Meadow communities with Cirsium canum (L.) All. in the Wielopolka River valley in the Strzyzow Foothills (Western Carpathians)

The research was conducted in meadow communities with Cirsium canum in the Wielopolka River valley in the Strzyżów Foothills in 2012–2013. The common phytosociological Braun-Blanquet method was applied and 20 phytosociological relevés were taken in each of the managed and abandoned patches. The aim of the study was to investigate the distribution of the species and identify the floristic composition and habitat conditions in the phytocoenoses, as well as to compare mown and unmown patches in which the species occurs. It was observed that the management factor exerted a significant effect on the floristic composition of the communities with Cirsium canum. The managed patches exhibited a large proportion of species from fresh and wet meadows (Molinio-Arrhenatheretea class), whereas the abandoned patches were clearly dominated by species from wet meadows from the Calthion alliance and Molinietalia order.