A Study on the Adaptations of Some Natural Ground Cover Plants and on their Implications in Landscape Architecture in the Ecological Conditions of Trabzon

Authors : Cengiz Acar, Mustafa Var

Pages : 235-245

View : 12 | Download : 9

Publication Date : 9999-12-31

Article Type : Makaleler

Abstract :In this research, the adaptation and ground cover properties of some plants with aesthetic and functional features, found in the natural flora of the province of Trabzon, were investigated. Nineteen different natural ground cover plants from 8 families were chosen as trial plant material. These materials, which were mostly from the alpine zone, were planted as plugs in 1994. Survival rates and plant cover area were recorded and measured at the beginning of the vegetation season, during flowering, and at the end of the vegetation season in 1995 and 1996. Moreover, observations were made on some of the morphological properties throughout the study. Sedum spurium and Thymus praecox subsp. caucasicus var. grossheimii showed the best adaptation capabilities with respect to survival rates. Also, the plants in the study were grouped according to mean area covered in parcels in the second year. In this grouping, while Satureja spicigera, Hypericum pruinatum, Helianthemum nummularium subsp. tomentosum, Sedum spurium and Sedum stoloniferum had very strong growing and adapting capabilities, Tanacetum armenum, Sedum tenellum, Helychrysum graveolens and Sempervivum minus var. minus had insufficient adapting capability and covering percentage in the parcels, despite the fact that they had effective aesthetic properties in their natural habitats. However, some morphological changes were observed in some of the ground cover plants during the adaptation and growing periods in the nursery which is different from their natural growing conditions. Consequently, some suggestions were made as to whether some of the natural ground cover in the trial could be used for aesthetic and functional purposes in urban and rural landscape planning areas.
Keywords : Adaptation, Natural Ground Cover Plant, Landscape Architecture