Agrovoc descriptors: Hordeum; ecology; identification; classification; geographical distribution; flora; botanical composition; taxonomy
Agris category code: F70
Hordeetum murini Libbert, 1932 - A ruderal association in Kosovo
Qazim PAJAZITAJ1
Received: January 20, 2009; accepted: July 6, 2009. Prispelo 20. januarja 2009; sprejeto 6. julija 2009.
ABSTRACT
The paper deals with the vegetation of the association Hordeetum murini Libbert 1932 (Sisymbrietalia, Sisymbrion) in Kosovo. It is one of six ruderal communities studied in Kosovo during 1988 - 1991. The association Hordeetum murini is a ruderal vegetation that appears later in the spring and disappear in the beginning of the summer. This association is well developed in all habitats of Kosovo. This paper deals with the floristic and syntaxonomic analysis of association (Table 1), which encapsulates 12 relevés out of 62 species. It was also analyzed the biological spectrum of association, and symbols of life forms of each species. Also, in the analysis of floral geoelements, groups of these elements have been determined and presented by its spectrum.
Key words: Hordeum murinum, ruderal, community, syntaxonomy, Kosovo.
Hordeetum murini Libbert, 1932 - RUDERALNA ASSOCIACIJA NA KOSOVU
IZVLEČEK
Članek obravnava vegetacijo asociacije Hordeetum murini Libbert, 1932 (Sisymbrietalia, Sisymbrion) na Kosovu. Asociacija je ena izmed šestih znanih ruderalnih združb na Kosovu. Tovrstne združbe so bile na Kosovu preučevane med letoma 1988 in 1991, vendar uspe vanj e obravnavane asociacije Hordeetum murini, na tem območju, do sedaj ni bilo znano, in je v tem članku tako prvič obravnavana. To je ruderalna vegetacija, ki se optimalno razvije pozno pomladi in se posuši na začetku poletja. Omenjena asociacija je dobro razvita v vseh predelih Kosova. Floristična sestava asociacije, ki je predstavljena z 12 vegetacijskimi popisi, je razvidna iz analitične fitocenološke tabele (Tabela 1), v kateri je skupno 62 vrst rastlin. Analiziran je tudi biološki spekter življenjskih oblik. Poleg tega, je bila za asociacijo narejena analiza in spekter flornih geoelementov, pri čemer so bile vrste uvrščene v 13 skupin geoelementov.
Ključne besede: Hordeum murinum, ruderalen, združba, sintaksonomija, Kosovo.
1 INTRODUCTION
The research of flora and vegetation in Kosovo, undertaken so far, are indicating their richness and their relative abundance. In these researches are incorporated almost all types of vegetation, starting from the vegetation of hilly-forests in Kosovo (Krasniqi, 1972), vegetation of pasture ground communities, vegetation of lower meadows, vegetation of segetal plants (Kojić, Pejčinović, 1982). However, one part of this vegetation, particularly the ruderal one, has not been researched until recently.
In Southeast Europe there have been researches done also on ruderal vegetation. The first studies were done by Oberdorfer. As per the data given by Markovic (1978) we can say that the research on ruderal vegetation has been done in different parts of the Balkan peninsula, such as in Vojvodina (Slavnić)), in Croatia (Horvat, Horvatić, Marković, 1965, 1969, 1975, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1987, ). In regards to other areas there are known researches of Aichinger, Oberdorfer, Slavnić, Lakušić, Tomić-Stanković, Trinajstić. Later on this
1 Corresponding author: University of Prishtina, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Department of Biology, Phone: ++38 138 549 872, Mobile: ++377 44 103 168, E-mail: qpajazitaj@gmail.com.
vegetation was researched also in Macedonia (Matvejeva, 1982).
The relief of Kosovo was formed during the Orogenic phase. The mountains appeared above water during Miocene, whereas ponds, valleys, Fushe-Kosova, during Pliocene. The region of Kosovo represents an important link of the south-eastern branch of Alpine range (Dinaric-Albanic-Hellenic mountain range). Within a small territory one can discern a variety of geological formations of different ages, from the Precambrian to the Quaternary periods (Megaj 1999).
As far as the climate is concerned, Kosovo belongs to the Mediterranean, with a slight influence of the continental climate. Moreover, in the Fushe-Kosova plain one can notice a small influence of the steppe climate. So Kosova in general has wet, relatively short and cold at winter, whereas summers are hot and relatively dry. The average year air temperature revolves from 9.50C (Prishtina) to 12 0C (Prizren). The average yearly rains revolve from 600 mm/year in the eastern region to 900 mm/year in the western ones (Peja
and Gjakova), and over 1.500 mm/year in the Bjeshket e Namuna (Krutaj 1999).
Viewed from its horizontal position, vegetation in Kosovo belongs mainly to the Euro-Siberian vegetative region. According to Horvatić (1967:31), the hot valleys of the low parts of Kosovo belong to the Aegean province. The highest part of Kosovo belongs to the Moesic province, whereas smaller part in North-West belongs to the Illyrian one. The highest zones belong to the Nordic-Alpic region. Therefore, Kosovo is a crossroad of influences of three phyto-geographical regions. In Kosovo about 2.400 species of vascular flora have been established (Pajazitaj 2004). If we have in mind that in the Balkans there are approximately 6.800 vascular species, then we can conclude that the flora of Kosovo represents around 35% of this flora. The flora of Kosovo appears to be even more interesting because of the participation of approximately 200 endemic and relict species. Even though the surface of its territory represents 2.3% of the Balkans, the endemic and relicts species represent 11% of these plants within the Balkan Peninsula (Sala 1999).
2 MATERIAL AND METHODS
Ruderal vegetation was investigated according to the principles of the Zürich-Montpellier School. The scientific names of plants were coordinated with Forstner & Hübl (1971). The species were also analyzed according to biological
forms taken from Horvat (1949). The floral geoelements were determined according to Horvat, Glavač, Ellenberg (1974), and Forstner &Hübl (1971) and Flora of Albania (19882000).
3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Association Hordeetum murini belongs to the alliance Sisymbrion, order of Sisymbrietalia and class of Chenopodietea.
This ruderal community develops almost exclusively beside roads, streets, and more rarely also in places that have been stepped on near houses and apartments, particularly in the outskirts of cities or big settlements. The development of this community begins during the month May and continues until the beginning of summer.
The floristic composition of this ruderal community is shown in the analytical table (Table 1), which include
12 relevés which were done in these localities of Kosovo, while the investigated area are presented in the map of Kosovo ( Fig.1).
The characteristic species of the association in the researched area of Kosovo can be discerned: Hordeum murinum L., as a dominant one, which has also a high level of presence (Tab.1)
Tab.1. Analytical table of association Hordeetum murini Libbert 1932
o r
Relevé number	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
Surface (in m2 )	30	10	30	30	40	15	60	20	40	6	30	15
Cover ( in % )	90	100	90	100	100	100	100	100	100	100	100	90
Number of species	26	19	19	17	17	15	15	15	14	14	14	11
Presence
ASSOCIATION CHARACTERISTIC SPECIES Hordeum murinum L.	3.3
CHARACTERISTIC SPECIES OF SISYMBRION AND SISYMBRIETALIA Sisymbrium officinale (L.) Scop.	1.1
Lactuca serriola Tomer	+. 1
Bromus tectorum L.	.
CHARACTERISTIC SPECIES OF CHENOPODIETEA
3.3 2.3 4.4 3.3 4.4 5.4 4.4 5.4 4.3 4.4 3.3
+
H	Carduus acanthoides L.	1.1	2.1
T	Bromus sterilis L.	+.2	
H	Onopordum acanthium L.	1.1	
H	Malva sylvestris L.		
H	Cardaria draba (L.)Desv.	+.1	
T	Sonchus oleraceus L. OTHER SPECIES		
H	Lolium perenne L.	+.2	+.2
H	Poa pratensis L.	+.2	+.2
H	Arctium lappa L.		
H	Rumex crispus L.		1.1
H	Taraxacum officinale Web	+.1	
G	Convolvulus arvensis L.	+.1	+.2
H	Dactylis glomerata L.	+.1	+.2
T	Bromus mollis L.	+.2	+.2
H	Lolium multiflorum Lam.	+.2	+.2
H	Cardaria draba (L.)Desv.	+.1	
H	Conium maculatum L.		
H	Plantago major L.		
H	Ballota nigra L.	1.2	
H	Achillea millefolium L.		1.1
H	Artemisia vulgaris L.		
H	Cichorium intybus L.		
H	Plantago lanceolata L.		
H	Tripleurospermum inodorum Schulz-Bip	+.1	1.1
T	Anthemis austriaca Jacq.	1.2	+.1
H	Trifolium repens L.	+.2	
T	Matricaria chamomilla L.		
H	Trifolium pratense L.	+.2	
T	Bromus arvensis L.	+.2	+.2
H	Polygonum aviculare agg.L.		
T	Erodium cicutarium (L.) L'Her.	+.2	+.1
H	Anchusa officinalis L.		
H	Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.		
T	Consolida regalis S.F.Gay.	1.1	+.1
T	Medicago lupulina L.		
H	Silene vulgaris (Mnch.)Garcke		
T	Torilis arvensis (Huds.)Link.		
H	Poa trivialis L.		
+.1
+.1 1.1
1.1
2.2
1.2
+.2 +.2 2.2
1.2
+.1
+.2
+.1
+.1 1.1
+.2
1.2 +.1
1.2
+.2
1.1.
2.1
2.2
1.1
+.1
+.2
+.2
+.2
+.2 1.1
+.2
1.1
+.2
1.1 +.1 +.2 1.2
1.1 2.1
1.2
1.2
+.2
1.1
1 1.1
1.1 1.1
1.2
+.2
1.2
+.1
+.2
1.2
1.1
+.2
II
II
I
IV
IV
III
II II
II
I
V
IV
III III III III III III III
II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II I I I I I I I
Less common species: 1. Artemisia absinthium L. 1.1, 2. Rumex obtusifolius L. 1.1; 3. Berteroa incana (L.) DC. 1.1; 4. Tragopogon orientalis L. 1.1; 5. Atriplex tatarica L. 1.1; 6. Poa silvicola Guss. +.2; 7. Festuca pratensis Huds. +.2; 8. Bromus inermis Leyss. +.2; 9. Arrhenatherum elatius (L.)Presl. +.2; 10Agropyron repens (L.) P.B.+.2, 11. Galium tricornum Dandy +.2, 12. Poa annua L. +.2, 13. Alopecurus myosuroides Huds. +.2, 14. Atriplex oblongifolia W.et K. +.1, 15. Geranium pusillum L. +. 1, 16. Potentila inclinata Vill. +.1, 17. Anthemis arvensis L. +.1, 18. Haynaldia villosa (L.) Schur. +.1, 19. Eryngium campestre L. +. 1, 20. Tragopogon dubius Scop. +.1.
H
V
1
2
1
2
2
2
1
2
2
1
2
2
2
Fig.1. Localities in Kosovo where the investigated have been registered are as follows: 1 Gjilan - beside the road at the entrance of the city towards Prishtina, on a surface slightly turned towards the south, ( 12.VI.1990), 2. Klina, beside the road which connects this settlement with the Prishtina - Peja motorway (10.VI.1990), 3. Suhareka, near the main road at the centre of the settlement, 4. Fushe-Kosova, near the main road at the outskirts of the settlement towards Prishtina (6.VI.1990). 5,7,12, Prishtina, near the roads in the outskirts of city, ( 20,25, 30.VI 1990), 6. Kamenica, near the road at the entrance of the settlement, on a slightly skewed surface, turned towards the east (12.VI.1990), 8, 11, Podujeva, beside the road of settlement (7.VI.1990), 9, Peja, beside the road, in the city centre (10.VI.1990), 10. Kerpimeh (Podujeva), near the wall of an inhabited house at the centre of the village (7.VI.1990).
In Croatia (Marković-Gospodarić, 1965) as specific species of association Hordeetum murini are regarded: Hordeum murinum, Malva silvestris and Bromus sterilis whereas in Macedonia (Matvejeva,1982) distinguishes only Hordeum murinum. Also, in Croatia, (Marković-Gospodarić,1965) within the notes association two sub-associations are differentiated (Arctium minus-Tripleurospermum inodorum and normal), whereas in
Macedonia (Matvejeva,1982) there are no sub-associations.
Having in mind floral composition of the investigated associations in Croatia, and in Macedonia, I'm of the opinion that the association Hordeetum murini which was investigated in Kosovo, belongs primarily to the ruderal association of the Sub-Mediterranean type. This is proven by the number of species (about 60), which is
nearly the same in both associations ( in Kosovo and Macedonia), whereas in regard to the investigated association in Croatia it appears to be closer to ruderal associations of Central Europe. This is evident from the number of the species (121), and localities where relevés was carried out (mainly in the vicinity of Zagreb) (Marković-Gospodarić,1965:100-101).
In general, this community includes a relatively big number of species be that of a certain class or other ones, some of which have a high level of presence, such as Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Med., Carduus acanthoides L., Lolium perenne L. and Poa pratensis L. The general number of species of such a community is relatively big (62), but a small number of them have two of the highest levels of presence (8%). The number of species in relevés revolves from 26 to 11, which in average is 16 species for each relevé.
As part of the association Herdeetum murini, several sub-associations have been described in the territory of Europe. The individuums of this association in the researched area of Kosovo can be attached to the sub-association Hordeetum murini typicum Tx.et Siss., 1942.
The development of this community begins at the end of April, continues during the month of May, while it reaches the optimum of its development in the first half of June. At the beginning of summer the drying up of the dominant species begins (Hordeum murinum), and it continues with the development of other hemicryptophyes, and some of them even develop towards the end of summer (for example Atriplex tatarica, Chenopodium sp. etc.).
The individuums of this association develop on dry surfaces, which are warm and exposed to the sun, and which are under the influence of three anthopozoogen factors: non-intensive stepping, insufficient fertilization and grazing, and non-intensive mowing respectively. This community normally does not develop in shadowy places. The community can develop for several years under the influence of these factors. On the contrary, it can recede very quickly and be replaced by the increasingly dominant hemicryptophytes, which contributes to the formation of the community of the association Tanaceto-Artemisietum (Markovic, 1965:102). It must be noted that on this occasion, in the researched area we have not followed the syn-dynamics of this community.
The biological specter of species of this association, which is calculated from the phytogeographical table, is as per below: Therophytes - 25 species or 40.32%, Hemicryptophytes 35 species or 56.45% and Geophytes 2 species or 3.23% As it can be seen, hemicryptophytes
are dominant, followed by therophytes whilst the number of geophytes is minimal.(Tab.2).
Tab.2 Biological spectrum of life forms
Life forms	Number of taxa	%
H	35	56.45
T	25	40.32
G	2	3.23
Total	62	100.00
The floristic composition of the association of Hordeetum murini belongs to 13 geo-floristic elements. Below are presented the species of every floral geoelements group: European-Asiatic species: Achillea millefolium, Arctium lappa, Artemisia absinthium, Atriplex tatarica, Bromus inermis, Bromus tectorum, Cardaria draba, Cirsium arvense, Conium maculatum, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca pratensis, Matricaria recutita, Medicago lupulina, Onopordum acanthium, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago major, Poa trivialis, Polygonum aviculare, Potentilla inclinata, Rumex crispus, Silene vulgaris, Sonchus oleraceus, Taraxacum officinale, Tragopogon orientalis, Trifolium pretense,. Trifolium repens, Tripleurospermum inodorum; Sub-Mediterranean species: Alopecurus myosuroides, Ballota nigra, Bromus sterilis, Galium tricornatum, Hordeum murinum, Lolium multiflorum, Torilis arvensis, Tragopogon dubius; European-Asiatic Sub-Mediterranean species: Bromus arvensis, Bromus mollis, Consolida regalis, Geranium pusillum, Lactuca serriola, Malva sylvestris, Sisymbrium officinale; Cosmopolitan species: Capsella bursa-pastoris, Cichorium intybus, Convolvulus arvensis, Lolium perenne, Poa annua, Poa pratensis; Central European species: Anthemis austriaca, Carduus acanthoides; Circumpolar species: Agropyron repens, Artemisia vulgaris; Euro-Asiatic Mediterranean species: Anthemis arvensis, Erodium cicutarium; Sub-Mediterranean Sub-Atlantic species Arrhenatherum elatius, Rumex obtusifolium; South-European species: Haynaldia villosa, Poa silvicola; Pontic species: Anchusa officinalis; Sub-Mediterranean-Pontic species: Berteroa incana; Continental species: Atriplex oblongifolia; Pontic-Mediterranean species: Eryngium campestre.
The spectrum of floral geoelements of 62 species confirms these percentages: European-Asiatic (27 species or 43.54%), Sub-Mediterranean (8 species or 12.90%,), European-Asiatic-Sub-Mediterranean (7 species or 11.29%), Cosmopolitan (6 species or 9.67%), Central-European (2 species or 3.22%), South-European (2 species or 3.22%), Circumpolar (2 species or 3.22%),Sub-Mediterranean-Sub-Atlantic (2 species or 3.22%) and European-Asiatic-Mediterranean ( 2 species
or 3.22%) while the other geoelementes has only one Mediterranean-Pontic and Continental (Fig.2). species such as Pontic, Pontic-Mediterranean, Sub-
Fig. 2. Spectrum of floral geoelements
The individuums of this association are spread across exclusive concentration on the peripheral parts of cities the whole areas which were researched, with an almost and densely populated areas.
4 CONCLUSIONS
In this study we have presented the results of the fitocenological research of the ruderal community Hordeetum murini in Kosovo. This ruderal community, similar to the other ones belonging to this vegetation, was not researched nor known in the territory of Kosovo. The association Hordeetum murini Libbert 1932, belongs to the alliance Sisymbrion, order Sisymbrietalia, and class Chenopodiatea. The floristic composition of the community is presented in the analytical table which contains 12 relevés from different localities of Kosova.
number of species (62), out of which hemicryptophytes are dominant (35 species or 56.45 %) and therophytes (25 species or 40.32 %), while only two species was assessed as a geophytes (2 species or 3.23 %). Out of the geofloristic elements 13 groups have been differentiated, out of which the biggest number belongs to the European-Asiatic one (27 species), Sub-Mediterranean (8 species), Euro-Asiatic-Sub-Mediterranean (7 species), Cosmopolitan (6 species), and the other groups have a small number of species (2 or 1 species).
Characteristic species of the association in the researched territory is: Hordeum murinum L..This ruderal community is characterized with a relatively big
5 REFERENCES
Forstner, W. und Erich Hübl, 1971: Ruderal-Segetal und Adventivflora von Wien. Verlag Notring, Wien.
Horvat, I., 1949: Nauka o biljnim zajednicama. Nakladni zavod Hrvatske, Zagreb.
Horvat, I., V. Glavać, H. Ellenberg, 1974: Vegetation Sudosteuropas. Geobotanica Selecta, Band IV. Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart.
Horvatić, S.,1967: Fitogeografske značajke i raščlanjenje Jugoslavije. Analitička Flora Jugoslavije. Svezak prvi. broj 1.Zagreb.
Kojić, M., Pejčinović, D., 1982: Korovska flora i vegetacija Kosova. Posebna izdanja. Zavod za Udzb. i nast. sredstava SAP Kosovo. Priština.
Krasnići, F., 1972: Šumska vegetacija brdskog regij ona Kosova. Priština.
Krutaj, F., 1999: Kosova ne veshtrim enciklopedik. Akademia e Shkencave, Qendra e enciklopedise shqiptare.Tirane.
Marković, Lj., 1969: O rasprostranjenju i sastavu asocijacije Sclerochloetum durae Br.-Bl. 1931 u Hrvatskoj. Acta Botanica Croatica, Vol.XXVIII. Zagreb.
Marković, Lj.,1979: Das Sclerochloo-Polygonetum avicularis in der trittvegetation Nordostkroatiens. Acta Bot. Croat.vol.38,87-94. Zagreb.
Marković, Lj., 1987: Das Urtico-Aegopodietum in Nordwestkroatien. Acta Bot. Croat. 46, 73-79. Zagreb.
Marković, Lj., 1978: Übersicht der Ruderal pflanzengesellschaften in Jugoslawien. Acta botanica Slovaca. Acad. Sci. Sovaceae, ser. A, 3.
Marković, Lj.,1980: Zajednica Polygono-Chenopodietum Lohm.1950 u vegetaciji sprudova rijeke Save u Hrvatskoj. Acta Bot. Croat. Vol.39,121-130. Zagreb.
Marković, Lj.,1984: Ruderalna vegetacija Gorskog Kotara. Acta.Bot. Croat.,43. 257-272.Zagreb.
Marković, Lj., 1975: O vegetaciji sveze Bidention tripartite u Hrvatskoj. Acta Bot. Croat. 34, 103-120. Zagreb.
Marković-Gospodarić, Lj., 1965: Prilog poznavanju ruderalne vegetacije kontinentalnih dijelova Hrvatske. Acta Botanica Croatica, Vol.XXIV,Zagreb.
kontinentalnih dijelova Hrvatske. Acta botanica Croatica, Vol. XXIV. Zagreb.
Matvejeva, J., 1982: Ruderalna vegetacija na SR Makedonija. Makedonska Akademija na naukite i umetnostite, Skopje.
Mejaj, N., 1999: Kosova ne veshtrim enciklopedik. Akademia e Shkencave, Qendra e enciklopedise shqiptare.Tirane.
Pajazitaj, Q.,2000: Hulumtimet fitocenologjike te vegjetacionit ruderal te Kosoves. Disertacion i dokto-ratures (manuscript). Prishtine.
Pajazitaj, Q.,2004: Percaktuesi i bimeve. Pterido-fite&Spermatofite. Prishtine
Paparisto, K., et al.,1988-2000: Flora e Shqiperise (Flora de l'Albanie). I-IV. Akademia e Shkencave te Shqiperise. Tirane.
Sala, S.,1999: Kosova ne veshtrim enciklopedik. Akademia e Shkencave, Qendra e enciklopedise shqiptare.Tirane.