A formalized and supervised phytosociological classification of Alnion glutinosae and Alnion incanae in the Czech Republic is presented. Three associations of Alnion glutinosae (Thelypterido palustris-Alnetum glutinosae, Carici elongatae-Alnetum glutinosae and Carici acutiformis-Alnetum glutinosae) and seven of Alnion incanae (Alnetum incanae, Stellario nemorum-Alnetum glutinosae, Pruno-Fraxinetum, Carici remotae-Fraxinetum, Piceo-Alnetum, Ficario-Ulmetum campestris and Fraxino pannonicae-Ulmetum) were distinguished by the Cocktail method using sociological species groups. Information about their syntaxonomy, species composition, ecology and distribution is presented. Ellenberg’s indicator values were used to show the main ecological gradients responsible for the variation in the vegetation of these communities. The most important factors affecting this variation were temperature (for Alnion incanae) and soil reaction, nutrient availability and moisture (for Alnion glutinosae).
A phytosociological synthesis of weed vegetation in Slovenia using the Braun-Blanquet approach was performed. Historical and new data (482 relevés after stratified resampling) were used and classified formally using the Cocktail method. Eleven different syntaxa: Kickxietum spuriae, Galio tricornuti-Ranunculetum arvensis, Geranio-Allietum, Mercurialietum annuae, Veronicetum trilobae-triphyllidi, Alchemillo-Matricarietum, basal community Alchemilla arvensis-[Scleranthion annui], Panico-Chenopodietum, Hyoscyamo-Chenopodietum hybridi, Galeopsido-Galinsogetum, Echinochloo-Setarietum were distinguished and are presented in a synoptic table. Ecology, diagnostic and constant species, distribution and threats to weed syntaxa are presented. Delimitation of the high-mountain association Galeopsido-Galinsogetum presents problems as it is species-poor and is composed of generalist species. Some problems of using the Cocktail method to classify species poor stands are pointed out. Comparison of classified syntaxa and their diagnostic species in Slovenian and Moravian datasets shows that there are in both areas common central asociations of higher syntaxa, which are widely distributed in Central Europe: Veronicetum trilobae-triphyllidi, Alchemillo-Matricarietum, Panico-Chenopodietum and Echinochloo-Setarietum. There are differences in various classifications of vernal communities and those that thrive in only one area.
A syntaxonomical revision of meadows of the Molinion caeruleae Koch 1926 alliance in the Czech Republic is presented. Of ten associations reported previously for the Czech Republic only two were distinguished using the Cocktail method – Molinietum caeruleae Koch 1926 and Junco effusi-Molinietum caeruleae Tüxen 1954. The former occurs on more base-rich soils, while the latter is found in more acidic habitats and characterized by the occurrence of species of Nardus grasslands. Results of this classification were compared with classifications of Molinion meadows for other countries of Central Europe. Main environmental gradients responsible for variation in species composition of Czech Molinion meadows were revealed by detrended correspondence analysis. For interpretation of these gradients correlations with Ellenberg indicator values and altitude were used. The main gradient positively correlates with soil base status, continentality, temperature and nutrients, and negatively with altitude.
A phytosociological synthesis of weed vegetation of southern Moravia (Czech Republic) was performed using the Braun-Blanquet approach. Gradsect sampling, i.e. a priori stratified selection of sampling sites, was used for the field survey. Using this method, 115 quadrants of the Central European mapping grid (6 × 5.6 km) were chosen. Three hundred and ten relevés recorded in 1997–2002 were classified, based on the Cocktail method, which defines sociological species groups and then creates formal definitions of vegetation units. In total, nine associations of the class Stellarietea mediae were distinguished in southern Moravia. Three associations were included in the alliance Caucalidion lappulae (Lathyro-Adonidetum, Euphorbio-Melandrietum, Veronicetum hederifoliotriphylli) and three in the alliance Scleranthion annui (Aphano-Matricarietum, SperguloScleranthetum, Erophilo-Arabidopsietum). For each of the alliances Veronico-Euphorbion, Spergulo-Oxalidion and Panico-Setarion one association was distinguished, respectively, SetarioFumarietum, Panico-Chenopodietum polyspermi and Echinochloo-Setarietum pumilae . Species composition of these associations is documented in a synoptic table. Their structure, ecology, and distribution are commented.