Syntaxonomic status of the Junco-Menthetum longifoliae Lohmeyer 1953, the Junco-Menthetum rotundifoliae Oberdorfer (1952) 1957 and the Caricetum vulpinae Nowinski 1927

A survey is given of the syntaxonomic status and the internal differentiation of the Junco- Menthetum longifoliae (and rotundifoliae) and the Caricetum vulpinae in Europe. The following conclusions can be drawn: A. Junco-Menthetum longifoliae 1. Vegetation stands containing Mentha longifolia do not belong to one association but are conglomerates i.e. mixtures of fragments. 2. Mentha longifolia is not characteristic of the Lolio-Potentillion but its epharmony is comparable to that of the Filipendulion species. The tall-forb character of the conglomerates is conspicuous. 3. The Plantaginetea element is of only minor importance under extensive grazing but increases with intensification of this factor. B. Junco-Menthetum rotundifoliae I. The status of this association as a separate association is insufficiently founded. C. Caricetum vulpinae Tiixen 1947 1. Contrary to the suggestion of Westhoff & Van Leeuwen (1966) and Westhoff & Den Held (1969), Carex vulpina is not a character species of the Lolio-Potentillion. The preponderance of Magnocaricion and Phragmitetea species justifies the assignment of the Caricetum vulpinae to these syntaxa. 2. On a European scale no subassociations can be distinguished. 3. The main internal differentiation is expressed by a gradual increase of the weight of the Molinio- Arrhenatheretea and the Scheuchzerio-Caricetea species as the dynamics of the hydrology decreases.