Flora of the vicinity of Oplotnica (Slovenia, Štajerska, 9658/2)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was a floristic inventory of the vicinity of Oplotnica, situated in grid cell 9658/2 of the floristic mapping of the Central European flora. It lies on the border of two geographical units – Pohorje and Dravinjske gorice as well as two phytogeographical regions – Alpine and Subpannonian, which enhances the diversity of ecological conditions. Before our field investigations 301 taxa of Pteridophytes and Spermatophytes were known for this grid cell (floristic databases “Flora Slovenije” hosted at the Centre for Cartography of Fauna and Flora and “FloVegSi” at the Jovan Hadži Institute of Biology, Slovenian Academy of Sciences). In 35 days of field work between 2008 and 2011 we conducted 206 inventories in 97 polygons and collected data of 555 taxa. Of these, 314 were new for the grid cell. We were not able to confirm the presence of 57 taxa, previously recorded in 9658/2. Twenty-five of the recorded species are protected by law. Three of these are found in wet habitats and are of special conservation concern: Carex bohemica, Cyperus michelianus and Eleocharis carniolica. Some of the recorded species, such as Onopordum acanthium and Silene nemoralis, are rare in Slovenia. Based on the results, the forest and pond Partovec as well as the area NW of the village Gračič emerged as floristically rich areas and are also of potential conservation interest.