Two New Natural Acid Norway Spruce Communities in the High Mountains of the Western Carpathians

Two new associations of natural acid Norway spruce communities (the order Piceetalia abietis Pawłowski ex Pawłowski et al. 1928 nom. corr.) from Slovakia are introduced: Solidagini virgaureae-Piceetum abietis and Parido quadrifoliae-Piceetum abietis. Their original relevés and floristical characteristics are published as well as their differentiation against the most common acid Norway spruce community in the Central Europe – the association LophozioPiceetum abietis Volk in Braun-Blanquet et al. 1939 (syn.: Vaccinio myrtilli-Piceetum Šoltés 1976, Calamagrostio villosae-Piceetum auct. non Schlüter 1966). The distribution of hitherto known phytocoenological relevés of the two considered communities Solidagini virgaureaePiceetum and Parido quadrifoliae-Piceetum and the field experience indicate that their distribution within the Western Carpathians is bound to high mountain ranges (hochgebirge mountain ranges).