Arbeitsgruppe
für Vegetationsökologie und experimentelle Pflanzensoziologie
Institut für
Pflanzenbiologie
Technische Universität Braunschweig
Comparison of urban vegetation
in the European Context
Brandes, D. (1985): Die spontane Vegetation toskanischer Städte. -
Tuexenia, 5: 113-125.
The spontaneous vegetation of Tuscan towns (Firenze/Florence, Prato,
Lucca, Arezzo, Siena, San Gimignano)is shown by plant sociological
relevès
and species lists. A clear relationship to city structure can be seen.
While species with broad ecological and sociological amplitudes are
found
in city centers the ruderal vegetation is developed optimally at the
ancient
outskirts of the towns. The transitional state of the investigated
cities
is shown by the fact that nitrophilous skirt communities are remarkably
frequent, while mediterranean ruderal communities of the alliance
Hordeion
leporini are relatively poorly represented. The spontaneous vegetation
of Tuscan towns possesses a great number of species common also to
cities
in central Europe, but the number of common associations is very small.
Brandes, D. (1989.1992): Geographischer Vergleich der
Stadtvegetation von
Mitteleuropa. - Braun-Blanquetia, 3: 61-67.
For reaching universally valid statements for urban vegetation,
investigation
of towns in different regions is necessary. By geographical comparisons
it is possible to point out analogies as well as differences.
Four comparisons will be discussed here:
Number of adventitious species in towns.
Total number of species in towns. As a result of the different
demarcations
of urban areas there only few data available. The number of species is
- in common - rising both with area and number of inhabitants.
As a "minimal program" the spontaneous flora of old cities is mapped.
The
first results of 23 towns are discussed.
For a number of towns in Northern central Europe the ruderal vegetation
is compared. To the common stock of plant communities belong among
others
Hordeetum murini, Malvetum neglectae, Echio-Melilotetum,
Artemisio-Tanacetetum
and Lolium perenne-Plantago major community.
Brandes, D. (1989.1992): Spontane Vegetation von ligurischen
Küstenorten.
- Braun-Blanquetia, 3: 229-245.
A program for comparative investigations of the vegetation of
settlements
in Europe is presented with some ligurian coastal villages and
towns
as an example. Therefore the spontaneous flora and vegetation is
investigated
for several types of biotops as there are old towns, historical
fortifications,
modern districts, gardens, railway land, fallows and river banks. The
densely
build-up old towns are very poor in species; there are mainly to be
found
nitrophilous and ? shaddow tolerating species. Especially rich in
species are the riverbeds of the torrents as well as the surroundings
of
old castles.
The documentation of the vegetation concerning the types of biotops
enables also comparisons beyond different floristic provinces.
Brandes, D. (1992): Flora und Vegetation von Stadtmauern. -
Tuexenia, 12:
315-339.
This paper deals with flora and vegetation of city walls in various
parts of central, western and southern Europe (Germany, France,
Luxembourg,
Italy, Malta, Mallorca [Spain], and Portugal). Special importance is
assigned
to registration of the floristic diversity. The relation to various
influences
such as building materials of the walls, conservation of the walls, and
surrounding are investigated. Areas of city walls with
quasi-homogeneous
vegetation are documented by plant-sociological relevés.
In central Europe north the Als, the spontaneous plant species of city
walls are first of all ruderal plants, but woodland species, plants of
Sedo-Scleranthetea and Festuco-Brometea appear too, whereas Aspenietea
species except Asplenium ruta-muraria and Cymbalaria muralis are of
less
importance. In winter-mild areas of France, Parietarietalia species are
much more frequent in wall joints than in central Europe. This applies
also to the southern foothills and valleys ot the Alps. In the western
mediterranean area, Parietaria judaica is the most common species of
the
city walls, while Capparis spinosa, Antirrhinum siculum or Antirrhinum
majus ssp. linkianum may dominate locally.
Species diversity is often very high in old city walls. Wall tops,
wall joints and the bases of walls are important refuges for a number
of
endangered synanthropic species. Therefore, city walls are of great
importance
for nature protection, especially in lowlands. Problems between nature
conservation and protection of monuments are also discussed.
Brandes, D. (1995): Flora of old town centres in Europe. - In: H.
Sukopp,
M. Numata & A. Huber (eds.): Urban ecology as the basis of urban
planning.
The Hague, p. 49-58.
The spontaneous floras of 66 old town centres have been compared in
different regions of Europe (Germany, France, Belgium, Austria,
Switzerland,
Italy, and Portugal). Similarity as well as geographical variability of
the old town floras are studied. Our investigations show that the
number
of common species in old town centres of central and/or West Europe is
high. Similar climatic conditions in old towns of the western part of
the
mediterranean area also lead to relatively uniform stocks of plant
species.
Differences between the floras of old cities and old villages are
pointed
out.