Fitosociologia 43 (1) 2006

C. Blasi, G. Filibeck & L. Rosati

Dipartimento di Biologia Vegetale, Università La Sapienza, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, I-00185 Roma, Italia; e-mail: carlo.blasi@uniroma1.it

Ostrya carpinifolia woods have been extensively studied in C-Italy, while they lack specific researches and a clear phytosociological scheme in the southern part of the country. We have analyzed original and published relevés from Campania and Calabria regions, and we have compared them with bibliographic data from central Italy. The existing southern Italian Ostrya-dominated associations are revised as for their character species and bioclimatic position. Floristic analysis underlines a set of biogeographically relevant species which differentiate these communities from their C-Italian analogous.
A new suballiance Festuco exaltatae-Ostryenion carpinifoliae is therefore described within Carpinion orientalis, coherently with the framework already adopted for Quercus cerris woods. The syntaxon can be subdivided into two associations. Festuco-Aceretum includes different types of mixed woods growing at low elevations, in the warm-humid maritime climate of the Campania and Calabria Thyrrenian coasts (mainly in the mesomediterranean belt). Seslerio-Aceretum obtusati is the name to be used for Ostrya-woods of the mesotemperate and supratemperate belt; a subassociation for more markedly cool and humid woods can be further differentiated (described here as galietosum laevigati).
Carpinion orientalis in the Italian peninsula (i.e. not including the Alps) contains now five suballiances: Lauro-Quercenion pubescentis, describing termophilous Quercus pubescens woods; Cytiso sessilifolii-Quercenion pubescentis, referring to comparatively continental Quercus pubescens woodlands of the C-Apennines; Campanulo mediae-Ostryenion, Ostrya-woods restricted to the NW sector of the Peninsula; Laburno anagyroidis-Ostryenion, mesophilous Ostrya- and mixed-woods of the mesotemperate and supratemperate belts of the N- and C-Apennines; and Festuco exaltatae-Ostryenion, Ostrya- and mixed-woods of the oceanic mesotemperate and supratemperate belts of the S-Apennines.

E. Biondi, S. Casavecchia & V. Guerra

Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali e delle Produzioni Vegetali, Università Politecnica delle Marche, via Brecce Bianche, I-60131 Ancona; e-mail: e.biondi@univpm.it

We here present a phytosociological study of the plant biodiversity of the coastal environments of an area of the Italian peninsula (the Salento peninsula – Apulia), in relation to the variations of the geomorphological characteristics. In particular, the low sandy coast environments were examined, with an analysis of the populations making up the vegetation successions of the xeroseres and hygroseres, the sandy coasts plated on hard calcarenitic rocks, the low calcarenitic cliffs and the limestone cliffs. This study has allowed the recognition of a high number of plant communities that are in chain contact on the same geomorphological context, and that determine the psammophilous, halophilous and subhalophilous chain successions characterizing the different coastal plant landscapes. This knowledge on succession will be important in the reconstruction of the coastal environments that have been strongly degraded by the human impact.

A. Guglielmo¹, P. Pavone¹ & V. Tomaselli²

¹Dipartimento di Botanica, Università di Catania, Via A. Longo 19, 95125 Catania; e-mail: pavone@dipbot.unict.it; guglielmo@dipbot.unict.it
²C.N.R., Istituto di Genetica Vegetale, Via G. Amendola 165/a, 70126 Bari; e-mail: valeria.tomaselli@igv.cnr.it

Viene presentato uno studio condotto sulla vegetazione infestante e sul verde ornamentale presenti nell’area archeologica di Akrai (Palazzolo Acreide, Siracusa). L’analisi, condotta con metodo fitosociologico, ha permesso di individuare diverse tipologie vegetazionali, riferibili alle classi Parietarietea judaicae, Adiantetea capilli-veneris, Stellarietea mediae (Brometalia rubenti-tectori, Geranio-Cardaminetalia hirsutae), Polygono-Poetea annuae, Helianthemetea guttatae, Lygeo-Stipetea (Bromo-Oryzopsion miliaceae), Rhamno-Prunetea. Sulla base di questa analisi e valutando lo spettro biologico di ciascuna fitocenosi, oltre che la presenza di specie ad alta pericolosità, è stato valutato l’impatto della vegetazione sulle strutture archeologiche.

Il problema del controllo della vegetazione si scontra, almeno in parte, con l’esigenza del mantenimento di alcune specie di particolare pregio estetico o fitogeografico, come Antirrhinum siculum Miller, Capparis spinosa L.e Calendula fulgida Rafin.

G. Ciaschetti, G. Pirone, A.R. Frattaroli & F. Corbetta

Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, Università dell’Aquila, via Vetoio, loc. Coppito I-67100 L’Aquila; e-mail: gpciasko@univaq.it

A study leading with the Piano di Pezza (Central Italy) vegetation is presented. The study area is a carst plateau located near the Velino Massif, inside the territory of the Sirente-VelinoRegionalPark. This study has essentially concerned with secondary grasslands and, marginally, dwarf shrubs and woods. The phytosociological analysis has let to recognize nine plant associations, four subassociations, one community type and one variant. One association and one subassociation are here proposed for the first time. This paper confirms much of the interpretation models about the vegetation of Central Apennines.

M. Puglisi, M. Privitera & G. Ferro

Dipartimento di Botanica, Università degli studi di Catania, via A. Longo 19, I – 95125 Catania, e-mail: puglisi@dipbot.unict.it

A phytosociological study on the bryophyte vegetation of the VulcanoIsland is presented. Some associations and two bryophyte communities are found; they are included in the phytosociological classes Barbuletea unguiculatae Mohan 1978, Cladonio-Lepidozietea reptantis Jezek & Vondrácek 1962 em. Marstaller 1993, Racomitrietea heterostichi Neumayr 1971, Grimmietea anodontis Hadàc et Vondrácek in Jezek et Vondrácek 1962, and Frullanio dilatatae-Leucodontetea sciuroidis Mohan 1978. The data came out from this study show the condition of an island under strong anthropic pressure.

S. Ceschin, M. Cutini & G. Caneva

Dipartimento di Biologia, Università Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446, I-00146 Roma; e-mail: ceschin@uniroma3.it; cutini@uniroma3.it; caneva@uniroma3.it

Contribution to the knowledge of Roman archaeological areas (Rome). The vegetation of the main archaeological sites of Rome is analysed, taking into account the coenological characters in relation to microenviromental and anthropic factors (mowing, chemical weed killing and stamping). The phytosociological analysis allowed to the identification of 34 coenosis which represent over the 30% of communities described for whole city. The most of communities belong to Stellarietea, Artemisietea and Polygono-Poetea classes. Some associations (Dauco-Picridetum hieracioidis, Sinapidetum albae, Trifolio-Hypochoeridetum achyrophori, Saxifrago-Hypochoeridetum achyrophori erophiletosum praecocis, Valerianello-Cerastietum glomerati, Nasturtietum officinalis, Paspalo-Agrostidetum semiverticillatae and Pistacio-Rhamnetum alaterni) are very rare or not indicated for the Roman area. The coenological peculiarity and richness underline the important role of archaeological sites as refuge of natural vegetation in the urban ecosystem.

G. Maiorca¹, G. Spampinato² & A.C. Caprio³

¹ARSSA – Agenzia Regionale per lo Sviluppo e per i Servizi in Agricoltura, Viale Trieste 95, I-87100 Cosenza; e-mail: hemeridianum@tiscali.it

²Dip. STAFA, Università “Mediterranea”, C.da Feo di Vito, I-89100 Reggio Calabria; e-mail: gspampinato@unirc.it

³Via Busento 9, I-87036 Roges di Rende (CS); e-mail: hemeridianum@tiscali.it

The Vegetation of MountMancuso (C-W Calabria). A phytosociological survey of MountMancuso vegetation is reported. This area is part of Sila Piccola mountainous district and will be included into Mancuso-Reventino-Tiriolo RegionalPark. On the whole, 33 sintaxa, spreading into four bioclimatic belts, are described. Data about floristical, structural, ecological and dynamic characteristics are given. The state of preservation of the oceanic bioclimatic belt’s beech-woods is remarkable as well as mesomediterranean communities belonging to Quercetea ilicis class. The strong human pressure increases the risk of the woodland damage, voiding all efforts to preserve a very interesting biotope.

I. Vagge & A. Befacchia

Dipartimento di Produzione Vegetale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, I-20133 Milano; e-mail: ilda.vagge@unimi.it

The nitrophilous fringes of Galio-Urticetea class in the Lombard Prealps (N-Italy). We present the results of phytosociological study of the nitrophilous fringes, characterized by exotic species, found in Lombard Prealps area. Based on 30 releves, elaborated with cluster analysis, we describe two new associations (Impatientetum parviflorae and Potentillo indicae-Fragarietum vescae),and a new subassociation impatientetosum balfourii of the Circaeetum lutetianae association. We also describe ecology of these communities and their syndynamic relationships. As a completion of the report hereafter is the syntaxonomic scheme of the communities under.

C. Giancola & A. Stanisci

Dipartimento S.T.A.T. Università degli Studi del Molise, Contrada Fonte Lappone, I-86090 Pesche (IS); e-mail: Stanisci@unimol.it

Vegetation of high altitude rocks of Molise. This paper is a contribution to the knowledge of high altitude rock-face vegetation of Molise region; the plant communities have been investigated according to the Braun-Blanquet phytosociological approach. The study area includes the limestone mountainous chain Le Mainarde, which is part of the Abruzzo, Lazio and MoliseNational Park, and the Mountains of Matese, which are included in the widest pSIC of Molise “La Gallinola – Monte Miletto – Monti del Matese”. Twenty-one phytosociological relevès were collected and subjected to multivariate analysis techniques in order to define objective clusters on a statistical basis. Three groups of community types were identified as the following associations: Cystopteridetum fragilis saxifragetosum porophyllae subass. nova hoc loco, belonging to the alliance Cystopteridion, Potentilletum apenninae and Saxifrago australis–Trisetetum bertolonii minuartietosum rosanii subass. nova hoc loco, belonging to Saxifragion australis. The distribution of the three associations is related to the aspect and to the dimension of the fissures on the cliffs.