Soil environment of Pulsatilla vernalis (L.) Mill. at selected sites in the Polish lowland

Abstract

The paper presents soil conditions of Pulsatilla vernalis in the Polish lowland. There were determined species preferences in relation to physical and chemical properties, grain size composition and the type of soil. It has been found that P. vernalis prefers very poor sandy, acid, dry and permeable soils, with small water capacity. The range of habitat parameters at the lowland sites differs, however, from the conditions at the mountain sites. Due to specific habitats of the species, new ecological indicator values were proposed for the lowland sites of P. vernalis. The results of soil analysis presented in this paper, as well as other data related to biology of the species, should be accounted for in the active protection plan, including the processes of reintroduction and introduction of the species.

Keywords

• pasqueflower
• relict population
• rare plant
• distribution
• soil properties
• ecological indicator values
• active conservation
• Poland