The contribution of herbal plants species in extensively used meadows communities

Maria Ługowska

Teresa Skrajna

Abstract

Herbal plants have been an object of interest since antiquity. Despite a constant increase in the range of herbs cultivated as field crops, their gathering from natural habitats is still an important source of raw materials for the herbal industry. In the valley of the Por River floristic observations were conducted between 2020 and 2022, in meadows used extensively and harvested at least once a year. The main objective of the research was to determine the composition of species with medicinal properties and their frequency and abundance in meadow communities. In the flora of the meadows, a total of 85 species of herbs were recorded, with both stems and leaves, or flowers, leaves, roots or seeds having healing properties. Native meadow species were the most numerous, accounting for 47% of the recorded herbal plants. The species inventoried in the meadows varied in terms of their useful parts. The largest group, with 54% of the flora, were plants from which stems and leaves can be used for herbal purposes, and species with a high coverage ratio included Glechoma hederacea, Geranium pratense, Trifolium hybridum, Achillea millefolium, Lichnis flos-cuculi, Myosotis palustre and Veronica chamaedrys. Plants from which roots/rhizomes could be obtained constituted a much smaller proportion in the communities, accounting for 18%, with species like Polygonum bistorta, Geum rivale, Symphytum officinale and Valeriana officinalis being of a high coverage ratio. Other groups of plants, from which herbs and flowers, or herbs and roots, or leaves, flowers, seeds and roots could be obtained were represented only by a few representatives.

The main objective of the research was to determine species composition and frequency and abundance of sites with medicinal plants. In the valley of the Por River, floristic observations were carried out during the 2020-2022 growing periods, in meadows used extensively and harvested at least once a year. In the flora of the meadows, a total of 85 species of herbs were recorded, with stems and leaves or flowers, leaves, roots or seeds having healing properties. Native species typical of meadow communities were the most numerous. They accounted for 47% of the recorded herbal plants. The inventoried species of herbs in the meadows were varied in terms of parts used for medicinal purposes. Species from which stems and leaves could be used for pharmaceutical purposes were most frequently found. They constituted 54% of the herbal flora. With frequent occurrence and very large populations, this group included Glechoma hederacea, Geranium pratense, Trifolium hybridum, Achillea millefolium, Lichnis flos-cuculi and Myosotis palustre. In the immediate vicinity of the river bed Lythrum salicaria and Polygonum amphibium were often noted. Species from which roots/rhizomes could be obtained constituted a much smaller share in the communities, accounting for 18%. Representatives of this group were Polygonum bistorta, Geum rivale, Symphytum officinale and Valeriana officinalis. Other groups from which stems, leaves and flowers or stems, leaves and roots, or leaves and flowers or seeds and roots could be obtained were represented by several species.