Gozd smreke in golega lepena je conalna gozdna združba zgornjega dela gorskega pasu in sega v subalpinsko območje, ki je že izven mediteranskega vpliva. Uspeva na nadmorskih višinah med 1400 in 1600 m. Prevladujejo zmerno strma do strma zakrasela pobočja v vseh nebesnih legah. Na karbonatni matični podlagi, apnencih, dolomitnih apnencih in dolomitih so rendzine različnih razvojnih stopenj z močno primesjo surovega humusa. Redkeje, na bolj izravnanih legah, so rjava pokarbonatna tla. Prevladujejo surove klimatske razmere z mrzlimi zimami in dolgotrajno snežno odejo. Povprečna letna temperatura je od 3 do 4^o C.

Diagnostična kombinacija rastlinskih vrst
Drevesna plast: navadna smreka (Picea abies), evropski macesen (Larix decidua), bukev (Fagus sylvatica), beli javor (Acer pseudoplatanus), bela jelka (Abies alba).
Grmovna plast: Clematis alpina, Daphne mezereum, Sorbus aucoparia, S. chamaemespilus, Rubus saxatilis.
Zeliščna plast: Adenostyles glabra, Asplenium viride, Betonica alopecuros, Buphthalmum salicifolium, Calamagrostis varia, Cardamine trifolia, Carex digitata, Dentaria enneaphyllos, Galium lucidum, Geranium sylvaticum, Helleborus niger subsp. niger, Hieracium sylvaticum, Homogyne sylvestris, Melampyrum sylvaticum subsp. sylvaticum, Melica nutans, Oxalis acetosella, Phyteuma orbiculare, Poa alpina var. vivipara, Polygala chamaebuxus, Saxifraga rotundifolia, S. cuneifolia, Senecio abrotanifolius, Sesleria albicans, Soldanella alpina, Solidago virgaurea, Vaccinium myrtillus, Valeriana tripteris, Viola biflora.

Po golosekih se množično razvijajo vrste reda Adenostyletalia in subalpinske grmovnice, ki zelo otežujejo naravno regeneracijo gozda.

Pretežno so to enodobni oziroma enomerni gozdovi smreke. Drevesna plast je pretrgana. Gozdovi opisane združbe so zaradi kakovostne smreke in evropskega macesna gospodarsko pomembni. Mestoma imajo varovalni pomen.

Združbo smreke in golega lepena uvrščamo v zvezo Vaccinio-Piceion.

The Adenostylo glabrae–Piceetum is a zonal forest association of the upper part of the mountainous zone and extends to subalpine regions that are not under the influence of the Mediterranean climate. It grows at altitudes from 1,400 meters to 1,600 meters on moderately steep to steep karst slopes in all aspects. Over the calcareous parent material of limestone, dolomite limestone, and dolomite, there are rendzic Leptosols of various development stages with a mor type of humus. Occasionally, there is chromic Cambisol on the gentler slopes. Harsh climate conditions with cold winters and a long-lasting snow cover are most characteristic of this region. The mean annual temperature ranges from 3° C to 4° C.

Diagnostic combination of plant species
Tree layer: Picea abies, Larix decidua, Fagus sylvatica, Acer pseudoplatanus, Abies alba.
Shrub layer: Clematis alpina, Daphne mezereum, Sorbus aucuparia, S. chamaemespilus, Rubus saxatilis.
Zeliščna plast: Adenostyles glabra, Asplenium viride, Betonica alopecuros, Buphthalmum salicifolium, Calamagrostis varia, Cardamine trifolia, Carex digitata, Dentaria enneaphyllos, Galium lucidum, Geranium sylvaticum, Helleborus niger subsp. niger, Hieracium sylvaticum, Homogyne sylvestris, Melampyrum sylvaticum subsp. sylvaticum, Melica nutans, Oxalis acetosella, Phyteuma orbiculare, Poa alpina var. vivipara, Polygala chamaebuxus, Saxifraga rotundifolia, S. cuneifolia, Senecio abrotanifolius, Sesleria albicans, Soldanella alpina, Solidago virgaurea, Vaccinium myrtillus, Valeriana tripteris, Viola biflora.

On clearings, high stalk plant communities of the Adenostyletalia and subalpine shrubs develop rapidly and make the natural regeneration of the forest difficult.

These are largely spruce forests of even age and height. The tree layer is often broken. The forests of the Adenostylo glabrae–Piceetum are economically important due to the high-quality spruce and larch. In places, they play an important protective role.

The Adenostylo glabrae–Piceetum is classified in the alliance Vaccino–Piceion.

__________________

Wraber M. 1966: Das Adenostylo glabrae-Piceetum, eine neue Fichtenwaldgesellschaft in den slowenischen Alpen. Angewandte Pflanzensoziologie 18–19: 93–101.
Wallnöfer S. 1993: Vaccinio-Piceetea. V: L. Mucina, G. Grabherr & S. Wallnöfer: Die Pflanzengesellschaften Österreichs, Teil III. Wälder und Gebüsche, Jena, s. 283–337.
Zupančič M. 1999: Smrekovi gozdovi Slovenije. Dela SAZU 36, 222 s.