Carpathian Acidic Mountain Grasslands

On acidic rocks such as granite, gneisses and quartzite, the principal grassland species are Festuca supina (often in its viviparous form), Oreochloa disticha and Juncus trifidus. The latter often turns reddish in late summer giving whole mountain slopes a red-brown tinge and is thought to be responsible for the name Czerwone Wierchy (Red Hills) given to a mountain range in the Tatras. Other associates of these acidic grasslands include Avenastrum versicolor, Pulsatilla alba and the endemic Senecio carpaticus (Asteraceae). 

Carpathian Acidic Scree

On granitic scree, where more acidic conditions prevail, Oxyria digyna becomes one of the main species, where it is often accompanied by various Carpathian endemics such as Cardaminopsis neglecta, Cochlearia tatrae (Brassicaceae) and Saxifraga carpatica (Saxifragaceae).

References

Coldea, G., Stoica, I-A., Puscas, M., Ursa, T. & Oprea, A. 2009. Alpine-sub alpine species richness of the Romanian Carpathians and the current conservation status of are species. Biodiversity and Conservation, 18: 1441-1458.

Ellenberg, H. 1988. Vegetation Ecology of Central Europe. Cambridge University Press.

Favarger, C. 1972. Endemism in the montane floras of Europe. In: Taxonomy, Phytogeography and Evolution. Ed. D. H. Valentine. Academic Press.

Pawlowski, B. 1970. Remarques sur l’endémise dans la flore des Alpes et des Carpates. Vegetatio-Dordrecht, 21: 181-243.

Petrík, A., Sibík, J. & Valachovic, M. 2005. The class Carici Rupestris-Kobresietea bellardii OHBA 1974 also in the Western Carpathians. Hacquetia, 4: 33-51.

Polunin, O. & Walters, M. 1985. A guide to the vegetation of Britain and Europe. Oxford University Press.

Schnittler, M. & Gunther, K. F. 1999. Central European vascular plants requiring priority conservation measures – an analysis from national Red Lists and distribution maps. Biodiversity and Conservation, 8: 891-925.