EVL Trkmanské louky
The Trkmanské Louky site was chosen for its location and proximity to other project sites (just across the road from Trkmanec-Rybníčky) and for its relatively large population of the project’s only plant target species, the yellow-spined thistle (Cirsium brachycephalum), which is a focus for conservation here.
In addition, this area hosts all the basal species of inland salt meadows, including remote sedge (Carex distans), rye sedge (Carex secalina), slender centaury (Centaurium pulchellum), seaside trefoil (Lotus maritimus), slender bird’s-foot trefoil (Lotus tenuis), and strawberry clover (Trifolium fragiferum).
Some rare and specialized salt meadow plants also grow here, such as Gerard’s rush (Juncus gerardii), reflexed saltmarsh grass (Puccinellia distans), common fleabane (Pulicaria dysenterica), brookweed (Samolus valerandi), and salt sandspurry (Spergularia marina).
What makes these plants so interesting? They have adapted to grow in environments that other plants can’t tolerate. They can handle high salt levels in the water and soil by storing salts within their tissues while retaining water, or by actively excreting salt onto the surface of their leaves and stems. Some even shed parts of themselves to get rid of excess salt!
If you’d like to see these salt-loving plants in full bloom, the best time to visit is at the end of summer.
At Trkmanské Louky, our efforts focus on well-timed mowing with biomass removal, clearing out invasive woody plants, and occasional plowing. Plowing helps break up the soil surface, encouraging new growth of the yellow-spined thistle and other salt-tolerant plant species.
