Gavrilovi Marijana, Rat Milica, Boin Biljana, Anakov Goran, Boa Pal

International Symposium: Current Trends in Plant Protection

Proceedings

141

UDK: 632.51(497.113)

WEED SPECIES IN SYNANTROPIC FLORA OF NOVI SAD

GAVRILOVI MARIJANA1, RAT MILICA2, BOIN BILJANA3, ANAKOV GORAN2, BOA PAL2
1

University Educons, Faculty of Environmental protection

University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of biology and ecology
3
University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine
mail: akeldama@neobee.net

Ruderal or syntrophic flora and vegetation are the most dynamic floristic-vegetation complex
and an integral part of antropogenic environment. On one side the influence of antropogenic factors
and on the other a variety of climate, topografic, geological and soil characteristics contribute to
highly pronounced diversity of a weed flora. The presence of antropogenic influences have crucial
importance of the emergence, development and distribution of ruderal flora and ruderal vegetation
making the biotops very dynamic and unstable habitats. Horticulture has a long tradition in the city of
Novi Sada which is located in the region of intensive agricultural production as a port center with
international transport links and consequently is the most exposed to the introduction of new species.
According to the existing data Novi Sad has the largest number of invasive species (59,7%) in
Vojvodina, which indicates a need to produce a syntrophic inventory of its flora in order to list both
native and introduced species. Phytogeographical analysis has been performed on syntrophic flora
whith special emphasis on the analysis of the origin of introduced plant species. Furthermore, the
range of life forms that indicates the caracter of antropogenically altered phytocenosis has been
determined.
Key words: weed species, syntrophic flora, floristic diversity, introduced species, native
species, invasive species.

INTRODUCTION
Ruderal or synanthropic flora and vegetation embody the most dynamic floristic and
vegetation complex and are an integral part of an anthropogenic environment. The
diversity of anthropogenic ruderal habitats with specific combinations of micro-complexes
of ecological conditions is of a key significance for accentuated anthropophilic ruderal
vegetation (ajinovi, 1968). Ruderal vegetation is mainly connected with anthropomorphic
soil whose physical-chemical features are to that extent altered by the actions of man that
they have most often lost any resemblance to the primary soil type. The physical and
chemical features of soil vary, frequently reaching extreme values: from the exceptionally
compact due to the trampling of compressed soil, to a skeletogenic ground filled with
gravel, sand or construction surplus, and to a loose nitrophylic soil saturated with
decomposing organic material. The species Plantago major L., Taraxacum officinale
Weber., Polygonum aviculare L., Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. are prominent due to their
exceptionally pioneering character and the ability to adapt to diverse, often extreme and

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Weed species in synantropic flora of Novi Sad

difficult conditions of ruderal habitats. However, their presence in different ruderal habitats
shows a morphological and anatomical variability which points to their great phenotypic
plasticity which represents an ecological flexibility of the weed flora (Stevanovi et al.,
1988). According to the syntaxonic appraisal of vegetation in Serbia, the most represented
groups which can be found in habitats under a strong anthropogenic influence belong to the
following classes: Bidentetea tripartita Tx., Lohm. et Prsg. 1950; Chenopodietea albae Br.Bl. 1951. em. Lohm., R. et J. Ty. 1961; Artemisietea vulgaris Loxm., Prsg. Et J. Tx. 1950;
Agropyretea repentis Oberd., Mll. Et Grs 1967; Asplenietea rupestris Meir.et Br.-Bl.
1934; Plantaginetea majoris Tx. Et Prsg. 1950; Stellarietea mediae Tx., Lohm. et Prsg.
1950 (Koji, 1998). In urban habitats (industrial grounds, agricultural fields, parks,
gardens) the dominant vegetation in the researched area is made up of weeds and
synanthropic vegetation. An analysis of the number of weed flora species in individual
biotope types of Novi Sad has pointed out that the largest representation of weeds is in the
group of artificial habitats (transportation networks and other construction zones, solid arch
parts, tenement buildings in city centers), in grassy habitats (dry and grass formations,
moderately humid grass formations, abandoned pastures, weeds in vacated gardens) as well
as coastal (pioneer and ephemeral vegetation of periodically flooded coasts). Along with
the features of the habitats, the effect of the anthropogenic factors on the one hand and
various influences of the climate, as well as orographic, geological and pedological features
on the other, contribute to a highly stressed diversity of weed flora causing the ruderal
habitats to be very dynamic but also very unstable biotopes. Weed flora adapts to these
specific, frequently very negative conditions of habitats in respect to the higric and thermic
regime, the character of the base, as well as in regards to mechanical impacts such as
trampling, mowing, grazing, fires, etc. However, due to their great biological potential, a
very emphasized dynamism which is conditioned by the instability of the ruderal habitats, a
great morpho-anatomical variability as well as a lack of competition of species
characteristic for the anthropogenic environment, the weed species represent natural
focuses from which the species spread to natural habitats but also to arable areas
(Jovanovi, 1998). Hitherto research of the diversity of the weed flora in the Republic of
Serbia has shown that the number of weed species in the widest sense makes up about 28%
of the total flora (over 1,000 species), which is an indicator of a high degree of an
emphasized floristic diversity of weeds (Koji and Vrbanianin, 1998, Strategy of
biological diversity, 2011). Vojvodina represents a specific floral and geographical and
natural-historical area in our country, and thus the flora and vegetation in it differs from the
other parts of the country. The floral cover of Vojvodina is distinguished by various types
of vegetation, with numerous communities of a great floral cornucopia and a complex
structure (Parabuski and ajinovi, 1982). Novi Sad is a town with a long tradition of
horticulture, and it is located in an area with a concentrated agricultural production, a town
which is also an international river port and thus it is very receptive to the importing of
plants of foreign origin. In the flora of Novi Sad, there have lately been significant changes
which have been conditioned by anthropogenic factors and which are manifested by the
spreading and assimilation of a sizeable number of adventive species. The largest number
of invasive species (59.72%) in Vojvodina was recorded in Novi Sad, which indicates the
need to catalogue the synanthropic flora in the area of the town of Novi Sad (Sekuli,
2011). Until the 30s of the last century the largest number of references of ruderal flora can
be found in the floristic monographs of Kupsok (1915), Prodn (1915,1916), Jvorko
(1925) and Kovcs (1929) (Obradovi, 1986). From then until the 70s of the last century,
the flora and vegetation of Vojvodina has been extensively tested by Slavni (1951) and
gives very significant data on the nitrophylic vegetation of Vojvodina, researching typical

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ruderal communities, the nitrophylic vegetation of swamps and the weed vegetation of
grains and row crops. Numerous authors, in researching the flora of Vojvodina and the salt
marshes of Baka, have given a contribution to the researching of adventive flora - Slavni,
. (1953, 1956, 1961,1965, 1972), Atanackovi, N. (1958), Obradovi, M., Budak, V.
(1974), Obradovi Melanija (1974), Obradovi, M., Boa, P (1983), Obradovi and
associates (1986), Janjatovi et al. (1980), Parabuski, S. (1979), Parabuski, S, et al.
(1971, 1979), Djurjanski, P. (1980), Boa, P., et al. (1980,1987), Boa Pal, (1979, 1980)
Budak, V. (1978, 1986, 1998), Ivkovi Olga (1975, 1978), Vrbanianin et al. (2000, 2004).
The diversity of the weed flora of the grassland and pasture ecosystem was tested by Koji
and Janji (1997), Kneevi (2008), Stavretovi (2003) while Nestorovi (2002, 2003,
2005, 2011), Koji et al. (2004), Jakovljevi et al. (2005, 2008), Jovanovi (2004) and
Stankovi-Kalezi (2007) tested the weed flora of urban environments.
The floristic research of weeds is significant for cataloguing and a better insight into
the flora of an area, based on which can be done a detailed plant and geographic analysis
and a conclusion on the origin and history of the tested weed flora (Slavni, 1956). This
paper has carried out a taxonomic, ecological and phyto-geographical analysis of the
synanthropic flora of Novi Sad, with a special stress on the analysis of the origin of
allochthonic plant species as well as the range of life forms which indicate the character of
anthropogenically altered phytocenosis.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The plant material was collected during the entire vegetation seasons of 2009 and
2010 at chosen localities in Novi Sad (Klisa, Novo Naselje, the Industrial zones North and
South, along the canal, along the embankment, the Kej, trand). The plants were herbalized
and processed via a method of classical herbalistics and deposited in the main collection of
the herbalists in the Departments of Biology and Ecology of the Faculty of Sciences in
Novi Sad (BUNS).
The determining of the plant material was enacted by dichotomous keys based on
the morphological character (Javorka, 1925). The taxonomic status and nomenclature were
determined according to the Flora of Europe (Tutin et al., 1968). The belonging of the
species to a certain family was determined according to Tahtajan (Tahtajan, 1997).
The categorizing of species according to the appropriate life form (Raunkiaer, 1934;
Pignastti, 1980) was carried out in the aim of showing a general trend and the impact of
climate factors on the life forms and the strategies of plant dissemination. During the
defining of life forms, a model adapted to the flora of Serbia was used (Stevanovi, 1992).
The flora elements were specified according to Gaji (Gaji, 1980) and So (1968) and
were analyzed according to the range of aerial types (Jankovi, 1985).
RESULTS
I. Taxonomic analysis of flora
With the aid of a floristic research of synanthropic flora on the territory of the city of
Novi Sad, some 344 taxa at the level of species and subspecies were recorded.
Based on our research and review of available references which relate to the tested
area (Zorkczy, 1896; ajinovi, 1968; Kupsok, 1915; Prodn, 1915,1916; Slavni, 1953;
ajinovi, 1968; Obradovi, 1981, 1974; Budak, 1978, 1986; Parabuski, 1979;

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Weed species in synantropic flora of Novi Sad

Djurjanski, 1980) and many other authors, recorded were a total of 900 taxa at the level of
species and subspecies, that is, 895 species, classified into 396 genus and 106 families.
Of the total number of recorded taxa (at the level of species and subspecies) based
on the separated weed flora according to the weed flora of Yugoslavia (anak and
associates, 1978) 568 species were recorded, that is, 63.11% of the total number of species.
The Liliopsida class (Monocotyledones) is represented with 10 families and with 94 species
(16.55%), while the Poaceae family dominates with 61 species, that is, 10.74% of the total
number of species. The Magnoliopsida class (Dicotyledones) is represented by 58 families,
some 469 species were recorded, that is, 82.57% of the total number of species, the
Asteraceae family with 78 species that is, 13.73% of the total number of species which
dominate. The Equisetopsida class is represented by one Equisetaceae family with 5
representatives.
The taxonomic analysis of the weed flora was carried out based on the most
represented families and species according to the number of species (Diagram 1).
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
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Diagram 1: Percentage (%) of the representation of weed flora families with more than ten taxa
within the framework of synanthropic flora of Novi Sad

The most represented families with more than 10 representatives were the
Asteraceae with 78 representatives (13.73%), Poaceae with 59 representatives (10.38 %),
Lamiaceae with 39 representatives (6.87%), Fabaceae with 37 representatives (6,51%),
Brassicaceae with 36 representatives (6.34%), Scrophulariaceae with 31 representatives
(5.46%), Cyperaceae with 19 representatives (3.34 %), Chenopodiaceae with 20
representatives (3.52%) , Polygonaceae with 18 representatives (3.17%), Rosaceae with 17
representatives (2.99 %), Boraginaceae and Ranunculaceae with 15 representatives
(2.64%), Caryophyllaceae with 14 (2.46 %), and Euphorbiaceae with 10 representatives
(1.76%).
Along with the most represented families of the synanthropic flora of Asteraceae,
Poaceae, Fabaceae and Brassicaceae which are represented in the flora of Serbia
(Nestorovi and Konstantinovi, 2011) and the urban environment - Beograd
(Jovanovi,1994), Vranje (Jovanovi, 2004), Smederevska Palanka (Jakovljevi, 2005) - a
high participation of the species of the Chenopodiaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Apiaceae and
other families were expected considering the synanthropic character of a large number of
representatives from these families. According to the research of Pyek et al. (2009), the

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most represented families in Europe are the ruderal species of an urban environment,
agricultural weeds as well as invasive species, among which are the following: Asteraceae
(692), Poaceae (597), Rosaceae (363), Fabaceae (323) and Brassicaceae (247) which
indicates a wide transparency of weed species and their easy transferring and spreading.
The aerial range of the total ruderal flora is characterized by the dominating of the species
of wide aerials whose spreading is mostly carried out by man (directly or indirectly).
Spreading predominantly in an hyman influent, the ruderal species inhabit habitats which
are insufficiently stable, mostly intensely salted, thermophylic, hygrically unstable and
usually nitrified. The most represented kinds are those which stress the anthropogenic
character of diverse ruderal habitats.
Based on the available literature and field data, among the most represented kinds
which include 568 species (63.1%), the ones which are prominent according to the number
of species are the following: Veronica and Carex with 15 representatives (2.64%),
Chenopodium with 13 representatives (2.29%), Vicia and Euphorbia with 12
representatives (2.11%), Rumex with 11 representatives (1.94%) and Bromus with 10
representatives (1.76%) (Tab.1). Ranunculus, Polygonum, Verbascum, Poa, Centaurea,
Amaranthus and many others are represented with less than 10 representatives.
Table 1: Percentage (%) of represented genus of weed flora of Novi Sad
Genera
Veronica
Carex
Chenopodium
Vicia
Euphorbia
Rumex
Bromus
Ranunculus
Polygonum
Vebascum
Poa
Centaurea
Amaranthus

No of taxa
15
15
13
12
12
11
10
8
8
7
7
7
7

%
2,64
2,64
2,29
2,11
2,11
1,94
1,76
1,41
1,41
1,23
1,23
1,23
1,23

According to research of other authors (Nestorovi and Konstantinovi, 2011) the

weed flora of Serbia is characterized by a highly stressed diversity, and the following are
prominent according to the number of species: Veronica (19), Chenopodium (16), Rumex
(13), Ranunculus (12), Vicia (12), Bromus (11), Euphorbia (11), etc.
II. Ecological analysis of flora
With an analysis of the representation of certain life forms within the structure of
synanthropic flora on the territory of the town of Novi Sad and within its framework as well
as the structure of weed flora its hemicryptophytic-pterophytic character with the
domination of hemicryptophytes was determined (Tab. 2.). The domination of
hemicryptophytes and pterophytes is in accordance with the dominant participation of the
mentioned life forms in the flora of Serbia which indicates an intensive anthropogenic
character of an urban environment.

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Weed species in synantropic flora of Novi Sad

Table 2: The biological range of weed flora in Novi Sad for basic life forms
Life form
Hemicryptophyta (H)
Therophyta (T)
Phanerophyta (Ph)
Geophyta (G)
Therophyta/Chamephyta (TH)
Hydrophyta (H)
Scadentophyta (S)
Chamaephyta (Ch)
Ukupno

No of species
225
183
65
46
17
12
11
9

%
39,61
32,22
11,44
8,10
2,99
2,11
1,94
1,58

568

63,10

Hemicryptophyta (H)
In the weed flora of Novi Sad, the life form of hemicryptophyta is the most
numerous, with 225 taxa, that is, 39.61% of the total number of recorded species.
Within the framework of hemicryptophyta dominates the group of perennial
hemicryptophyta with a stem (H scap), which is represented with 20.25%, that is 115
species. The number is in accordance with the dominant participation of this life form in the
synanthropic flora of Serbia, which makes the climate of the tested area, as well as the
entire moderate area towards Teril and Runkier a hemicryptophytic one.
The most represented are hemicryptophyta with a stem (H scap) with 115 species,
tufted life forms (H caesp) were represented with 5.98%, that is 34 species, creeping (H
rept) with 10 species, that is 1.76%, rosette plants (H ros) with 7 species, that is 1.23%,
perennial hemicryptophytes with a stem (H scap perenn) were represented with 0.88%, that
is 5 species, while to a lesser extent less than 5 species were represented by perennial
rosette plants with a stem (H scap semiros), half-rosette plants (H semiros), half-bushy etc.
(Diagram 2)

6%

H scap

5% 4% 3%

H caesp

8%

H bienn
H scap bienn

17%

57%

H rept
H ros
H scap perenn

Diagram 2: Percentage (%) of represented life forms of hemicryptophytes of the weed flora of
Novi Sad with more than 5 representatives

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The domination of hemicryptophytes is in accordance with the dominant

representation of this life form in the flora of Serbia, while the participation of the highly
dominant life form of pterophytes is in a direct correlation with the instability
(ephemerality) of the majority of ruderal habitats in which man with his frequent
interventions impedes development, primarily of perennial plants. An annual character, that
is, a relatively limited vegetation period within which these plants complete their
onthogenetic development is a specific response (adaptation) of ruderal plants to the
unstable and short-lasting habitats in urban environments.
The analysis of life forms of hemicryptophytes from the aspect of the representation
of specific growth categories indicates the domination of the transitional groups: Mac-Alt,
Mes-Mac, Mac-Meg, Meg-Alt, Mes-Meg.
The most represented are the species which bloom in the summer and in the springsummer period (a, v-a).
Therophyta (T)
The group of therophyta is the second in line according to representation in the
biological range of weeds of the flora of Novi Sad. It is represented with 180 species which
makes up 31.69% of the total number of taxa in the tested area.
The basic life form of the therophyta with a stem (T scap) is the most represented
among the pterophyta with 157 species, that is, 21.64%.
The creeping life forms (T rept) are represented with 6 types, that is, 1.06%. Annual
tufted kinds (T caesp) have 4 representatives, that is, 0.70% while rosette plants (T ros) and
parasites (T par) are presented with two genus (Diagram 3).

4% 2% 2% 2%

T scap
T rept
T caesp
T scap H scap
90%

T scap H bienn

Diagram 3. Percentage (%) of representation of life forms of therophyta of the weed flora of
Novi Sad with more than 5 representatives

An analysis of life forms of therophyta from the aspect of the representation of

certain categories of growth points to the domination of the following transitory groups:
Mes-Mac, Mi-Mes, Mes-Meg, Mac-Meg.
The most represented are species which bloom in the summer and in the springsummer period (a, v-a).
A high participation of therophyta in the biological range is a result of the instability
of the majority of habitats, where the anthropogenic factor with its activities (occasional or
permanent) hinders the development of perennial plants and enables an uninterrupted

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Weed species in synantropic flora of Novi Sad

development of annual genus. As a rule, the lesser the impact of anthropogenic factors on
some ruderal habitat, the more the composition of the biological range will be altered in the
direction of reducing the proportional participation of therophyta and increasing the total
share of biennial and perennial plant types (Jovanovi, 1994; Jari, 2009).
Geophyta (G)
Geophyta are represented with 46 species, that is, 8.10%. Within the framework of
geophytes, the most represented are rhizomatous geophytes (G rhiz) with 25 species, that is,
4.40%. Geophyta with bulbs (G bulb) include 11 species, that is, 1.97% while the other life
forms are represented with less than 5 species (Diagram 4). The life form of rhizomatous
geophytes (G rhiz) is present with 2 species, that is, 0.35% while other life forms are
present with less than 1 species.

31%
G rhiz
G bulb
69%

Diagram 4. Percentage (%) of representation of life forms of geophyte of weed flora of Novi
Sad with more than 5 representatives

An analysis of life forms of geophytes from the aspect of the representation of

certain growth categories indicates the domination of the transitory groups: Mac-Meg,MesMac, Mac-Alt and tall plants (Alt).
The most represented are species which bloom during the summer and in the springsummer period (a, v-a).
Therophyta/hamephyta (TH)
The life form therophyta/hamephyta in the weed flora of Novi Sad is represented
with 17 species, that is, 2.99%. Within these categories, the most represented are plants
with aboveground trees without a ground rosetta (T/H scap), with 7 species, that is 1.23%,
biennial kinds (T scap/H bienn) are represented with 5 species, that is 0.5%, while the other
life forms are represented with less than 5 species (Diagram 5). With 4 species, that is 0.7%
represented are life forms T scap/H bienn and T scap/H scap bienn while T ros/H ros bienn
is represented with one species, 0.18%.

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36%
T scap/ H scap
T scap/H bienn
64%

Diagram 5. Percentage (%) of representation of life forms of therophyta/hamephyta in the weed

flora of Novi Sad with more than 5 representatives

An analysis of the life form of therophyta/hamephyta from the aspect of

representation of certain growth categories indicates the domination of the species of
average height (Mes) as well as transitory groups: Mac-Alt, Mes-Meg.
The most represented are the kinds which bloom during the summer and in the
spring-summer period (a, v-a).
Scandetophyta (S)
The life form of lianas or climbing vines are represented primarily with a group of 4
species of lignified (S lig) types of lianas, that is, 0.71% while the other types of lianas with
a rosette (SG herb rhiz), hemicryptophytic (SH herb) and geophytic (ST herb) vines are
represented with one species, that is, 0.18% (Diagram 6).

S lig
50%

50%

ST herb/T scap

Diagram 6. Percentage (%) of representation of life forms of scadentophyta of the weed flora of
Novi Sad with more than 5 representatives

An analysis of life forms of climbing vines from the aspect of the representation of
certain growth categories indicates the domination of very tall species (Alt) with 5 species,
that is 0.88% and a species of medium height (Mes) as well as transitory categories (MesMeg) with 2 species, that is, 0.35%, while the tall species (Meg) and the transitory category
Meg-Alt represented with 1 species, that is, 0.18%. The most represented are the species
which bloom in the summer (a).

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Weed species in synantropic flora of Novi Sad

Chamephyta (Ch)
The life form of chamephyta is represented with 10 species (1.76%). In the group of
chamephyta, dominant is the form of half-shrubs (Ch suffr) with 2 species (0.35%), life
forms with climbing vine shoots (Ch rept) are present with 3 species (0.53%), while the
other life forms are present with 1 species (0.18%).
An analysis of the life forms of chamephyta from the aspect of the representation of
certain growth categories indicate the domination of tall species (Mac) with 3 species, that
is, 0.53% while the other species of medium height (Mes), miniature (Mi) as well as
transitory categories (Mes-Mec) are present with 2 species, that is, 0.35%. The most represented are species which bloom in the summer and in the spring-summer period (a, v-a).
Hydrophyta (Hyd)
The life form of hydrophytes in the weed flora of Novi Sad are represented with 12
species, that is, 2.11%. Within this category, the most represented are rooted hydrophytes
(Hyd rad) with 8 species, that is 1.41%, while flotant hydrophytes are represented with 3
species, that is, 0.53%.
The most represented are species which bloom in the summer (a).
III. Phyto-geographic analysis

A plant-geographical analysis of the total synanthropic flora in the area of the town
of Novi Sad included some 900 taxa. A research has recorded 109 adventive taxa of which
46 taxa were of an American origin, 22 came from Africa, 20 from Asia, 10 from the
Mediterranean, and one taxon was Pontic and cryptogenic. Some 73 invasive species were
recorded.
Based on the separated weed flora which encompasses 568 species, aerial types with
a number of species were recorded: the Eurasian aerial type with 276 representatives
(48.95%), the Mediterranean-Sub Mediterranean with 36 representatives (6.34%), PonticSouth Siberian with 29 representatives (5.10%), Middle European with 77 (13.56%),
Atlantic-Mediterranean with 5 (0.88%), circumpolar with 50 (8.8%), Cosmopolitan with 55
(9.68%) and 40 (7.42%) representatives of the adventive species of which 17 species and 4
which are not precisely defined originated from America, 6 species originated from Asia, 2
species were Mediterranean and one taxon was cryptogenic. Some 44 invasive species were
recorded.
According to research (Obradovi, Matanovi, 1986) the Mediterranean-Sub
Mediterranean aerial type and adventive of Northern American origin were emphasized
with the largest number of species which is in accordance with the Vojvodina flora period
before World War 2 and especially the enriching of adventive species after World War 2.
The composition was fairly heterogeneous and thus the imported plants were most often
neophytic or ephemerophytic cultured plants or cultivated (ergasiophytes), or species
frequently escaping from cultivation (ergasiophygophytes) or members of the Vojvodina
flora (epicophytes) such as the species of the Amarantus genus (Obradovi and Matani,
1986). In the framework of our research of weed flora of Novi Sad, 8 aerial types were
separated, which were then classified into aerial groups (Table 3).

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Table 3. The review of aerial types in the weed flora of Novi Sad
Aerial types

No of species

Percentage (%)

Eurasian

276

48,59

Centar European

77

13,56

Cosmopolitan

55

9,68

Circumpolar

50

8,8

Adventive

40

7,42

Mediterranean and sub-Mediterranean

36

6,34

Pontic- southern Siberian

29

5,1

Atlantic-Mediterranean

0,88

As a consequence of an intense anthropogenic influence during the last few decades,

there have been significant changes which were headed in the direction of a ruderalization
of flora, that is, an increasing of the number of adventive and cosmopolitan species which
are the most important factors in the changing and enriching of the flora of Vojvodina. A
significant participation of adventive and cosmopolitan aerial type is what characterizes
ruderal flora as a whole as well as the ruderal flora on the territory of the town of Novi Sad.
DISCUSSION
The contemporary way of life and urbanization in large towns have resulted in
frequent changes within habitats. The anthropogenic pressure on these kinds of habitats
which has been present for centuries and is increasingly more intense in the modern age,
has led to changes in the floral composition of plant communities of the ruderal flora. The
arheophytes which arrived with the first farmers to new environments adapted to the new
conditions on arable land from which they spread to cities without difficulty. Neotophytes
with different life forms are urban habitats and a very diverse group of allochthonous flora
which adapted well in towns. In Central Europe, 45% native species have been defined, as
well as 16% arheophytes and 33% neotophytes (Lososova et al., 2011). One part of the
imported flora which exists in towns was imported and cultivated as decorative in botanical
gardens and parks and spread from an urban environment into a natural environment
(uncultivated) while the other part was imported inadvertently.
The first finding of the allochthonous weed species Iva xanthifolia imported into
Vojvodina was revealed in 1966 (ajinovi and Koljadinski, 1966), on 4 locations in Novi
Sad. Later data from 1973 (Koljadinski and ajinovi, 1973) indicates the spreading of
these species in the area of Novi Sad as well as the new localities of Baka and Srem
(ajinovi and Koljadinski, 1978). Slavni ascertains that Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn. had
appeared in Baka in 1958 when it was noted in the streets of Novi Sad. Panicum capillare
L. was for the first time determined on the territory of Vojvodina in 1954, spreading until
1961 to the entire southwestern Baka (Slavni, 1962). In the flora of Novi Sad and the
surroundings, similarly as in other regions of Vojvodina, constant changes of the floristic
composition took place, which are reflected, on the one hand, on the withdrawing and
disappearing of certain species, and on the other, in the enriching of the flora of the newly

152

Weed species in synantropic flora of Novi Sad

imported adventive species. For an insight into the flora of Vojvodina, it is significant to
record new species of a foreign origin. Based on research in the period 1972-1974, Ivkovi
points to the spreading of aerial adventive species among which were the following:
Ambrosia elatior L., Solidago giganthea var. serotina (Ait) Cronquist, Oxalis corniculata
L., Galinsoga parviflora Cav, Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn, Panicum capillare L. and
Oenothera depressa Gaertn. (Ivkovi, 1975). Based on the mentioned references, we can
conclude that, the region of Vojvodina, not just due to its geographical position but also its
agricultural character, is the most favorable for importing and spreading of weeds. The fact
that in the flora of Vojvodina a great number of allochthonic species have been recorded
goes in favor of this, along with the spreading of their aerials. After World War 2, the issue
of the spreading of allochthonic species was researched by Slavni (1953, 1961),
Atanackovi,1968 and others who in their papers presented floristic and ecological data on
the newly imported species. Asclepias syriaca L. is cited by Atanackovi in 1958, which
spread in the surroundings of Novi Sad from the cultures of honey plants, considering that
they were imported as a culture.
As a consequence of an intense and diverse impact of man, along with an
increasingly developed trade of a wide international and intercontinental scope, today there
is an increasingly more rapid spreading of weed species. The speed of the spreading of
species shown in Vojvodina can surely be explained by a reduced competition in the
phytocenosis of ruderal habitats, by optimal edaphic and microclimatic conditions of
anthropogenic habitats for the germinating of seeds of plant species as well as the proximity
of habitats to roads with mass transport. Also, their mass appearance can be explained by a
similarity of climate conditions of the southeastern part of Europe, to which Vojvodina also
partly belongs, with the climate of the habitation of the adventive kind. It is a fact that in
Serbia there is an increase of frequency, intensity and duration of meteorological droughts,
as a result of increased temperatures, decreased summer precipitation and a larger number
of longer dry periods. These changes were followed by physical and biological indications
of environmental changes, such as a prolonged vegetation season which conditioned an
increased productivity of vegetation, especially thermophylic weed species which dominate
in in Serbia, encompassing of the total number of weed species (Popovi, 2009). Weed
plants indisputably serve as indicators of a certain type of habitat or point to a certain type
of climate, especially in regards to a heat regimen (Kovaevi, 1959). The composition of
the weed flora of a habitat changes depending on climate changes, the type of soil, the
altitude, and it is also subject to seasonal changes so that biomonitoring, charting weeds
with the aim to determine the diffusion and intensity of the representation of the dominant
species is of a great significance - with the aim of determining new, invasive, resistant
species (Stefanovi and associates, 2002). Weed plants have according to the heat factor a
wider ecological valence and the temperature limits for seed germination are significantly
more wide-ranging than with cultivated plants. In most cases they have the ability to be
maintained in very wide margins of vacillation of ecological factors, and during changes of
the external environment factors weed plants are, due to their wide ecological valence, able
to adapt to newly occurring conditions, which are often not optimal. Connected with the
spreading of ecological valence is also cosmopolitism, one of the features of weed plants
and also a significant one which enables them a great expansion, due to the production of a
huge amount of seeds and a great seed longevity which enables survival (Koji and
associates, 1985). The allochthonous weed species which are represented in the flora of
Novi Sad and widely spread in Europe are the following: Amaranthus retroflexus L. 1753,
Amaranthus albus L. 1759, Amaranthus blitoides S. Watson 1877, Chenopodium
ambrosioides L. 1753, Datura stramonium L. 1753, Erigeron annus (L.) Pers 1807, Juncus

Gavrilovi Marijana, Rat Milica, Boin Biljana, Anakov Goran, Boa Pal

153

tenuis Willd, 1799, Medicago sativa L. 1753, Oenothera biennis L. 1753, Panicum
capillare L. 1753, Solidago canadensis L.1753, Veronica persica Poiret in Lam. 1808,
Vicia sativa L. 1753, Lepidium virginicum L. 1753, Medicago sativa L. 1753 etc. (Pyek et
al., 2009). The most represented genus of weed flora of Novi Sad is that which stresses the
anthropogenic character of different ruderal habitats, these being Veronica, Chenopodium,
Rumex, Ranunculus, Vicia, Bromus, Euphorbia. The most represented families of Novi Sad
among which are the ruderal species of an urban environment, agricultural weeds as well as
invasive species are the following: Asteraceae, Poaceae, Fabaceae and Brassicaceae. The
mentioned families are also represented in the other towns of Serbia and Europe which
points to a wide transparency of weed species and their easy transporting and spreading.
Life forms are determined by the climate and reflect the life conditions of the
environment. Weed plant species can undoubtedly serve as indicators of a certain type of
habitat or point to a certain kind of climate, especially in regards to the heat regimen. Based
on an insight into weed flora, it is possible to carry out an assessment of the thermophylic
character of habitats (Kovaevi, 1959:2). For all the tested towns in Serbia, references cite
the hemicryptophytic-pterophytic character of the ruderal flora, which is also determined by
our research. The dominant hemicryptophytic-pterophytic life form of weed flora was to be
expected due to the biological traits of plants and the habitat conditions of the urban
environment. The pterophytes forms are representative annual plants with a short
vegetation period and a need for a great amount of light and heat and as such, they are
suitable to be imported in urban environments and deserted areas and therefore they can be
encountered in the very same environments. Along with pterophytes, the most numerous
group of weed plants are represented by hemicryptophytes which, due to the heterogeneous
habitat of Novi Sad, are spread widely starting from partly humid terrains to steppes, and
also numerous are xerothermic communities on stony areas which belong to thermophylic
fields and pastures (Dikli, 1984). The third in order according to the number of
represented species are geophytes which make up an integral part of steppe vegetation and
the vegetation of stony areas and among them are species which belong in dry habitats. The
microclimate conditions of urban habitats increasingly suit the weed species of North
American, Asian and Mediterranean origin which appear as the most represented in the
weed flora of Novi Sad. Stress tolerance, pollution, water deficit resistance are the features
of many foreign species which exist in the urban flora (Williams et al., 2009) and thus, due
to a certain number of weeds, ruderal and adventive plants which have adapted and in some
cases also evolved into special infraspecies taxa are considered to be a potential
precondition of the decreasing biodiversity (Kneevi and associates, 1993). Some of the
weed species which we consider as having disappeared from the territory of the town of
Novi Sad and are now included in various referential data are Abutilon theophrasti, Adonis
aestivalis, Antennaria dioica, Berula erecta, Caltha palustris, Crepis cappillaris,
Euphorbia palustris, Euphobia stricta, Glyceria fluitans, Glyceria maxima, Juncus tenuis,
Ononis arvensis, Rapistrum perenne and others.
Monitoring weed species is a key factor in controlling and preventing of the
spreading of species with a high degree of invasiveness.
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WEED SPECIES IN SYNANTROPIC FLORA OF NOVI SAD

Gavrilovi, M.1, Rat, M.2, Boin, B.3, Anakov, G. 2, Boa, P. 2
1University Educons, Faculty of Environmental protection, Vojvode Putnika 87, Sremska Kamenica, Serbia
2University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology and Ecology, Trg D. Obradovica 2, Novi Sad, Serbia
3University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacy, Hajduk Veljkova 3, Novi Sad, Serbia
Corresponding e-mail: goran.anackov@dbe.uns.ac.rs
Project of city administration for environmental protection, Novi Sad

INTRODUCTION
Ruderal or syntrophic flora and vegetation are the most dynamic floristic-vegetation complex and an integral part of antropogenic
environment. On one side the influence of antropogenic factors and on the other a variety of climate, topografic, geological and soil
characteristics contribute to highly pronounced diversity of a weed flora. The presence of antropogenic influences have crucial
importance of the emergence, development and distribution of ruderal flora and ruderal vegetation making the biotops very dynamic and
unstable habitats.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Novi Sad is located in an area with a concentrated agricultural production, a town which is also an
international river port and most favorable for importing and spreading of weeds. An analysis of the
number of weed flora species in individual biotope types of Novi Sad has pointed out that the largest
representation of weeds is in the group of artificial, grassy as well as coastal habitats.

A
B
I

The plant material was collected during the entire vegetation seasons of 2009 and 2010 at chosen
localities in Novi Sad (Klisa, Novo Naselje, the Industrial zones North and South, along the canal, along
the embankment, the Kej, trand).

T
A

I I Ecological analisis flora

I Taxonomic analysis of flora

Table 2. The biological range of weed flora

in Novi Sad for basic life forms.

16

ivotna forma

Broj vrsta

Hemicryptophyta (H)

225

39,61

Therophyta (T)

183

32,22

Phanerophyta (Ph)

65

11,44

Geophyta (G)

46

8,10

Therophyta/Chamephyta
(TH)

17

2,99

Hydrophyta (H)

12

2,11

Scadentophyta (S)

11

1,94

14
12
10
8
6

T
S
III Phyto-geographic analysis
Table 3. The biological range of weed
flora in Novi Sad for basic life forms.
Aerial types

Number of
species

Percen
tage
(%)

Eurasian

276

48,59

Centar European

77

13,56

Cosmopolitan

55

9,68

Circumpolar

50

8,8

Adventive

40

7,42

Mediterranean and
sub-Mediterranean

36

6,34

PonticSiberian

29

5,1

0,88

4
2

st
er
ac
e
P ae
oa
La cea
m
e
ia
c
Fa ea
ba e
B
r
c
a
S
cr ssi ea e
op ca
hu ce
la ae
ria
ce
C
h e Ap ae
no iac
p o ea
e
d
C iac
yp e
P er a ae
ol
c
yg
e
on ae
a
R cea
os e
B
or ac
e
R a gi ae
a n na
c
C unc ea
ar
e
yo ulac
p
e
E hyl ae
up la
c
ho e
rb a e
ia
ce
ae

Graph 1. Percentage (%) of the representation of weed

flora families with more than ten taxa within the
framework of synanthropic flora of Novi Sad
Table 1. Percentage (%) of represented
genus of weed flora of Novi Sad

Chamaephyta (Ch)
Ukupno

568

63,10

H caesp

8%

H bienn
H scap bienn
57%

17%

Veronica

15

2,64

Carex

15

2,64

Chenopodium

13

2,29

H ros

Vicia

12

2,11

Euphorbia

12

2,11

Graph 2. Percentage (%) of represented life

forms of hemicryptophytes of the weed flora of
Novi Sad with more than 5 representatives

4% 2%2% 2%

T scap
T rept
T caesp
T scap H scap
T scap H bienn

90%

Rumex

11

1,94

Bromus

10

1,76

Ranunculus

1,41

Polygonum

1,41

Vebascum

1,23

Poa

1,23

Graph 3. Percentage (%) of representation

of life forms of therophyta of the weed flora
of Novi Sad with more than 5
representatives

31%
G rhiz
G bulb

AtlanticMediterranean

CONSLUSION
For all the tested towns in Serbia, references cite
the hemicryptophytic-pterophytic character of the
ruderal flora, which is also determined by our
research. The mentioned families Asteraceae,
Poaceae, Fabaceae and Brassicaceae are also
represented in the other towns of Serbia and
Europe which points to a wide transparency of
weed species and their easy transporting and
spreading. The microclimate conditions of urban
habitats increasingly suit the weed species of North
American, Asian and Mediterranean origin which
appear as the most represented in the weed flora
of Novi Sad.

69%

Centaurea

1,23

Amaranthus

1,23

southern

H rept
H scap perenn

Broj
takson
a

Rod

1,58

H scap

5% 4% 3%

6%

Graph 4. Percentage (%) of representation of life forms of geophyte of

weed flora of Novi Sad with more than 5 representatives