Vegetation of Ranunculus lateriflorus (Ranunculaceae) in the Latorica (Latorytsia) River catchment (Slovakia and...

Temporary pools and field depressions are unusual habitats that share features of both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. They often host rare vegetation determined by specific ecological conditions and harbour numerous threatened vascular plant species, such as Ranunculus lateriflorus, which is rare in the Pannonian lowland of Central Europe. We studied vegetation containing this species using a traditional phytosociological approach between 2023 and 2025 in the Latorica (Latorytsia) River catchment area in Slovakia and Ukraine (elevation range 95-105 m a.s.l.; mean annual temperature of 9.54-9.69°C; annual precipitation of 594-677 mm). In total, 91 vascular plant taxa were identified in 20 phytosociological relevés containing R. lateriflorus, which were classified into four clusters using TWINSPAN. We found that R. lateriflorus grows in stands of the Eleocharito palustris-Sagittarion sagittifoliae Passarge 1964 alliance (Bidentetea Tx. et al. ex. von Rochow 1951 class and mainly in the Verbenion supinae Slavnić 1951 alliance (class Isoëto-Nanojuncetea Br.-Bl. et Tx. in Br.-Bl. et al. 1952). In addition, the rare plant community Ranunculetum lateriflori association (Verbenion supinae) was recorded in both countries, for the first time in Ukraine.