Vascular plants and lichens of acidophilus steppes in the Middle Vltava Region (Central Bohemia)

Fifty years after the description of the grassland association Artemisio campestris-Corynephoretum canescentis, the current state and diversity of vascular plants and lichens were studied. It is a very local community known mostly from the Middle Vltava Region. The grasslands occur on shallow sandy soils based on granodiorite bedrock and are concentrated at the edges of pine forests and pastures. Almost one half of the original localities have been destroyed. Fourteen localities were investigated in detail. The vegetation has changed more or less to another type of grassland vegetation because of lack of management, but several sites are still well preserved and inhabited by typical communities. Acidophilous steppes, as described originally, are characterized by the presence of psammophilous plants (e.g. Aira caryophyllea, Corynephorus canescens, Helichrysum arenarium), high diversity and abundance of Cladonia species, and by the presence of a range of xerothermic plants (e.g. Chondrilla juncea, Petrorhagia prolifera, Veronica prostrata).