Vertical Columns with Sustainable Green Cover: Meadow Plants in Urban Design
Unique vertical column structures were constructed for the greening of a structure at the Botanical Garden of Vilnius University, in which a plant cover was formed using the turf rolls of semi-natural meadows that were wrapped on 197 columns, with each column consisting of three equal segments. By e...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/3/636 |
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| author | Violeta Stakelienė Izolda Pašakinskienė Kristina Ložienė Darius Ryliškis Audrius Skridaila |
| author_facet | Violeta Stakelienė Izolda Pašakinskienė Kristina Ložienė Darius Ryliškis Audrius Skridaila |
| author_sort | Violeta Stakelienė |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Unique vertical column structures were constructed for the greening of a structure at the Botanical Garden of Vilnius University, in which a plant cover was formed using the turf rolls of semi-natural meadows that were wrapped on 197 columns, with each column consisting of three equal segments. By evaluating the species composition and the abundance of vegetation in the segments of the columns, we studied how this natural cover changes and what its survival potential is. During the five years of observation, 97 plant species were determined in total. Over time, the initial plant species of fertile soils were mostly replaced by ruderal, nitrophilous, and pioneer plants. Out of the 58 original species, 18 disappeared, while 39 new ones emerged. In the vegetation cover on the north exposition of the building, the original species composition declined faster. The most persistent species were ruderal short-lived <i>Conyza canadensis</i>, <i>Melilotus albus</i>, and <i>Urtica dioica,</i> and long-lived <i>Elytrigia repens</i>. As for vegetation classes, the initial plant communities of the <i>Molinio-Arrhenatheretea elatioris</i> vegetation class were partially replaced by the plant communities of the <i>Koelerio-Corynephoretea canescentis</i> and <i>Artemisietea vulgaris</i> classes; however, unformed plant communities finally became prevalent. All directions, including the north, east, south and west, were equally dominated by semi-shade- and semi-light-loving plant species, together with a less abundant representation of light-loving species. Meanwhile, an unexpected establishment of the light-loving annual <i>Arabidopsis arenosa</i> was observed on the least illuminated north exposition. Likewise, the perennial <i>Festuca pratensis</i>, which is particularly resistant to wintering, emerged and spread on all expositions. The vegetation in the vertical columns was dynamic, and the initial plant species significantly diminished in the five years; however, as new species took place, the columns remained sufficiently covered with a green carpet of plants. This study reveals the benefits of using semi-natural meadow turfs in vertical greening of buildings in the harsh climate of a 5b hardiness zone, which is accompanied by distressing climatic fluctuations during the vegetation season. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:29:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fa7634bb7bf846ec9b93cddfc86ef416 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:29:58Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-fa7634bb7bf846ec9b93cddfc86ef4162023-11-16T17:45:16ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472023-02-0112363610.3390/plants12030636Vertical Columns with Sustainable Green Cover: Meadow Plants in Urban DesignVioleta Stakelienė0Izolda Pašakinskienė1Kristina Ložienė2Darius Ryliškis3Audrius Skridaila4Botanical Garden of Vilnius University, Kairėnų 43, 10239 Vilnius, LithuaniaBotanical Garden of Vilnius University, Kairėnų 43, 10239 Vilnius, LithuaniaNature Research Centre, Institute of Botany, Žaliųjų Ežerų Str. 47, 08406 Vilnius, LithuaniaBotanical Garden of Vilnius University, Kairėnų 43, 10239 Vilnius, LithuaniaBotanical Garden of Vilnius University, Kairėnų 43, 10239 Vilnius, LithuaniaUnique vertical column structures were constructed for the greening of a structure at the Botanical Garden of Vilnius University, in which a plant cover was formed using the turf rolls of semi-natural meadows that were wrapped on 197 columns, with each column consisting of three equal segments. By evaluating the species composition and the abundance of vegetation in the segments of the columns, we studied how this natural cover changes and what its survival potential is. During the five years of observation, 97 plant species were determined in total. Over time, the initial plant species of fertile soils were mostly replaced by ruderal, nitrophilous, and pioneer plants. Out of the 58 original species, 18 disappeared, while 39 new ones emerged. In the vegetation cover on the north exposition of the building, the original species composition declined faster. The most persistent species were ruderal short-lived <i>Conyza canadensis</i>, <i>Melilotus albus</i>, and <i>Urtica dioica,</i> and long-lived <i>Elytrigia repens</i>. As for vegetation classes, the initial plant communities of the <i>Molinio-Arrhenatheretea elatioris</i> vegetation class were partially replaced by the plant communities of the <i>Koelerio-Corynephoretea canescentis</i> and <i>Artemisietea vulgaris</i> classes; however, unformed plant communities finally became prevalent. All directions, including the north, east, south and west, were equally dominated by semi-shade- and semi-light-loving plant species, together with a less abundant representation of light-loving species. Meanwhile, an unexpected establishment of the light-loving annual <i>Arabidopsis arenosa</i> was observed on the least illuminated north exposition. Likewise, the perennial <i>Festuca pratensis</i>, which is particularly resistant to wintering, emerged and spread on all expositions. The vegetation in the vertical columns was dynamic, and the initial plant species significantly diminished in the five years; however, as new species took place, the columns remained sufficiently covered with a green carpet of plants. This study reveals the benefits of using semi-natural meadow turfs in vertical greening of buildings in the harsh climate of a 5b hardiness zone, which is accompanied by distressing climatic fluctuations during the vegetation season.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/3/636green columnsspecies dynamicsvegetation classesenvironmental factorsPoaceae<i>Arabidopsis arenosa</i> |
| spellingShingle | Violeta Stakelienė Izolda Pašakinskienė Kristina Ložienė Darius Ryliškis Audrius Skridaila Vertical Columns with Sustainable Green Cover: Meadow Plants in Urban Design Plants green columns species dynamics vegetation classes environmental factors Poaceae <i>Arabidopsis arenosa</i> |
| title | Vertical Columns with Sustainable Green Cover: Meadow Plants in Urban Design |
| title_full | Vertical Columns with Sustainable Green Cover: Meadow Plants in Urban Design |
| title_fullStr | Vertical Columns with Sustainable Green Cover: Meadow Plants in Urban Design |
| title_full_unstemmed | Vertical Columns with Sustainable Green Cover: Meadow Plants in Urban Design |
| title_short | Vertical Columns with Sustainable Green Cover: Meadow Plants in Urban Design |
| title_sort | vertical columns with sustainable green cover meadow plants in urban design |
| topic | green columns species dynamics vegetation classes environmental factors Poaceae <i>Arabidopsis arenosa</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/3/636 |
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