Lutukka – Volume 19, Issue 1/2003

Suominen, J. 2003: Läntemme kanervasta. – Lutukka 19(1):3-9.

Distribution of Calluna vulgaris in two W Finnish provinces

Heather (Calluna vulgaris) is very common almost all over Finland, often abundant in oligotrophic woodlands, on rocks and peatlands. This is true also in the western biogeographical provinces of Satakunta and South Ostrobothnia. Despite of the oceanic character of heather in Europe as a whole, however, it avoids the coastal strip of the Gulf of Bothnia and the islands in particular. This feature is strengthened at around 63ºN, at Merenkurkku/Norra Kvarken. In the surroundings of the town of Vaasa a large area of the mainland is almost without heather, and this gap is continued towards the archipelago. Somewhat astonishingly, heather is again present and even abundant on many of the outermost and largely treeless islands of Merenkurkku. Understandable as this is as such for an oceanic heath plant, some questions arise: Why does it not behave similarly on the more southern islands of the Gulf of Bothnia? What is the reason for avoiding the coast (maybe the richer soils of land upheaval area and, especially around Vaasa, the total dominance of spruce over pine in the forests)?

Ranta, P. 2003: Hirvenkelloja pääradan varressa ja Ahvenanmaalla. – Lutukka 19(1):10-12.

Observations on Campanula cervicaria as a railway plant; Campanula cervicaria refound on Åland Islands after 70 years

The occurrences of Campanula cervicaria have been mapped systematically along the main railway line between Kerava and Hyvinkää (from 29 to 59 km north of Helsinki). The number of localities found in summer 2002 was 14. Several of them are large consisting approximately of 1000 individuals (including rosettes and flowering plants). The railway is an important habitat for the plant, because only a few occurrences are known further away from it in the municipalities of the region. In addition to Campanula cervicaria, several other rare or endangered plants grow along the same railway section.

Campanula cervicaria has been regarded as extinct in the Province of Åland. However, the species was refound in 2002. One abundant locality was found in the municipality of Hammarland. The last herbarium records of the species are from the year 1931.

Campanula cervicaria is classified as vulnerable in Finland.

Hämet-Ahti, L. 2003: Koristekasveista rikkakasveiksi – havaintoja Helsingin Torpparinmäestä. – Lutukka 19(1):13-19.

Notes on ornamental plants as weeds in a yard at Northern Helsinki

Many exotic ornamental plants have a capacity to produce seeds and spread in surroundings with a potential to become naturalized. Four groups of such plants are recognized. The Group I consists of most aggressive species, which are difficult to eradicate. The species of the Group II also produce a lot of seeds, but they are fairly easy to eradicate. Plants of the Group III produce few seeds and are not harmful. The Group IV includes some plants, which have arrived as seeds and do not occur in the close neighbourhood.

Although very few exotic ornamentals have become serious environmental problems in the relatively harsh climate of Finland, it can be expected that gradually many more species become established aliens and locally even occupy habitats of native plants.

Spontaneous occurrence of the hybrid Spiraea × foxii (Voss) Zabel (S. betulifolia × japonica) is probably a new record for Finland.

Vauhkonen, M. 2003: Notkeanäkinruoho ja muita kasvitietoja Parikkalan (LK) Siikalahdelta. – Lutukka 19(1):20–22.

Floristic notes from Siikalahti Bay of Parikkala, SE Finland

Management measures of the valuable wetland Siikalahti Bay of Parikkala, SE Finland, were launched by the Finnish Forest and Park Service in 2001. The project is supported by the EU Life Nature Fund. The author monitored the aquatic vegetation, as well as threatened or otherwise noteworthy vascular plants in the area during the years 2000–2002. In the summer of 2002, the nationally endangered Najas flexilis was found as new to Siikalahti, and very dense stands of the likewise endangered Najas tenuissima were detected in the widest area of open water of the bay. Rumex maritimus seems to have benefited from the management: in 2002 more than a thousand plants were found, most of them on the banks created with dredging waste.

Kemppainen, E. 2003: Kasviharrastajat kokoontuivat kesäiseen Pohjois-Savoon. – Lutukka 19(1):23-27.

The 19th annual meeting of Finnish botanists and conservation authorities

The 19th annual meeting of Finnish botanists and conservation authorities was held on August 3rd and 4th in Kuopio district. Vegetation and flora as well as monitoring and management of some Natura 2000 areas and vascular plants (for example Cypripedium calceolus, Epipactis atrorubens and Cinna latifolia) were presented and discussed.

Korvenpää, T. & T. 2003: Pöytyän Järvenojan (V) metsälitukkaesiintymän nykytila. – Lutukka 19(1):28–29.

Current status of Cardamine flexuosa in Pöytyä, southwestern Finland

The current status of a small population of the endangered Cardamine flexuosa With. was assessed in Pöytyä, southwestern Finland. Hundreds of fertile plants and thousands of small vegetative rosettes were found on the banks of a small brook. There was now a greater number of individuals than in 2000 which may be due to the warm weather during spring and early summer 2002. Large fluctuations in abundance seem to be common in Cardamine flexuosa. The species is a weak competitor and is favoured by disturbance. Cardamine flexuosa grows frequently in vegetation free patches subject to occassional flooding and in elk tracks.

Floristic notes – Lutukka 19(1):29-31

• Arctophila fulva has been refound on the Finnish side of the river Tornionjoki. This circumpolar grass has an isolated occurrence around the northern part of the Gulf of Bothnia. In its Finnish part the only continuous observations are from Liminganlahti bay near the town of Oulu. The species was believed to have disappeared from its Finnish localities along the river Tornionjoki. In 2002, however, an about 300 metres long occurrence was found at the southern end of the alluvial meadow island Pappilanhieta, opposite to Hietaniemi church of Sweden. The habitat was fine sand at summertime shoreline. Arctophila fulva seems to be favoured by cattle eating up the Carex belt just above it. – H. Moilanen
• Fourteen one-kilometer squares along the old highway 4 between Ii and Haukipudas in Oulu Ostrobothnia, central W Finland, were checked for roadside occurrences of Plantago maritima. The species was found in 8 of these squares. A part of the colonies were almost continuous and up to 200 meters long. The species seems to be common along the roadsides at least in this area, where the highway follows the coast of the Bothnian Bay at only a few kilometers’ distance. – P. Rahko
• Four closely-spaced roadside localities of Campanula cervicaria are reported from Luhanka, biogeographical province of South Häme. Some white-flowered specimens were found in two of these sites. The species has been classified as vulnerable in Finland, and the white-flowered form is very rare. – P. Horppila
• A springy lakeshore habitat in Loppi communality (biogeographical province of South Häme) is described. Several demanding and threatened species are listed, e.g. Carex heleonastes, which is growing here at its next to the southernmost locality in Finland, and the mosses Hamatocaulis vernicosus and Meesia longiseta. – E. Vilpa