RESTORATION OF WETLANDS At - wise-rtd.info

W
ith respect to wetland forests, two types of
fen alder woods deserve special attention -
communities of sedge-alder wood and alder wood
with Crested Fern (Dryopteris cristata). In Slovakia
these natural communities with relict species are
now adays to a greater extent only present in Záhorie.
They grow in slacks and along streams where the
ground water level is high. They are also frequently
flooded. The dominant tree species is Common
Alder (Alnus glutinosa) which is the most resistant
of all our native tree species, even against long term
flo oding. Elongated Sedge (Carex elongata) is a charac
teristic species commonly found on the forest
floor of an alder fen. Among the other frequently
found species are Greater Tussock-Sedge (Carex
paniculata), Marsh Cinquefoil (Comarum palustre),
Marsh Fern (Thelypteris palustris), Water Violet
(Hottonia palustris), Yellow Iris (Iris pseudacorus),
European Frog-Bit (Hydrocharis morsus - ranae) and
Marsh Pennywort (Hydrocotyle vulgaris).
Cotton Grass
(Eriophorum spp.)
Yellow Iris (Iris pseudacorus)
As for non-forest wetland habitats, the most remarkable
are transition mires and fens, along
with the natural dystrophic lakes and ponds with their
typical vegetation. Several Peat-moss species can
be found here (e.g. Sphagnum fimbriatum, S. palustre,
S. squarrosum); less common is Cotton Grass
(Eriophorum sp.) or Round Leaf Sundew (Drosera
rotundifolia). In deeper pools there is abundant
cover of yellow-flowering Bladderworts (Utricularia
vulgaris and Utricularia australis) floating on the surface.
Some of the rarest species, such as Bogbean
(Menyanthes trifoliata), Marsh Helleborine (Epipactis
palustris) or Wild Calla (Calla palustris), can be
found only on a few sites.