Species description
Pimpinella saxifraga ssp. rupestris
Pimpinella saxifraga ssp. Repestris is endemic subspecies of pimpimella saxifraga. It is found only in the Karkonosze Mountains and more precisely on the Basalt Vein in the Small Snow Cauldron. It occurs here as an element of rocks, scree and high-mountain grasslands. Currently, its population is about 200 individuals and it is critically endangered. In the framework of the reintroduction program, work will be undertaken to restore this rare species to its historic position in the Cauldron of the Small Pond.
Allium victorialis
Formerly allium victorialis had many stands in the Karkonosze Mountains (Łomniczki Cauldron, The Coauldron of the Small Pond Cauldron, Black Cauldron, Snow Cauldron and around Szrenica Mountain). To this day, it has survived only in Snow Cauldrons and the Small Pond Cauldron, where in the grasslands and mountain pine still exist about 300 of these individuals. For this reason, it is an extremely endangered species in the Karkonosze Mountains. Strong pollution of the environment in the 70`s and 80`s of the 20th century is considered to be the main reason of its decrease.
Allium sibiricum
This plant has the status of an endangered species according to the Polish Red Book of Plants. In our country it occurs only in the Karkonosze Mountains and the Pilsko Massif. In the Karkonosze Mountain Range, allium sibericum can be found in the spring areas and grasslands of subalpine floor. Its population has got several thousand individuals and its biggest site is located in the Łomniczki Cauldron.
Campanula bohemica ssp. Bohemica
It is endemic species that occurs only in the Karkonosze Mountains. It can be observed here on mountain pastures (Hala Szrenicka, Pod Łabskim Szczytem, Złotówka, Polana), on passes and in postglacial cauldrons. According to the Polish Red Book of Plants, it has got the status of endangered species. Its population is estimated at around few hundred of individuals, however, the number of campanula bohemica decreases due to cessation of traditional mowing and pasture economy. Ten individuals of this species live in the Living Gen Bank.
Arabis alpina
This species in Poland can be found also in the Tatra Mountains, Babia Góra, the Żywiec Beskids and the Pieniny Mountains. In the Karkonosze Mountains it appears only in one stand-on the Basalt Vein in the Small Snow Cauldron. About 35 individuals grow here in the shady spot on the rock waste. In the nineteenth century, the alpine goose was more common species, however, like saxifraga nivalis it was eradicated due to intensive collection of herbarium material. Within the framework of the project, 30 individuals of this plant have been bred so far in the Living Gen Bank.
Gentianella campestris
In Poland, gentianella campestris occurs only in the Sudety Mountains, Lower Silesia and Western Pomerania. In our country, it reaches the north-eastern border of distribution range. In the Karkonosze Mountains only one gentianella campestris position is known. It has been found on the Basalt Vein in the Small Snow Cauldron. On the sun-filled and rich grass grow about 200 of this species. Because of its isolated position, this species is found to be critically endangered in the Polish part of the Karkonosze Mountains.
Geum montanum
Species in Poland known from the Carpathia Mountains and the Sudety Mountains. In the Karkonosze Mountains it occurs in the Small Snow Cauldron, Łomniczki Cauldron, the Small Pond Cauldron (the largest population has approximately 100 individuals), so it was recognized as an endangered taxon. It prefers humid habitats in herb communities and in Japanese willow scrubs.
Rubus chamaemorus
The species occurs in two positions in the Mountains-within the areas of Úpa peat bog (located in Równia under Śnieżka Mountain) and a peat bog under Sokolnik Mountain. Overall population of this relict plant has been estimated for 2000 individuals. In the Karkonosze Mountains it reaches its south-western border of distribution range, and is acknowledged as an endangered species. In Poland, it can be also found on peat bogs in the north and north-eastern part of the country.
Ribes petraeum
Ribes petraeum is not a high shrub (growing up to 1-2 m) from grossulariaceae family. In the Karkonosze Mountains it’s a part of endemic (not found in other places) bushes and small leafy trees, that we can observe at subalpine floor, and more precisely-in postglacial cauldrons-the Small Pond Cauldron or Łomniczki Cauldron. Ribes petraeum grows in the company of Mountain Ash, Carpathian Birch, Black Cherry, Silesian Willow and Black Honeysuckle. It also has got isolated place above the Snow Cauldrons. Its northern border of range in Poland is beyond the Sudety Mountains. It appears also in the BeskidyMountains, the Gorce Mountains, the Tatry Mountains and the Bieszczady Mountains. It likes humid places, e.g. stream or periodic watercourse valleys. In Karkonosze National Park, ribes petraeum is an endangered species because of very little amount of its stands (10). For that reason, it has been secured in the Living Gene Bank. Veronica Alpina L. In Poland, this species occurs in the western part of the Karpaty Mountains and the Karkonosze Mountains. In the 19th century, it was observed in the vicinity of the Small Pond, Polana-Clearing and the Snow Cauldrons. Nowadays, Veronica alpina’s position has been confirmed only in the Great Snow Cauldron, where about 20 individuals can be spotted. Its habitat are regions of snow plains and springs. The species is considered critically endangered in the Polish part of the Karkonosze Mountains.
Woodsia alpina
Critically endangered, little fern, growing on rocks. In the Karkonosze Mountains, it has one stand on the Basalt Vein in the Small Snow Cauldron-only a few individuals are growing there. Formerly, it was also observed in Łomniczki Cauldron. In Poland there is known another vestigial population of this plant in the Tatry Mountains. Work on reintroduction of Woodsia alpina started in 2003. Today it is already secured in the Living Gene Bank (80 individuals), but there haven`t been any attempts to introduce it to its natural habitat yet.
Salix herbacea
This tiny shrub, except for the Karkonosze Mountains, occurs in the Tatry Mountains and on Babia Góra Mountain. In the Karkonosze Mountains, because of the small number of stands (two populations occupying 1-2,5m2 in the area of the Small Snow Cauldron and 2 clusters in the western Karkonosze Mountains), it is a critically endangered species. It prefers high altitude grasslands, areas of blueberries or rock fissures. This species is already protected in the Living Gene Bank. There are approximately 70 individuals, occupying around 4.5 meters of space.
Saxifraga nivalis
This species is critically endangered .Saxifraga nivalis is a reminder of the Ice Age, the glacial relic. In Poland it occurs only in the Karkonosze Mountains-with its southernmost position in Europe. The place where it grows is called „the Basalt Vein” in the Small Snow Cauldron. It prefers shaded shelves and rock fissures in vertical basalt rock. In the nineteenth century, the number of Saxifraga nivalis was much larger, however, the collection of specimen for herbarium collections led to destruction of 90% of the population. Currently, there are several natural individuals and seedlings from seeds coming from the Living Gene Bank/ The work on reintroduction of Saxifraga nivalis began in 2003. Till today, about 10000 individuals of this rare species have been successfully bred in the Living Gene Bank in Jagniątków.
Pinus x rhaetica
It is a crossbreed of mountain pine Pinus mugo and scots pine Pinus sylvestris. In Poland it occurs mainly in the mountains-the Karkonosze Mountains, the Jizera Mountains, the Stołowe Mountains, the Bystrzyckie Mountains and in the Orawa-Nowy Targ Basin and in theTatry Mountains. The only place in lowlands that it occurs are Bory Dolnośląskie. It grows in mountain peatbogs and among rocks. In the Karkonosze National Park it has only one place of occurrence, in western part of the Karkonosze Mountains. It is considered as an endangered taxon.
Tłumaczenia na język
angielski dokonała młodzież Liceum Ogólnokształcącego w Kamiennej Górze w
ramach programu Erasmus+ KA2"