Litter-Raking Forests in Se Slovenia and In Croatia

The standard Braun-Blanquet method was used for sampling litter-raking vegetation in southeastern Slovenia (Suha krajina, Bela krajina, Kočevsko) and in the border region in Croatia. Relevés were classified with the TWINSPAN program and two associations were separated: Pteridio-Betuletum Trinajstić et Šugar ex Rauš et Matić 1994 and Molinio-Quercetum Šugar 1972. Both communities are the result of intensive litter collecting (and other human impacts). The first one thrives on carbonate bedrock, while the second is limited on silicate bedrock, as is reflected in its specific floristic composition. Due to abandonment of litter collecting these stands are in progressive successional development, and typical variants are becoming rare and endangered.