Vápenice (natural monument)
| Vápenice | |
| Natural monument | |
.jpg) Vápenice in summer
|
|
| Name origin: Czech language: limestone quarry | |
| Country | Czech Republic |
|---|---|
| Region | Olomouc |
| District | Prostějov |
| Elevation | 275 m (902 ft) |
| Coordinates | 49°32′24″N 17°5′31″E / 49.54000°N 17.09194°ECoordinates: 49°32′24″N 17°5′31″E / 49.54000°N 17.09194°E |
| Area | 19.0208 ha (47.0 acres) |
| Founded | 1 November 1990 |
| Management | AOPK ČR |
Vápenice (Czech pronunciation: [ˈvaːpɛɲitsɛ]) is a natural monument south-east of the village Slatinky in the Prostějov District, the Czech Republic. It is a part of the nature park Velký Kosíř. The area is administered by the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic (Agentura ochrany přírody a krajiny České republiky).
Bedrock of Vápenice consists of Devonian dolomites and the Lažánky limestone, which are partly covered by Badenian (mid-Miocene) calcareous clays and sands. This is the reason why the area has become an enclave of lime-tolerant ("calciphile") vegetation.
The locality is protected because of the rare plant community, especially hot dry ("xerothermic") grasslands, growing on terrain bumps, which are remnants of former minor limestone quarries (which gave the place its Czech name Vápenice). Beside them there used to be a number of little fields and pastures for livestock. Some of the balks which used to separate the fields are preserved and help to prevent erosion. There are also some residues of orchards in the northern part of the area.
Steppe-like vegetation grows here mostly. The place is also valued for one of the richest populations of Greater Anemone (Pulsatilla grandis) in Central Moravia; in the 2004 census 19,699 blooms were counted here. Other notable plants growing here are Snowdrop Anemone (Anemone sylvestris), European Michaelmas Daisy (Aster amellus), Sickle Hare's Ear (Bupleurum falcatum), Blue Sedge (Carex flacca), Downy-fruited Sedge (Carex tomentosa), Carex michelii, European Dwarf Cherry (Prunus fruticosa), Dorycnium herbaceum, Field Cow-wheat (Melampyrum arvense), Spiny Restharrow (Ononis spinosa), Military Orchid (Orchis militaris), Knapweed Broomrape (Orobanche elatior), Pilosella macrantha, Primula veris subsp. canescens, Fragrant Scabious (Scabiosa canescens) and Thesium dollineri. Bigger stones are covered by saxicolous lichens, which are an important indicator of the level of air pollution. The grasslands need to be maintained and shrubs of Black Locust (Robinia pseudacacia), Common Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea) and European Privet (Ligustrum vulgare) have to be regularly removed here.
...
Wikipedia