Carpathian travertine fen with halophytes

Description (English)

Short-sedge fens developed on active travertine springs fed by extremely mineral-rich groundwater coming from deep aquifers upwards along Tertiary faults. They have conserved ancient species composition that combines plant and animal (e.g. snails and ostracods) specialists dwelling in short-sedge calcareous fens of temperate Europe (Eleocharis quinqueflora, Parnassia palustris, Pinguicula vulgaris, Primula farinosa, Schoenus ferrugineus and Pupilla alpicola) with halophytic species (Centaurium littorale subsp. uliginosum, Glaux maritima, Plantago maritima subsp. salsa, Scorzonera parviflora and Triglochin maritima) and Trichophorum pumilum, a rare glacial relict of low-productive tundra, fen and salt marsh habitats. Many of these species have isolated relict populations in this habitat. Their species composition is similar to halophytic fens of the southern Siberian high-mountain regions which are climatically analogous to the European full glacial period. The habitat is endemic to the Inner Western Carpathian basins. Most of the localities were destroyed in the past.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification