Investigations of the Swamp and Water Vegetation in the Lowland Woods of Slavonia (Croatia)

Abstract

The swamps occupy about 5 per cent of the lowland area of Croatia and present a relatively difficult problem from the economic and forestry standpoint. Since swamp vegetation is closely connected with the development of different wood communities, we considered it useful to investigate this type of vegetation. The results of investigations show that the swamp vegetation of the lowland area of Croatia is very distinct and can be classified into 3 classes, 5 orders, 6 alliances, and 10 associations. The classes are Lemnetea, Potametea and Phragmitetea. The most spread communities belong to the class Phragmitetea with the orders Phragmitetalia, Nasturtio-Glycerietalia and Magnocaricetalia. The association Glycerietum maximae (order Phragmitetalia) and the association Caricetum ripariae (order Magnocaricetalia) have not been described for Croatia so far, as we are informed from available literature. Detailed knowledge of this type of vegetation could be a contribution in the efforts to cultivate this, now infertile area