Ancient woodland plant species in a landscape park in central Poland

Anumerical analysis of the phytosociological relevésfrom ancient and recent woodland on amesic forest sitein central Poland was carried out. Three groups of forest stands were recognised: planted with Pinus, recent andancient oak-hornbeam Tilio-Carpinetum. The species of ancient woodland occurred mainly in ancient oak-horn-beam forest stands, however some ferns: Dryopteris carthusiana, D. dilatata and D. filix-mas, and an orchid species Epipactis helleborine, are to be found mainly or exclusively in recent forests. The occurrence of ancient forest species in recent woods may be putatively explained by long-distance wind dispersal or by the thriving in situin unrecognised small wood patches. Twelve ancient woodland indicators (i.e. 36% of atotal number found in theregion under study) occur exclusively in ancient woodland. It underlines the role of passive species protection inthe maintenance of the regional species diversity.