Despite the presence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in temperate forests, knowledge concerning their diversity and interactions with plants is still insufficient. Therefore, we studied the impact of overstorey species identity on AMF abundance and species richness and composition in relation to herbaceous plant cover and soil chemical properties. The effects of 14 tree species grown for 48 years in monospecific plots in the Siemianice Experimental Forest (western Poland) were compared, including the following groupings: deciduous vs coniferous; native to Poland/Europe vs alien; forming vs not forming arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM). Coniferous tree plots were characterised by lower pH values, plots with deciduous trees by higher concentrations of total Ca and exchangeable forms of Ca, K and Mg. AMF abundance in soils and roots increased along with increasing soil alkalinity and macronutrient levels. Concentrations of the PLFA 16:1\omega5 AMF hyphal biomass marker were higher in the soils of deciduous and AM-type tree species than those of coniferous and non-AM types. In addition, concentrations of the NLFA 16:1\omega5 AMF spore biomass marker were higher in the soils of deciduous tree species. No significant differences were found between groups of native and alien tree species. AMF spore and species numbers were low in comparison to other unforested ecosystems, averaging 77.5 and 1.2 per 50 g of soils, respectively. The presence of 8 AMF species, both widespread (e.g. Funneliformis constrictus) and rare (Acaulospora cavernata) was revealed. Significant divergence in AMF species composition was noted between plots of deciduous and coniferous species. Our study showed that tree species identity, considered as a single factor, has only a slight impact on determining AMF community characteristics. The disparity between AMF community characteristics results from the effects of several factors, as pH and element concentrations in soils, acting within tree species groups.