The sedge Carex curvula subsp. curvula (Cyperaceae) is the dominating graminoid in the alpine zone on siliceous substrates in the European Alps. It also occurs in other European mountain ranges, e.g. in the S. Carpathians and the Pyrenees. By applying the AFLP-fingerprinting technique on samples from more than 100 populations from the entire distributional range, we try to localize the Pleistocene refugia of this taxon. C. curvula, being wind-pollinated, is characterized by a low level of genetic differentiation between populations caused by high levels of gene flow via pollen. Whilst long-term separation of populations in the Carpathians is supported, the populations of the Pyrenees are closely related to populations of the Western Alps and are possibly of recent origin. Phylogeographic patterns of other alpine plant species, i.e. Phyteuma hemisphaericum (Campanulaceae), Saponaria pumila (Caryophyllaceae), Senecio incanus (Asteraceae) and Veronica bellidioides (Scrophulariaceae) growing more or less exclusively in C. curvula communities, are presented. Congruences and contrasts in the phylogeographic patterns are discussed. Using a set of statistical approaches, the localization of several glacial refugia for these plant species seems possible. The populational groups identified by phylogeographical analyses are largely congruent with general biogeographical patterns, showing centers of endemism of alpine plants in the European Alps.

Key words: AFLP, alpine plants, Carex curvula, comparative phylogeography, European Alps, Pleistocene refugia