Arunco-Salicetum Capreae – Where Is Its Syntaxonomical Position?

Presented study is focused on the syntaxonomical revision and correct classification of the associations Arunco- Salicetum capreae and Filipendulo-Salicetum capreae. The associations were described by Hadač et al. (1969) from the Dolina Siedmich prameňov Valley in the Belianske Tatry Mts. The association Arunco-Salicetum capreae was emended by Šomšák (1986) by including the new subassociation from the Slovenské rudohorie Mts. Hadač et al. (1969) and Šomšák (1986) preliminarily ordered these associations within the class Querco-Fagetea, order Fagetalia, and alliance Alnion incanae. Later authors (Mucina & Maglocký 1985, Jarolímek & Šibík 2008) ordered them into two different classes. We used numerical analyses (hierarchical clustering and detrended correspondence analysis) of 1056 relevés from floristically and ecologically similar syntaxonomical units to classify the associations within higher syntaxa and to find out whether there is a reason to distinguish two associations from such a small geographic area. Based on the analysis results we merged both studied associations into one association Arunco vulgaris-Salicetum capreae Hadač et al. ex Petrášová et Jarolímek, ass. nova, which we ordered to the suballiance Alnenion glutinoso-incanae.