1 1 - 11 1 • 1 • 7 M 15 1 1 1 11 1 1 1 1 1 . 1 . + + + + 750 _ . + + + + + + 48 + 1 • + 2 + + + + + • + 2 2 + 2 • 2 2 2 2 2 (22) ;(11) . • 1 1 1 • 12 11 1 1 1 + + 7 M - 15 1 1 1 1 1 • 111 1 1 2 12 2 1 • . 2 . + + 750 . + + + + + + + 2 2 2 + 49 . • + 2 1 • + 2 + 2 2 100100100100100100100100100100 - - French 13 1 1 • • • • • • N 15 1 1 1 1 • 1 . • + 7 580 . 35 30 1 • . • + . + + 2 + + . + + + 2 + + + . + 2 2 + Arabis + 2 + + + . + . • 5 14 1 1 1 10 Pimpinella 1 1 11 • + • M N 15 1 1 1 11 1 11 1 1 1 1 « 11 22 1 . 3 • + 580 . + + + + 2 + + 2 44 + 3 • • 1 + . • 2 + 2 2 hirsute* —ASSOCIATION Jura 11 i + 1 7 В S 15 : . • 1 1 i • • • • • 12 1 1 1 1 1 1 11 . 1 . + • + 2 + + 660 . + + + + 39 95 25 + • • + • • . 1 2 2 + . 2 + + 2 2 saxifrage * • + + (25) ME * 1 В _ - + 1 + 1 1 1+ + 2 + 6-7 25 16 1 1 1 1 + 1 2 + 1 • 1 + • 2 + 2 • Г Г 46 100 790 :soB • + 1 1 + + + + + 1 + 2 2• 2 2• • 1 . 1 2 2 Berberis * • 2 1 1 1 7 В - 25 17 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 . 1 2 + • 44 95 810 1 2 1 1 .