Chorology and phytocoenotic context of Saponaria bellidifolia Sm. within the Apuseni mountains (Southeastern Carpathians, Romania)

We studied the chorology and the community context of the rare S. bellidifolia, based on synthetic phytosociological data and mathematical models. 78 original and 139 phytosociological relev square s extracted from literature were used to calculate the constancy, fidelity and indicator value of S. bellidifolia for each plant community. Its floristic relationships were explored with Spearman correlations, Fisher square s exact test and binomial logistic regressions. A chorological map of the species within Apuseni Mts. was drawn. The target species registered the highest constancy (with significant fidelity values) only within the Festuca pollens- and Carex humilis- communities and the highest abundance within the Teucrium montanum- and Festuca pallens- communities. Its interspecific associations were very weak, whereas its occurrence was best predicted by the abundance of Festuca pallens, Teucrium montanum and Anthericum ramosum. All results were discussed in the light of community dynamics.