<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> Melampyrum cristatum is an extremely rare, native, hemi-parasitic, vascular plant, recently considered to be extinct in Poland. The article presents data concerning new localities of the species recorded in 2007-2012 in the valley of the River Warta (Wielkopolska, Poland). Local distribution of M. cristatum in the Natura 2000 sites: PLH300012 - Rogalińska Dolina Warty (ca. 147.5 sq. km) and PLH300053 - Lasy Żerkowsko-Czeszewskie (ca. 71.6 sq. km), as well as its updated regional (in Wielkopolska) and national (Poland) ranges are shown on maps and interpreted on the background of the geomorphic diversity of occupied habitats. The results suggest that in Poland the species is distributed mainly along valleys of large, lowland rivers, which corresponds with its ‘River Corridor Plant’ status in Central Europe. The species rarity is discussed considering its outline phytocoenological scale (comprising various plant communities within 6 syntaxonomical classes), the riverine distribution pattern and chosen biological features. Natural habitat heterogeneity along with changeable water regime in floodplains, as well as potential limitations of myrmecochoric seed dispersal, may constitute potential reasons for the species low frequency</p></abstract>

Melampyrum cristatum is an extremely rare, native, hemi-parasitic, vascular plant, recently considered to be extinct in Poland. The article presents data concerning new localities of the species recorded in 2007-2012 in the valley of the River Warta (Wielkopolska, Poland). Local distribution of M. cristatum in the Natura 2000 sites: PLH300012 - Rogalińska Dolina Warty (ca. 147.5 sq. km) and PLH300053 - Lasy Żerkowsko-Czeszewskie (ca. 71.6 sq. km), as well as its updated regional (in Wielkopolska) and national (Poland) ranges are shown on maps and interpreted on the background of the geomorphic diversity of occupied habitats. The results suggest that in Poland the species is distributed mainly along valleys of large, lowland rivers, which corresponds with its ‘River Corridor Plant’ status in Central Europe. The species rarity is discussed considering its outline phytocoenological scale (comprising various plant communities within 6 syntaxonomical classes), the riverine distribution pattern and chosen biological features. Natural habitat heterogeneity along with changeable water regime in floodplains, as well as potential limitations of myrmecochoric seed dispersal, may constitute potential reasons for the species low frequency

Melampyrum Cristatum L. – A Rare River Corridor Plant in Wielkopolska and Poland

Department of Plant Ecology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89, 61-614 Poznań, Poland

Biodiversity Research and Conservation

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Melampyrum cristatum is an extremely rare, native, hemi-parasitic, vascular plant, recently considered to be extinct in Poland. The article presents data...

Melampyrum Cristatum L. – A Rare River Corridor Plant in Wielkopolska and Poland

Published Online: Mar 11, 2015

Page range: 29 - 44

Received: Feb 28, 2012

Accepted: Oct 29, 2013

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/biorc-2013-0015

Keywords
Melampyrum cristatum, distribution, large river valleys, rarity and threat of species, occurrence in plant communities, the River Warta, Natura 2000 sites (PLH300012, PLH300053)

© De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Melampyrum Cristatum L. – A Rare River Corridor Plant in Wielkopolska and Poland

Published Online: Mar 11, 2015

Page range: 29 - 44

Received: Feb 28, 2012

Accepted: Oct 29, 2013

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/biorc-2013-0015

KeywordsMelampyrum cristatum, distribution, large river valleys, rarity and threat of species, occurrence in plant communities, the River Warta, Natura 2000 sites (PLH300012, PLH300053)

© De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Melampyrum cristatum, distribution, large river valleys, rarity and threat of species, occurrence in plant communities, the River Warta, Natura 2000 sites (PLH300012, PLH300053)