Medicinal plants natural sites on xerothermic habitats of the Działy Grabowieckie

Abstract

The Działy Grabowieckie localised in east part of the Lublin Plain are characterised with diverse lay of the land that influenced the quantity of xerothermic vegetation sites. Microclimate of these habitats is very specific, high temperature and large solarisation that is why they considered as refuges for medicinal plants. The main aim of this paper is to describe natural-site abundance of medicinal plants on xerothermic habitats of the Działy Grabowieckie. Forty hillsides with xerothermic grassland and bushes were investigated. On each site thermophiles medicinal plants were noted and their quantity was evaluated. On the described area 44 medicinal species from Festuco-Brometea, Trifolio-Geranietea sanguinei and Rhamno-Prunetea classes were observed. More than half of species taken under consideration were common and very frequent, noted on more than 20 sites, for example Agrimonia eupatoria, Galium verum, Coronilla varia, Teucrium chamaedrys. Most species populations were numerous or large. Agrimonia procera, Ononis spinosa, Asparagus officinalis, Achillea collina, Euphrasia stricta i Adonis vernalis were rare on the Działy Grabowieckie’s xerothermic habitat. Quantities of their population were also small, less than 25 individuals per site.