THE ECOLOGY AND DISTRIBUTION OF CAREX LEPIDOCARPA SUBSP LEPIDOCARPA IN FINLAND

Carer lepidacarpa Tausch subsp. lepidocarpa (section Ceratocystis) is a threatened plant growing in Finland only in the Aland Islands. It is restricted to intermediate and flark levels of calcareous rich fens, where it occurs both in mire margin and in mire expanse conditions. A comparison is made with the ecology of C. lepidocarpa subsp.jemtlandic a Palmgr. in NE Finland. The vegetation of C. lepidocarpa localities w as grouped with TWINSPAN classification analysis and DCA ordination an alysis. A distribution map of C. lepidacarpa in Aland is presented. Hy bridization with other species in the C. flava complex and especially with C. hostiana is frequent. C. lepidocarpa is sensitive to changes i n the water table of the habitat, and it has strongly decreased in Ala nd because of the drainage of mires for agriculture and forestry. The overgrowth due to cessation of traditional agricultural management (mo wing and grazing) is another threat to C. lepidocarpa, at least in mir e margin conditions. The localities that remain contain several plants that are threatened in Finland and have a high conservation value.