Corresponding author: Romeo Di Pietro ( romeo.dipietro@uniroma1.it ) Academic editor: Daniela Gigante
© 2021 Romeo Di Pietro, Paola Fortini, Giuseppe Misano, Massimo Terzi.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Di Pietro R, Fortini P, Misano G, Terzi M (2021) Phytosociology of Atractylis cancellata and Micromeria microphylla communities in southern Italy with insights on the xerothermic steno-Mediterranean grasslands high-rank syntaxa. Plant Sociology 58(1): 133-155. https://doi.org/10.3897/pls2021581/07
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In the present paper a phytosociological study on the dry grassland communities identified in the western sector of the Murgia Plateau (Murgia delle Gravine) and in the Lucanian badlands territory is presented. Forty vegetation releves were carried out using the Braun-Blanquet phytosociological approach. Two new associations characterized by a therophytic dominance, namely Lysimachio foeminae-Atractylidetum cancellatae and Campanulo erini-Micromerietum microphyllae, are described and discussed from a syntaxonomic and biogeographic viewpoint. In addition, new phytosociological data concerning the Petrosedum ochroleucum communities developed on limestone outcrops, the perennial Hyparrhenia hirta steppe-like grasslands of the low-altitude areas of the Murgia hills and the small-size Brachypodium distachyum therophytic communities are presented.
biogeography, limestone pavements, Mediterranean grasslands, micro-garrigue, Murgia Plateau, syntaxonomy, therophytes
Dry grasslands habitats are an extremely interesting and variegated element of the vegetation landscape of the hilly and montane areas of the central and southern Apennines. The bioclimatic position, intermediate between the Mediterranean and the Temperate Region, the very rich species pool available and the millennial multiform pattern of land-uses contributed to the high coenological diversification we are witnessing at present (
Micromeria microphylla (Fig.
Due to the very sporadic distribution of Micromeria microphylla in the Italian peninsula, this species was included in the Italian regional Red Lists and classified as “endangered” for the Apulia Region and as “low risk” for Sicily Region (
The study area (Fig.
From a bioclimatic standpoint (Fig.
During the period 2001-2018 40 relevés of grassland stands were carried out applying the phytosociological approach (
In the diagnosis of each plant community we have highlighted the “dominant taxa” (species showing cover-abundance higher than 3 according to the Braun-Blanquet scale in at least one of the relevés included in the phytosociological table) and the “highly frequent taxa” (species occurring in at least the 75% of the relevés of the phytosociological table). In naming the phytosociological syntaxa, we adhered to the rules of the fourth edition of the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature (ICPN, Theurillat et al. 2020). The syntaxonomic classification of each single species (at the rank of class) made reference to
The field work led to the identification of five homogeneous plant communities all referring to open dry grassland and micro-garrigue habitats. Two of them, namely Lysymachio foeminae-Atractilidetum cancellatae and Campanulo erini-Micromerietum microphyllae, are here proposed as new associations. For these latter, a detailed floristic, ecological, chorological and syntaxonomic description was provided. Two communities, out of the other three communities identified, were referred to associations (Stipo austroitalicae-Hyparrhenietum hirtae, Medicago disciformis-Brachypodietum distachyi) which were already described for the study area by other authors (
Lysymachio foeminae-Atractylidetum cancellatae Di Pietro, Fortini, Misano et Terzi ass. nov. hoc loco (Table
Lysymachio foeminae-Atractylidetum cancellatae typicum
Name - Lysymachio foeminae-Atractylidetum cancellatae typicum Di Pietro, Fortini, Misano et Terzi subass nov. hoc loco (Holotypus rel. 5, Table
Characteristic taxa - Atractylis cancellata, Helianthemum salicifolium, Filago eriocephala, Lysimachia foemina.
Dominant taxa - Atractylis cancellata.
High frequency taxa - Atractylis cancellata, Helianthemum salicifolium, Filago eriocephala, Lysimachia foemina, Hippocrepis biflora.
Synecology - Therophytic communities colonizing the Pliocene clayey substrates of the Lucanian badlands and developed on extremely restricted areas (1–2 m2 or even less). The Lysymachio-Atractylideto typicum (Fig.
Life forms and chorology - Therophytes dominates in all the life forms spectra followed by the hemicryptophytes. Geophytes are completely absent and chamaephytes are very scarce. In the chorological spectrum steno-Mediterraneans dominate followed by Euro -Mediterraneans. The other chorotypes exhibit percentages always lower than 4% (Fig.
Syndynamic - The Lysimachio-Atractylidetum typicum can be considered as a fragment of the micro-permanent vegetation mosaic forming the “badland system” micro-geosygmetum. A reduction of the erosive action of the flooding waters leads to the rapid colonization of the space occupied by the Lysymachio foeminae-Atractylidetum cancellatae by the communities dominated by Sulla coronaria (upper part of badland) or Sulla capitata (lower part of badland) and subsequently by the final scrub stage of the Helictotricho convoluti-Pistacietum lentisci Di Pietro et Misano 2010.
Lysymachio foeminae-Atractylidetum cancellatae ononidetosum reclinatae
Name - Lysymachyo foeminae-Atractylidetum cancellatae ononidetosum reclinatae Di Pietro, Fortini, Misano et Terzi subass nov. (Holotypus: rel. 12, Table
Differential taxa of subassociation - Ononis reclinata, Bupleurum baldense, Coronilla scorpioides.
Dominant taxa - Atractylis cancellata.
High frequency taxa - Atractylis cancellata, Helianthemum salicifolium, Filago eriocephala, Lysimachia foemina, Brachypodium distachyon, Hypochoeris achyrophorus, Euphorbia exigua, Coronilla scorpioides, Poa infirma, Crupina vulgaris, Helianthemum jonium, Fumana ericifolia.
Synecology - On the limestone substrates of the Murgia delle Gravine (in this case in the Gravina of Matera), this community features small pockets of soil interposed between the steppe-like grasslands and the micro-garrigues and the Mediterranean maquis communities. The most natural and long-lasting aspect of this subassociation develops where a very thin layer of soil covers the flat and more or less crackless limestone rocky surfaces. However, there are also other aspects related to the more or less disturbed areas placed on the edge of the paths created by grazing cattle trampling. Compared to the Lysimachio-Atractylidetum typicum occurring within the clayey Badlands area, the subass. ononidetosum reclinatae shows a significantly higher floristic richness (average number of species per relevé = 24). This is due to the wider pool of available annual species coming from the surrounding habitats (dry grasslands and micro-garrigues on limestone) and to the fact that the calcareous lithosols of the Murgia area are less oligotrophic than the sub-halophytic clays of the badlands.
Life forms and chorology - Therophytes dominates in all the life forms spectra followed by chamaephytes and hemycryptophytic with similar percentages. In the chorological spectrum steno-Mediterraneans taxa dominate followed by Euro-Mediterraneans. The other chorotypes exhibit percentages always lower than 5% (Fig.
Syndynamic - The progressive vegetation succession consists of a first step dominated by the Stipa austroitalica steppe-like grasslands and a second one characterized by Mediterranean maquis scrubs (Helictotricho-Pistacietum lentisci, Juniperetum phoeniceae-macrocarpae Di Pietro et Misano 2010, Cyclamino repandi-Paliuretum spinae-christi Biondi et al. 1999).
Syntaxonomy - The Lisymachio foemine-Atractylidetum cancellatae is an association provisionally described (sub Anagallido foeminae-Atractylidetum cancellatae) for the vegetation mosaic of the Lucanian badlands (
The Lisymachio foemine-Atractylidetum cancellatae is strictly limited to southern Italy where A. cancellata range extends. At present, we have no knowledge about other associations in which A. cancellata acts as dominant species. The only reference for the Italian peninsula is the association Atractylido-Neatostometum apuli described for western Sicily (
Life forms, chorological and syntaxonomic spectra of the Lysimachio foeminae-Atractylidetum cancellatae (Lys-Atra). The 3-digits codes in syntaxonomic spectra represent the class codes provided in the Eurovegchecklist (
Lysimachio foeminae-Atractylidetum cancellatae ass. nova. Typ.= Typus of the association; sT= typus of subassociation ononidetosum reclinatae; n.a.=not available; 81 is the average percentage cover in the table.
Relevè number | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | A-N | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Altitude | 360 | 355 | 350 | 345 | 225 | 220 | 230 | 325 | 280 | 300 | 260 | 275 | 295 | 290 | 280 | 280 | n.a | ||
Aspect | ssw | ssw | ssw | ssw | se | sse | se | . | n.a | ||||||||||
Slope° | 40 | 60 | 70 | 70 | 25 | 15 | 20 | 0 | 5 | . | 10 | 2 | 5 | 10 | . | . | n.a | ||
Area m2 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | ||
Cover% | 90 | 85 | 90 | 80 | 95 | 90 | 90 | 75 | 85 | 90 | 90 | 95 | 95 | 95 | 95 | 95 | 81 | ||
Lysimachio foeminae-Atractylidetum typicum | Typ. | sT | |||||||||||||||||
steno-Medit | T scap | Atractylis cancellata | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | V |
euro-Medit | T rept | Lysimachia foemina | 1 | + | 2 | + | 1 | 2 | + | 1 | + | + | + | + | + | 1 | 1 | . | |
euro-Medit | T scap | Helianthemum salicifolium | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | + | + | 1 | . | + | . | 1 | + | 2 | + | 2 | 2 | . |
steno-Medit | T scap | Anacyclus clavatus | . | . | . | . | + | . | . | 1 | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
steno-Medit | H caesp | Lygeum spartum | + | 1 | 1 | + | + | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
steno-Medit | T scap | Parapholis incurva subsp. incurva | . | . | + | . | 1 | + | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | III |
Lysimachio-Atractylidetum ononidetosum reclinatae | |||||||||||||||||||
euro-Medit | T scap | Ononis reclinata | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | IV |
euro-Medit | T scap | Bupleurum baldense | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | 1 | 2 | 2 | . | 1 | . | . |
euro-Medit | T scap | Coronilla scorpioides | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | + | + | 1 | + | . | + | . |
Onobrychido-Ptilostemion stellati | |||||||||||||||||||
steno-Medit | T scap | Filago eryocephala | . | . | + | . | 1 | + | + | 1 | + | 1 | 1 | 1 | + | + | + | + | . |
euro-Medit | T scap | Catananche lutea | . | . | . | . | + | 1 | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
steno-Medit | T scap | Sulla capitata | . | . | . | . | 2 | 2 | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
steno-Medit | T scap | Onobrychis caput-galli | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | . | 1 | + | V |
steno-Medit | T scap | Hippocrepis ciliata | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | . | . | . | . |
Brachypodietalia distachyi & Stipo-Trachynietea distachyae | |||||||||||||||||||
steno-Medit | T scap | Brachypodium distachyon | . | . | . | . | + | 1 | + | . | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | + | V |
steno-Medit | T scap | Hypochoeris achyrophorus | 1 | 1 | . | . | . | . | . | . | 1 | 1 | 2 | . | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | III |
euro-Medit | T scap | Euphorbia exigua subsp. exigua | . | . | . | . | + | . | . | . | 1 | . | + | 1 | 1 | + | . | + | . |
euro-Medit | T scap | Euphorbia falcata subsp. falcata | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | 1 | . | . | . | . | 1 | . |
euro-Medit | T rept | Trifolium scabrum subsp. scabrum | + | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | 1 | V |
steno-Medit | T scap | Linum strictum | . | . | . | . | + | + | 1 | . | + | . | . | + | . | 1 | . | + | V |
SE-Europ | T scap | Crupina vulgaris | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | 1 | . | 1 | 1 | + | 1 | . |
steno-Medit | T scap | Hippocrepis biflora | + | 1 | . | 1 | + | 1 | + | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
euro-Medit | T scap | Catapodium rigidum subsp. rigidum | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | + | + | . | + | . | + | I |
steno-Medit | T scap | Hedypnois rhagadioloides | . | 1 | . | . | + | + | . | . | . | . | + | . | . | . | . | . | . |
euro-Medit | T scap | Linaria simplex | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | . | + | . | + | + | . | . |
euro-Medit | T scap | Scorpiurus muricatus | . | . | . | + | 1 | 2 | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
euro-Medit | T scap | Medicago minima | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | + | . | . | + | . | III |
steno-Medit | T scap | Briza maxima | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | 1 | . | 1 | . | . | . | . |
eurasiat. | H caesp | Poa infirma | . | . | . | . | . | 1 | + | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
euro-Medit | T scap | Silene gallica | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | 1 | . |
steno-Medit | T rept | Filago pygmaea | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | III |
steno-Medit | T scap | Stachys romana subsp. romana | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | . | . | . | . | . |
euro-Medit | T scap | Medicago monspeliaca | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | . | . | . | . | . |
steno-Medit | T scap | Stipellula capensis | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | III |
steno-Medit | T scap | Tripodion tetraphyllum | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | V |
Stipo-Trachynietea/Helianthemetea | |||||||||||||||||||
steno-Medit | T scap | Ononis ornithopodioides | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | . | 1 | 2 | + | . | . | . |
euro-Medit | T caesp | Festuca myuros subsp. myuros | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | 2 | . | + | . | 2 | . |
Stipo-Trachynietea/Chenopodietea | |||||||||||||||||||
euro-Medit | T scap | Anisantha madritensis subsp. madritensis | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | . | + | + | . |
steno-Medit | T scap | Plantago lagopus | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | 2 | . | . | . | . | 1 | 2 | . |
steno-Medit | T scap | Sonchus tenerrimus | + | . | . | . | + | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | . |
SE-Europ | T scap | Crepis sancta subsp. sancta | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
steno-Medit | T scap | Rostraria hispida | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | . |
Species of clayey-slightly halophytic substrates | |||||||||||||||||||
steno-Medit | H scap | Sulla coronaria | + | + | + | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
steno-Medit | T scap | Mantisalca duriaei | . | . | . | . | + | + | . | + | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
SE-Europ | Ch frut | Camphorosma monspeliaca | + | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
Rosmarinetea | |||||||||||||||||||
steno-Medit | Ch suffr | Phagnalon rupestre subsp. illyricum | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | + | 1 | + | . | + | . | + | . |
endemic | Ch suffr | Helianthemum jonium | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | + | + | + | . | + | + | . |
steno-Medit | Ch suffr | Fumana thymifolia | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | + | . | + | + | 1 | . | + | . |
steno-Medit | Ch suffr | Fumana ericifolia | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | + | + | + | . | + | . | . |
steno-Medit | Ch frut | Teucrium flavum subsp. flavum | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | + | . | . |
steno-Medit | P caesp | Cistus monspeliensis | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | . | . | . | . |
euro-Medit | Ch suffr | Helichrysum italicum subsp. italicum | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | . | . |
Lygeo-Stipetea | |||||||||||||||||||
euro-Medit | T scap | Avena barbata | + | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | . | + | . | . | . | . |
steno-Medit | H scap | Reichardia picroides | . | . | + | + | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | . | III |
euro-Medit | H scap | Convolvulus cantabrica | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | + | . | . | . | . |
steno-Medit | P caesp | Andropogon distachyos | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | . |
steno-Medit | G rhiz | Asphodelus ramosus subsp. ramosus | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | . | . |
SE-Europ | T scap | Dasypyrum villosum | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | . | . | . | . |
steno-Medit | H scap | Carlina corymbosa | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | . | . | . |
eurasiat. | H caesp | Poa bulbosa | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | + | + | . | 1 | III |
Chenopodietea & Sisymbrietea | |||||||||||||||||||
steno-Medit | T scap | Triticum neglectum | + | + | . | . | 1 | 1 | . | + | . | 1 | 1 | + | + | . | . | + | V |
euro-Medit | T scap | Medicago polymorpha | + | . | + | 1 | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
euro-Medit | T scap | Brassica nigra | . | . | . | . | 1 | + | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
steno-Medit | T scap | Erodium malacoides subsp. malacoides | . | . | . | . | 1 | + | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
subcosmop | T scap | Rostraria cristata | . | + | . | 1 | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
subcosmop | T scap | Erodium cicutarium | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | . |
euro-Medit | T scap | Rapistrum rugosum | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | + | . | . |
steno-Medit | T scap | Lolium rigidum | . | . | . | . | . | . | 1 | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
euro-Medit | T scap | Reseda phyteuma subsp. phyteuma | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | . | . |
Festuco-Brometea | |||||||||||||||||||
steno-Medit | G bulb | Romulea bulbocodium | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | . | + | + | + | 1 | + | . |
euro-Medit | G bulb | Allium vineale | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | + | + | . |
euro-Medit | T scap | Trifolium leucanthum | . | + | . | . | + | . | + | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
eurasiat. | H scap | Poterium sanguisorba subsp. balearicum | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | . | . | . | . |
endemic | H caesp | Stipa austroitalica subsp. austroitalica | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | . | . |
steno-Medit | G bulb | Ornitoghalum gussonei | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | . |
eurasiat. | T par | Cuscuta epithymum subsp. epithymum | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | . |
steno-Medit | H scap | Salvia verbenaca | . | . | . | 1 | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
eurasiat. | H ros | Plantago lanceolata | . | . | . | + | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
Diff. Atractylido-Neatostometum apuli | |||||||||||||||||||
steno-Medit | T scap | Neatostema apulum | V | ||||||||||||||||
steno-Medit | G bulb | Moraea sisyrinchium | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | V |
steno-Medit | T scap | Sulla spinosissima | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | V |
steno-Medit | T scap | Anisantha fasciculata subsp. fasciculata | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | V |
steno-Medit | T scap | Catapodium pauciflorum | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | IV |
euro-Medit | T scap | Lagurus ovatus subsp. nanus | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | IV |
steno-Medit | G bulb | Scorzonera undulata subsp. deliciosa | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | III |
steno-Medit | T scap | Polygala monspeliaca | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | I |
euro-Medit | T scap | Trifolium stellatum | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | IV |
steno-Medit | H scap | Kundmannia sicula | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | V |
steno-Medit | T scap | Anthemis arvensis | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | IV |
euro-Medit | T scap | Trifolium cherleri | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | IV |
endemic | H scap | Scorzonera villosa subsp. columnae | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | IV |
euro-Medit | T scap | Carthamus lanatus | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | III |
euro-Medit | G bulb | Prospero autumnale | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | II |
steno-Medit | T scap | Lotus edulis | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | II |
eurasiat. | T scap | Sonchus oleraceus | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | II |
steno-Medit | H ros | Plantago serraria | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | II |
The classification of Lysimachio foeminae-Atractylidetum cancellatae at syntaxonomic ranks higher than association is rather complex. The ephemeral communities that develop on limestone substrates or more generally on the neutral-alkaline ones that do not have an extremely limiting factor in the mineral component of the soil tend to be dominated by a group of wide-distribution steno-Mediterranean species occurring throughout the whole Mediterranean coastal and subcoastal areas. These communities are often distinguished each-other by differences in the abundance-dominance values of the species more than by the occurrence of unshared diagnostic characteristic species. As regards the classification of the Lysimachio-Atractylydetum cancellatae in the higher-rank syntaxa, two different options are available: i) to adopt a conservative choice considering few large-scale syntaxa well-distinguishable from a floristic and chorological point of view, ii) to opt for a more divisive choice considering a syntaxonomic framework based on a higher number of alliances having a more or less similar floristic composition.
The associations belonging to the Onobrychido-Ptilostemonion stellati exhibit a clear prevalence of xerophytic therophytes (e.g., Stipellula capensis, Trifolium scabrum, Evax pygmaea, Ononis reclinata, Plantago lagopus) which are also common in the most of the Brachypodietalia distachyi communities. It is therefore confirmed that Brachypodietalia distachyi and Stipo-Bupleruetalia semicompositi are widely overlapping and the presumed vicariant distribution areas of these two syntaxa (i.e., Brachypodietalia distachyi in the western Mediterranean and Stipo-Bupleuretalia semicompositi in the central-eastern Mediterranean) are not consistent in floristic terms. Atractylis cancellata being originally considered a characteristic species of the Brachypodietalia distachyi and the latter order having nomenclatural priority over Stipo-Bupleuretalia semicompositi we have opted to use Brachypodietalia distachyi as a reference for Lysimachio-Atractylidetum cancellatae and to consider Stipo-Bupleuretalia semicompositi as a pro-parte syntaxonomic synonym. As regards the choice of the alliance we have decided to assign a surplus of diagnostic value (both in ecological and biogeographic terms) to the guide-species of the association. This procedure is not a novelty in terms of syntaxonomic classification. For example, the order Pinetalia halepensis is essentially based on the dominance of Pinus halepensis in communities almost completely composed of Pistacio-Rhamnetalia and Quercetalia ilicis characteristic species (see
Campanulo erini-Micromerietum microphylli ass nov. (Table
Name - Campanulo erini-Micromerietum microphylli Di Pietro, Misano, Fortini et Terzi ass nov. (Holotypus rel. 6, Table
Characteristic taxa - Micromeria microphylla, Campanula erinus, Festuca danthonii subsp. danthonii, Festuca myuros subsp. myuros, Silene conica.
Dominant taxa - Micromeria microphylla, Medicago minima, Stipellula capensis, Trifolium scabrum, Poa bulbosa, Helianthemum salicifolium, Ononis reclinata.
High frequency taxa - Micromeria microphylla, Campanula erinus, Ononis reclinata, Silene conica, Medicago minima, Erodium cicutarium, Trifolium scabrum, Stipellula capensis.
Synecology - Small-size communities (1 m2 or less) developed on the extremely superficial substrates of the limestone outcrops of the Murgia hills where they are found on flattish sites characterized by extremely shallow soils (1-2 cm deep) (Fig.
Life forms and chorology - Therophytes dominate in all the life forms spectra. These are followed by the chamaephytes, whose high values in the cover spectrum are almost exclusively due to the contribution of Micromeria microphylla. In the chorological spectrum Euro-Mediterranean species dominates followed by the steno-Mediterranean ones. Surprisingly high are the percentages of the Eurasiatic component (Fig.
Life forms, chorological and syntaxonomic spectra of the Campanulo erini-Micromerietum microphyllae (Camp.-Micromerietum). The 3-digits codes in syntaxonomic spectra represent the class codes provided in the Eurovegchecklist (
Campanulo erini-Micromerietum microphyllae ass. nov. Typ.= Typus of the association.
Relevè number | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | ||
Altitude | 115 | 115 | 115 | 115 | 115 | 115 | 115 | 115 | 115 | 115 | 115 | 115 | 115 | 115 | ||
Aspect | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Slope° | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Area m2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
Cover% | 40 | 30 | 50 | 35 | 50 | 35 | 40 | 35 | 60 | 40 | 40 | 50 | 60 | 80 | ||
Campanulo erini-Micromerietum microphylli | Typ. | |||||||||||||||
steno-Medit | Ch Suffr | Micromeria microphylla | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
steno-Medit | T scap | Campanula erinus | 1 | 2 | + | 2 | 2 | + | + | 1 | + | 2 | 2 | 1 | + | + |
Eurasiat | T scap | Silene conica | + | . | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | 1 | + | . | 1 | 1 |
Euro-Medit | T caesp | Festuca danthonii subsp. danthonii | . | + | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | . | . | 2 | . | . | 1 | + | 2 |
Euro-Medit | T caesp | Festuca myuros subsp. myuros | + | . | . | + | . | + | 1 | + | . | + | + | . | 2 | 1 |
subnitrophylous variant with Stipellula capensis | ||||||||||||||||
steno-Medit | T scap | Stipellula capensis | + | . | 1 | 1 | . | . | + | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Trachynion distachyae , Brachypodietalia distachyi ; Stipo-Trachynietea distachyae | ||||||||||||||||
Euro-Medit | T scap | Ononis reclinata | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | + | + | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Euro-Medit | T scap | Medicago minima | 2 | . | 2 | . | 3 | 3 | + | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
Euro-Medit | T rept | Trifolium scabrum | 2 | + | + | 3 | . | . | + | 1 | 2 | . | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
Euro-Medit | T scap | Lagurus ovatus | . | + | + | + | + | . | . | . | + | + | . | + | + | + |
Euro-Medit | T scap | Helianthemum salicifolium | . | . | . | . | 2 | 1 | 1 | . | 3 | 1 | 2 | . | . | . |
steno-Medit | T scap | Hypochaeris achyrophorus | + | + | + | + | + | . | . | + | . | . | . | + | . | . |
steno-Medit | T scap | Trisetaria aurea | + | . | . | . | . | 2 | . | . | . | + | . | 2 | + | + |
Euro-Medit | T scap | Crepis neglecta subsp. corymbosa | + | . | . | . | + | + | + | . | . | + | . | . | + | . |
Eurasiat | T scap | Trifolium campestre | . | . | + | 3 | . | + | + | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
Euro-Medit | T scap | Trifolium stellatum | . | . | . | + | . | . | . | + | . | . | . | + | + | 1 |
Euro-Medit | T scap | Catapodium rigidum | . | + | . | . | . | + | . | . | + | . | . | . | . | . |
Euro-Medit | T scap | Hippocrepis biflora | + | . | 2 | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | . | . | . | . |
Euro-Medit | T scap | Filago pyramidata | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | . | + | . | + | . | . |
steno-Medit | T scap | Stachys romana | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | . | + |
Chenopodietea & Sisymbretea | ||||||||||||||||
Euro-Medit | H ros | Erodium cicutarium | 1 | 1 | . | . | 1 | + | + | 2 | + | 1 | + | 2 | + | . |
endemic | H scap | Crepis bursifolia | . | . | . | + | + | + | . | . | . | + | + | . | + | 1 |
steno-Medit | T scap | Rostraria cristata | . | . | + | . | + | + | + | . | . | + | . | . | . | . |
steno-Medit | T scap | Silene nocturna | . | . | + | . | + | . | . | . | + | . | . | + | . | . |
Euro-Medit | T scap | Trifolium nigrescens | . | . | . | . | . | 2 | + | . | + | + | . | + | . | . |
steno-Medit | T scap | Trisetaria panicea | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
steno-Medit | H scap | Asphodelus fistulosus | . | . | + | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
steno-Medit | T scap | Glebionis segetum | . | . | + | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
steno-Medit | T scap | Sonchus tenerrimus | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + |
steno-Medit | T scap | Bromus scoparius | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | + | . | . |
Euro-Medit | T scap | Calendula arvensis | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + |
steno-Medit | T scap | Hedypnois rhagadioloides | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | . | . | . |
Chenopodietea/Trachynietea | ||||||||||||||||
steno-Medit | T scap | Medicago truncatula | 2 | + | . | . | + | + | . | + | . | + | . | . | . | . |
Euro-Medit | T scap | Parentucellia latifolia | + | . | . | . | 1 | . | . | + | + | . | . | . | 1 | + |
steno-Medit | T scap | Trigonella esculenta | + | . | . | . | . | . | . | 1 | . | . | . | . | + | + |
steno-Medit | T scap | Plantago lagopus | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | . | + | . | . |
Euro-Medit | T scap | Cerastium glomeratum | . | . | + | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
Festuco-Brometea | ||||||||||||||||
Euro-Medit | G bulb | Muscari comosum | . | . | . | . | + | . | . | . | . | + | . | . | . | . |
Eurasiat | T par | Cuscuta epithymum | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | + |
SE-Europ | G rhiz | Scorzonera villosa subsp. columnae | . | . | + | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
Eurasiat | H bien | Centaurium erythraea | . | . | + | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
Euro-Medit | H scap | Eryngium campestre | . | . | + | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
Euro-Medit | H scap | Stachys germanica subsp. salviifolia | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | . | . | . | . | . |
Sedo-Scleranthetea | ||||||||||||||||
Eurasiat | T scap | Arenaria leptoclados subsp. leptoclados | . | 2 | + | 2 | . | + | + | . | + | . | . | 2 | . | + |
steno-Medit | Ch Suffr | Ajuga iva | . | . | . | + | + | . | . | . | . | + | . | . | . | . |
Euro-Medit | T scap | Ajuga chamaepitys | + | + | . | . | . | . | . | + | + | . | . | . | . | . |
Euro-Medit | H caesp | Petrorhagia saxifraga subsp. gasparrinii | . | . | + | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
Euro-Medit | T scap | Petrorhagia prolifera | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | + |
Eurasiat | T scap | Sabulina tenuifolia subsp. tenuifolia | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
steno-Medit | T scap | Valerianella muricata | . | . | + | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
Eurasiat | T scap | Herniaria glabra subsp. glabra | . | . | . | . | + | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
Artemisietea | ||||||||||||||||
steno-Medit | H scap | Salvia verbenaca (incl. S. clandestina) | . | . | + | . | + | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
steno-Medit | H bien | Sixalix atropurpurea | . | . | . | . | + | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
steno-Medit | H scap | Hypericum triquetrifolium | . | . | + | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
Lygeo-Stipetea & Poetea bulbosae | ||||||||||||||||
Eurasiat | H caesp | Poa bulbosa | 3 | 1 | + | . | . | . | + | 1 | + | . | + | . | 1 | 1 |
Euro-Medit | T scap | Avena barbata | . | . | . | . | + | . | + | . | . | . | . | + | . | . |
subcosmop | G rhiz | Cynodon dactylon | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | 1 |
steno-Medit | T scap | Astragalus sesameus | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | + |
steno-Medit | T scap | Trifolium suffocatum | . | . | . | . | . | + | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
Syndynamic - The evolution of the soils leads the Campanulo erini-Micromerietum microphylli to be substituted by therophytic communities of greater size, as those dominated by Stipellula capensis, and subsequently by Mediterranean garrigues with Corydothymus capitatus and Helianthemum jonium. The final stage of the dynamic succession is a Mediterranean maquis community dominated by Pistacia lentiscus and Phillyrea latifolia.
Syntaxonomy - Despite the apparent floristic simplicity, the Campanulo erini-Micromerietum microphylli is nevertheless problematic as regards its classification at the highest ranks of syntaxonomy. The physiognomic dominance of Micromeria microphylla, although not overwhelming, would suggest a possible classification in the Cisto incani-Ericion multiflorae, in particular in the micro-garrigue sub-alliance Thymo capitati-Helianthemenion jonii
STIPO AUSTROITALICAE-HYPARRHENIETUM HIRTAE Biondi et Guerra 2008 (Table
The communities dominated by Hyparrhenia hirta characterize the lower parts of the Murgia of Gravina and replace the grasslands dominated by Stipa austroitalica and Scorzonera villosa subsp. columnae of the summit areas of the Murgia plateau. These communities exhibits intermediate floristic features between three classes (Festuco-Brometea, Lygeo-Stipetea and Festuco hystricis-Ononidetea striatae) and testify the coenological transition between the Apennine-Balkan biogeographical province (Euro-Siberian Region) and the Adriatic province (Mediterranean Region). This transition is clearly observable moving from the summit areas of the Murgia plateau, still affected by cold winds from north-eastern Europe, to the lowlands facing the Taranto Gulf where the influence of the warm winds of south-western origin occurs. Hyparrhenia hirta is absolutely the dominant species of these xerothermic steppe-like communities especially when developed on partially leached soils rich in fine debris. Stipa austroitalica is constantly occurring in the dominant tall grasses layer, whereas Scorzonera villosa subsp. columnae do the same in the undergrowth. In addition, the Hyparrhenia hirta communities host some species typical of the Hippocrepido-Stipion austroitalicae dry-grasslands (Festuco-Brometea) such as Hippocrepis glauca, Anthyllis vulneraria subsp. rubriflora, Convolvulus elegantissimus. The steno-Mediterranean and Euro-Mediterranean component however remains dominant and would justify the classification of this community in the Lygeo-Stipetea, Hyparrhenietalia hirtae and Hyparrhenion hirtae as already proposed in
Relevè number | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Altitude | 300 | 310 | 315 | 280 | 290 | ||
Aspect | WSW | W | SW | SSW | W | ||
Slope° | 10 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 15 | ||
Area m2 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | ||
Cover% | 80 | 85 | 75 | 85 | 90 | ||
Stipo austroitalicae-Hyparrhenietum hirtae | |||||||
endemic | H caesp | Stipa austroitalica subsp. austroitalica | 2 | 1 | + | + | 1 |
Cymbopogoni-Hyparrhenion & Hyparrhenietalia | |||||||
Eurasiat | H caesp | Hyparrhenia hirta | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
steno-Medit | T scap | Briza maxima | + | + | + | 1 | + |
steno-Medit | T scap | Linum strictum subsp. strictum | + | 1 | 1 | . | + |
Euro-Medit | H scap | Bituminaria bituminosa | 1 | 2 | 2 | . | . |
Euro-Medit | T scap | Lagurus ovatus subsp. ovatus | 2 | + | . | . | . |
steno-Medit | T scap | Hedypnois rhagadioloides | + | + | . | . | . |
steno-Medit | T scap | Lotus ornitopodioides | . | . | 1 | + | . |
Euro-Medit | T rept | Trifolium scabrum subsp. scabrum | + | 1 | . | . | . |
Lygeo-Stipetea | |||||||
Euro-Medit | T scap | Avena barbata | 1 | + | 2 | 3 | 2 |
Euro-Medit | H scap | Convolvulus cantabrica | . | + | 1 | + | 2 |
steno-Medit | G bulb | Allium tenuiflorum | . | . | + | 2 | 2 |
steno-Medit | H scap | Reichardia picroides | + | 1 | . | + | . |
steno-Medit | G bulb | Charybdis pancration | . | . | + | + | 2 |
steno-Medit | H scap | Thapsia garganica | . | . | . | + | + |
steno-Medit | H caesp | Dactylis glomerata subsp. hispanica | . | . | + | . | . |
steno-Medit | T scap | Lolium rigidum | . | . | . | . | + |
Euro-Medit | H caesp | Melica ciliata | . | . | . | + | . |
Stipo-Trachynietea | |||||||
steno-Medit | T scap | Crupina crupinastrum | 1 | 1 | + | + | + |
steno-Medit | T scap | Polygala monspeliaca | + | + | 2 | 1 | + |
steno-Medit | T scap | Rostraria hispida | 1 | + | + | + | + |
Euro-Medit | P caesp | Festuca danthonii subsp. danthonii | + | + | + | + | + |
Euro-Medit | H scap | Urospermum dalechampii | . | 1 | + | 1 | 2 |
steno-Medit | T scap | Hippocrepis ciliata | + | 1 | + | . | . |
steno-Medit | T scap | Hypochoeris achyrophorus | . | + | + | 1 | . |
Euro-Medit | T scap | Ononis reclinata | + | 1 | . | . | + |
steno-Medit | T scap | Stipellula capensis | 1 | + | + | . | . |
Euro-Medit | T scap | Coronilla scorpioides | . | . | + | . | + |
Euro-Medit | T scap | Euphorbia falcata subsp. falcata | . | . | . | + | + |
Euro-Medit | T scap | Helianthemum salicifolium | . | . | 1 | + | . |
steno-Medit | T scap | Linum corymbulosum | . | . | . | 1 | + |
steno-Medit | T scap | Stachys romana | . | . | . | 2 | 1 |
Eurasiat | T scap | Centaurium tenuiflorum subsp. tenuiflorum | . | . | . | . | + |
steno-Medit | T scap | Brachypodium distachyon | . | . | . | . | + |
Euro-Medit | T scap | Trifolium stellatum | . | . | + | . | . |
Euro-Medit | T scap | Trigonella monspeliaca | . | . | . | + | . |
Eurasiat | T scap | Trifolium campestre | . | . | . | + | + |
Festuco-Brometea & Molinio-Arrhenatheretea | |||||||
SE-Europ | G bulb | Scorzonera villosa subsp. columnae | 1 | 2 | 2 | + | 1 |
steno-Medit | H scand | Convolvulus elegantissimus | + | + | 1 | + | . |
steno-Medit | T scap | Thapsia asclepium | . | + | + | + | 1 |
Euro-Medit | G bulb | Anacamptis pyramidalis | . | . | 1 | + | 1 |
steno-Medit | T scap | Anthyllis vulneraria subsp. rubriflora | . | . | + | + | 2 |
Eurasiat | H bien | Centaurium erythraea subsp. erythraea | . | + | + | + | . |
SE-Europ | H caesp | Hippocrepis glauca | + | + | 1 | . | . |
Euro-Medit | G bulb | Allium vineale | + | + | . | . | . |
Euro-Medit | H scap | Asyneuma limonifolium | . | + | + | . | . |
endemic | H bien | Centaurea deusta | . | . | 1 | . | + |
Euro-Medit | H scap | Eryngium campestre | . | . | + | + | . |
Euro-Medit | G bulb | Anacamptis coriophora | . | + | + | . | . |
Eurasiat | H scap | Poterium sanguisorba subsp. balearicum | . | 1 | + | . | . |
Euro-Medit | T scap | Blackstonia perfoliata subsp. perfoliata | . | . | . | + | 1 |
Eurasiat | H bien | Daucus carota | . | + | . | . | . |
Euro-Medit | G bulb | Muscari comosum | . | . | + | . | . |
steno-Medit | G bulb | Ornitoghalum gussonei | . | . | + | . | . |
steno-Medit | H bien | Sixalix atropurpurea | . | . | + | . | . |
Ononido-Rosmarinetea | . | . | . | . | . | ||
steno-Medit | Ch suffr | Teucrium capitatum subsp. capitatum | 1 | 1 | + | + | 1 |
steno-Medit | Ch suffr | Micromeria graeca | 2 | 2 | 1 | + | . |
steno-Medit | P caesp | Cistus creticus subsp. eriocephalus | . | 2 | 1 | . | . |
steno-Medit | Ch suffr | Euphorbia spinosa | . | . | . | 1 | + |
endemic | Ch suffr | Helianthemum jonium | 1 | . | + | . | . |
steno-Medit | H caesp | Cistus salvifolius | . | 1 | . | . | . |
steno-Medit | Ch suffr | Fumana thymifolia | + | . | . | . | . |
Medit-mont | Ch suffr | Satureja montana | . | . | . | 1 | . |
Chenopodietea & Artemisietea | |||||||
Euro-Medit | T scap | Bellardia trixago | . | . | + | + | 1 |
Euro-Medit | T scap | Knautia integrifolia subsp. integrifolia | 2 | . | + | 1 | . |
Euro-Medit | T scap | Nigella damascena | . | . | + | 1 | 1 |
Euro-Medit | T scap | Helminthotheca echioides | 1 | 1 | + | . | . |
steno-Medit | T scap | Anthemis arvensis subsp. incrassata | 1 | . | . | + | . |
steno-Medit | H scap | Carlina corymbosa | . | + | 1 | . | . |
Euro-Medit | T scap | Dasypyrum villosum | 2 | . | . | + | . |
steno-Medit | T scap | Orlaya daucoides | . | 1 | 1 | . | . |
Euro-Medit | T scap | Pallenis spinosa subsp. spinosa | . | + | + | . | . |
steno-Medit | T scap | Triticum neglectum | . | + | . | 1 | . |
steno-Medit | T scap | Ammoides pusilla | . | . | + | . | . |
Eurasiat | H bien | Lactuca viminea subsp. viminea | . | . | . | . | + |
Euro-Medit | H scap | Picris hieracioides subsp. hieracioides | 1 | . | . | . | . |
steno-Medit | T scap | Reseda alba subsp. alba | + | . | . | . | . |
Eurasiat | H scap | Silene vulgaris | + | . | . | . | . |
steno-Medit | T scap | Linum decumbens | + | . | . | . | . |
steno-Medit | T scap | Tyrimnus leucographus | . | . | + | . | . |
Quercetea ilicis ( Pistacio-Rhamnetalia ) | |||||||
steno-Medit | P caesp | Pistacia lentiscus | . | . | + | + | + |
steno-Medit | P caesp | Asparagus acutifolius | + | . | . | + | . |
steno-Medit | P caesp | Daphne gnidium | . | . | . | + | + |
steno-Medit | P caesp | Olea europaea var. sylvestris | . | . | . | + | + |
SE-Europ | P caesp | Rhamnus saxatilis | . | . | . | 1 | . |
Sedo-Scleranthetea | |||||||
Euro-Medit | H caesp | Petrorhagia saxifraga subsp. gasparrinii | + | . | . | . | + |
Euro-Medit | T scap | Reseda phyteuma subsp. phyteuma | 1 | 1 | . | . | . |
Euro-Medit | Ch succ | Petrosedum ochroleucum subsp. mediterraneum | + | . | . | . | . |
Poetea bulbosae | |||||||
Eurasiat | H caesp | Poa bulbosa | . | . | . | + | . |
MEDICAGO DISCIFORMIS-BRACHYPODIETUM DISTACHYI Biondi et Guerra 2008 (Table
This community shows a clear dominance of Brachypodium distachyum and characterizes small calcareous outcrops or preferential walking sites for animals within the perennial communities dominated by Scorzonera villosa subsp. columnae, Stipa austroitalica and Hyparrhenia hirta. Due to the few relevès carried out in this paper, it does not seem appropriate to promote a too deep syntaxonomic discussion. However, as already highlighted in the previous paragraph, the syntaxonomic classification of the Mediterranean therophytic communities in Italy still remains a heated point of debate (see
Medicago disciformis-Brachypodietum distachyi Biondi et Guerra 2008 (rels 1–4); Lagurus ovatus community (rels 5–6).
Relevè number | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | ||
Altitude x 10 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 31 | ||
Aspect | sw | ssw | . | . | . | . | ||
Slope° | 3 | 3 | . | . | . | . | ||
Area m2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
Cover% | 90 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 80 | 85 | ||
Medicago disciformis-Brachypodietum distachii | ||||||||
T scap | steno-Medit | Brachypodium distachyon | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | . | . |
T scap | steno-Medit | Medicago disciformis | + | . | + | . | . | . |
Lagurus ovatus & Anisantha madritensis comm. | ||||||||
T scap | Euro-Medit | Lagurus ovatus subsp. ovatus | . | . | + | + | 3 | 3 |
T scap | Euro-Medit | Anisantha madritensis | . | . | + | + | 2 | 2 |
Brachypodion distachii | ||||||||
T scap | steno-Medit | Campanula erinus | . | . | 2 | + | + | 1 |
T scap | Euro-Medit | Euphorbia exigua subsp. exigua | + | + | + | . | + | . |
T scap | Euro-Medit | Bupleurum baldense | 1 | + | . | . | . | . |
T scap | Euro-Medit | Ononis reclinata | . | + | . | . | + | . |
Brachypodietalia distachyi ; Stipo-Trachynietea | ||||||||
T scap | steno-Medit | Ononis ornithopodioides | 1 | + | + | 1 | + | . |
T rept | Euro-Medit | Lysimachia foemina | . | + | . | . | . | + |
T scap | Euro-Medit | Helianthemum salicifolium | + | + | . | + | + | . |
T scap | steno-Medit | Hypochoeris achyrophorus | 1 | . | + | . | + | + |
T caesp | Euro-Medit | Festuca danthonii subsp. danthonii | + | 1 | + | . | + | . |
T scap | Euro-Medit | Filago pyramidata | + | . | + | . | . | + |
T scap | steno-Medit | Linum strictum subsp. strictum | 2 | 2 | + | . | . | . |
T scap | steno-Medit | Onobrychis caput-galli | 1 | 2 | + | . | . | . |
T rept | Euro-Medit | Trifolium scabrum subsp. scabrum | 1 | 2 | + | + | + | + |
T scap | Euro-Medit | Catapodium rigidum | . | + | 1 | . | . | . |
T scap | Eurasiat | Centaurium tenuiflorum subsp. tenuiflorum | 1 | + | . | . | . | . |
T scap | Euro-Medit | Cynosurus echinatus | + | . | . | 1 | . | . |
T rept | steno-Medit | Filago asterisciflora | 1 | 1 | . | . | . | . |
T scap | steno-Medit | Hippocrepis ciliata | 1 | 1 | . | . | . | . |
T scap | Euro-Medit | Medicago minima | 1 | 1 | . | . | . | . |
T scap | steno-Medit | Stachys romana | + | + | . | . | . | . |
T scap | steno-Medit | Trifolium infamia-ponertii | + | + | . | . | . | . |
T scap | Euro-Medit | Trifolium stellatum | . | + | . | . | + | . |
T caesp | Euro-Medit | Festuca myuros subsp. myuros | . | . | 1 | . | . | + |
T scap | steno-Medit | Briza maxima | . | . | 1 | . | . | . |
T scap | steno-Medit | Crupina crupinastrum | + | . | . | . | . | . |
T rept | steno-Medit | Filago pygmaea | . | + | . | . | . | . |
T scap | Euro-Medit | Hippocrepis biflora | . | . | . | . | . | + |
T scap | steno-Medit | Polygala monspeliaca | . | + | . | . | . | . |
T scap | Eurasiat | Trifolium campestre | + | . | . | . | . | . |
T scap | steno-Medit | Plantago lagopus | + | 1 | . | . | . | . |
T scap | Euro-Medit | Crepis neglecta | . | . | . | . | 1 | 2 |
Chenopodietea | ||||||||
T scap | steno-Medit | Lysimachia arvensis subsp. arvensis | 1 | . | + | . | . | . |
T scap | Euro-Medit | Dasypyrum villosum | . | + | . | + | . | . |
T scap | steno-Medit | Triticum neglectum | 2 | 2 | . | . | . | . |
T scap | Euro-Medit | Carthamus lanatus | . | . | . | . | + | . |
T scap | Euro-Medit | Plantago coronopus subsp. coronopus | . | + | . | . | . | . |
Sedo-Scleranthetea | ||||||||
T scap | steno-Medit | Gastridium ventricosum | . | + | . | . | . | . |
H caesp | Euro-Medit | Petrorhagia saxifraga subsp. gasparrinii | . | + | . | . | . | . |
CH succ | Euro-Medit. | Petrosedum ochroleucum subsp. mediterraneum | . | . | + | . | + | + |
CH succ | Euro-Medit | Sedum album | + | . | . | . | . | . |
T scap | steno-Medit | Valantia muralis | . | . | 1 | . | . | 2 |
Lygeo-Stipetea | ||||||||
T scap | Euro-Medit | Avena barbata | ||||||
H scap | Euro-Medit | Convolvulus cantabrica | + | . | . | . | . | . |
H scap | steno-Medit | Thapsia garganica | . | + | . | . | . | . |
T par | Euro-Medit | Cuscuta planiflora | . | + | . | . | . | . |
Poetea bulbosae | ||||||||
H caesp | Eurasiat | Poa bulbosa | 1 | 1 | . | . | . | + |
Festuco-Brometea | ||||||||
H caesp | endemic | Koeleria splendens | . | + | . | . | . | . |
Ononido-Rosmarinetea | ||||||||
CH suffr | steno-Medit | Teucrium capitatum subsp. capitatum | + | + | . | . | . | . |
CH rept | SE-Europ | Thymus spinulosus | 1 | 1 | . | . | . | . |
CH suffr | steno-Medit | Fumana thymifolia | 1 | . | . | . | . | . |
PETROSEDUM OCHROLEUCUM SUBSP. MEDITERRANEUM community (Table
In environmental situations of undulating rocky outcrops characterized by micro-depressions in the calcareous plateau profile, communities with a clear dominance of Petrosedum ochroleucum subsp. mediterraneum accompanied by a few other chamaephytes and a rich therophytic component are found. The degree of vegetation cover is quite high as there are very few parts of the sampling plots not covered by a thin layer of soil at least. From a syntaxonomic point of view, the coenological role of Petrosedum ochroleucum was already known in the study area, this taxon being one of the guide species of the association Sedo ochroleuci-Saturejetum cuneifoliae already described for the small-size terraces bordering the Gravina gorges (
Relevè number | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
Altitude | 300 | 310 | 315 | 300 | 295 | ||
Aspect | . | . | . | . | . | ||
Slope° | . | . | . | . | . | ||
Area m2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
Cover% | 85 | 90 | 85 | 80 | 85 | ||
Petrosedum mediterraneum community | |||||||
Euro-Medit | CH succ | Petrosedum ochroleucum subsp. mediterraneum | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Sedo-Scleranthetea | |||||||
steno-Medit | T scap | Campanula erinus | . | . | + | . | . |
Euro-Medit | T scap | Linaria simplex | . | + | . | . | . |
steno-Medit | T scap | Valantia muralis | . | . | . | 1 | . |
Stipo-Trachynietea | |||||||
Euro-Medit | T scap | Bromus madritensis | . | 1 | 1 | + | + |
SE-Europ | T scap | Crupina vulgaris | . | . | + | + | + |
Euro-Medit | T rept | Lysimachia foemina | + | . | . | . | + |
steno-Medit | T scap | Briza maxima | . | + | + | . | . |
Euro-Medit | T scap | Catapodium rigidum | . | + | + | . | . |
steno-Medit | T scap | Hypochoeris achyrophorus | . | . | + | + | . |
steno-Medit | T scap | Brachypodium distachyon | 1 | . | 1 | . | . |
steno-Medit | T scap | Hedypnois rhagadioloides | . | . | . | + | . |
Euro-Medit | T scap | Helianthemum salicifolium | . | . | . | . | 1 |
Euro-Medit | T scap | Hippocrepis biflora | . | . | . | . | + |
steno-Medit | T scap | Linum strictum subsp. strictum | . | . | + | . | . |
Euro-Medit | T scap | Ononis reclinata | . | . | . | . | + |
steno-Medit | T scap | Plantago lagopus | + | . | . | . | . |
Euro-Medit | T caesp | Festuca danthonii subsp. danthonii | . | . | . | + | . |
Euro-Medit | T caesp | Festuca myuros subsp. myuros | + | . | . | . | . |
Euro-Medit | T scap | Lagurus ovatus subsp. ovatus | + | . | . | + | + |
Ononido-Rosmarinetea | |||||||
steno-Medit | CH suffr | Fumana ericifolia | 1 | 1 | 2 | . | . |
Endem | CH suffr | Helianthemum jonium | + | . | . | 1 | + |
Poetea bulbosae | |||||||
paleotemp. | H caesp | Poa bulbosa | + | + | . | 1 | 1 |
In this paper, two new associations were identified and described for the south-eastern sector of Peninsular Italy, namely the xerophytic annual grasslands and micro-garrigues dominated by Atractylis cancellata and Micromeria microphylla. These taxa are two S-Mediterranean species whose Italian distribution is restricted to southern Italy and for which very scarce phytosociological references were available. Moreover, new phytosociological data and syntaxonomical insights were provided on other types of Mediterranean dry grasslands and micro-garrigues, identified in the study area. The new association Campanulo erini-Micromerietum microphyllae was classified in the class Stipo-Trachynietea this choice representing a novelty for the communities dominated by Micromeria microphylla, for which the only references available at present were the classes Parietarietea judaicae and Asplenietea trichomanis. The new association Lysymachio foeminae-Atractylidetum cancellatae was here classified in the alliance Onobrychido-Ptilostemonion stellati (that we moved from Stipo-Bupleretalia semicompositi to Brachypodietalia distachyi). This alliance susbstitutes the W-Mediterranean Stipion retortae and the S-Mediterranean Atractylido-Stipion retortae in encompassing the most xerothermic fringe of the order Brachypodietalia distachyi in southern Italy. At the same time, we have still considered the occurrence of Trachynion distachyae in our study area classifying in this alliance the association Medicago disciformis-Brachypodietum distachyi. In our opinion, in southern Italy there is an overlap between the ephemeral communities of the Meso-Mediterranean belt coming from the coastal sectors of central-northern Italy and those of the dry-Thermo-Mediterranean belt coming from the pre-desert areas of the south-eastern Mediterranean. For this reason the identification and separation of two different alliances (Trachynion distachyae and Onobrychido-Ptilostemonion stellati) in the study area was not easy as these two alliances shared a large part of their therophytic component. As a useful tool for classification we reiterated the diagnostic importance expressed by the guide species (dominant species) of a community. In our opinion, the physiognomical dominance of a given species should not exclusively to be interpreted as the response to the current environmental conditions but also as the result of previous epionthological processes. For this reason, the dominant species should express a syntaxonomical diagnostic power (especially when the syntaxonomic debate is about the choice of order or class) greater than what would be assigned to it based on its mere presence in the community. In our specific case of the Lysimachio-Atractylidetum cancellatae, the dominance of Atractylis cancellata was considered as the sign of previous occurrences of a xerothermic Irano-Turanian pre-desertic vegetation that migrated in southern Europe from the Messinian Age on. This interpretation is in accordance with the spatial contact of Lysimachio-Atractylidetum cancellatae with the perennial Lygeum spartum or Hyparrhenia hirta communities and with successional stages tending to potential vegetation types belonging to Pistacio-Rhamnetalia alaterni. Our syntaxonomical choices, however, cannot solve the problem the floristic similarities between the Onobrychido-Ptilostemonion stellati and the Trachynion distachyae. In fact, despite being alliances belonging to two different orders, they share a large part of their characteristic species. Accordingly, we will address the resolution of this syntaxonomic question for future researches to be carried out using a much larger amount of phytosociological data from the entire Mediterranean basin. Basing on biogeographic and nomenclatural reasons, the association Stipo austroitalicae-Hyparrhenietum hirtae was classified in the Cymbopogono-Brachypodietalia ramosi and Cymbopogono-Brachypodion ramosi although the floristic and ecological boundaries between the latter alliance and the W-Mediterranean alliance Hyparrhenion hirtae still remain undefined.
Some points of discussion raised in this paper turned out to be only partially in agreement with the frameworks provided by both the Vegetation Prodrome of Italy (
STIPO-TRACHYNIETEA DISTACHYAE Brullo in
BRACHYPODIETALIA DISTACHYI Rivas-Mart. 1978
[= Trachynietalia distachyae Rivas-Mart. 1978 nom. mut. propos.; Stipo-Bupleuretalia semicompositi Brullo in
Trachynion distachyae Rivas-Mart. 1978
Medicago disciformis-Brachypodietum distachyi Biondi et Guerra 2008
Lagurus ovatus and Anisantha madritensis comm.
Onobrychido-Ptilostemonion stellati
Lysimachio foeminae-Atractylidetum cancellatae ass. nova
Campanulo erini-Micromerietum microphylli ass nova
SEDO-SCLERANTHETEA Br.-Bl. 1955
ALYSSO-SEDETALIA Moravec 1967
Alysso alyssoidis-Sedion Oberd. et T. Müller in T. Müller 1961
Petrosedum ochroleucum subsp. mediterraneum community
LYGEO SPARTI-STIPETEA TENACISSIMAE Rivas-Mart.1978
CYMBOPOGONO-BRACHYPODIETALIA RAMOSI Horvatić 1963
Cymbopogono-Brachypodion ramosi Horvatić 1963
Stipo austroitalicae-Hyparrhenietum hirtae Biondi et Guerra 2008
We wish to thank two anonymous referees and the Editor for valuable feedbacks on an earlier version of the manuscript. Thanks also to Saverio D'Amico for the identification of bryophytes. Furthermore, since this study focused especially on therophytic grasslands, we cannot fail to feel indebted to our great teacher and friend Prof. Salvador Rivas-Martínez, who has recently left us and whose pioneer studies on this topic, as well as on many others, opened paths for a new way of interpreting and classifying vegetation.
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