A phytosociological analysis of the Brachypodium rupestre (Host) Roem. & Schult. communities of Sicily.

A phytosociological study on the Brachypodium rupestre grasslands in Sicily is presented. These grasslands form discontinuous secondary stands dynamically linked to the deciduous oak woods, which are widespread within the upper-colline, submontane and lower montane belts (800-1400 m) of the Tyrrhenian side of the northern Sicily and in the Sicani mountains. In the study area B. rupestre grasslands were mainly found in colluvial plains or drainage lines where relatively deep and mesic soils occur. In this paper 42 phytosociological relevés were performed and statistically analysed. Two new associations were described and classified in the alliance Polygalo mediterraneae-Bromion erecti (Brome…

Floristic and phytosociological features of the Brachypodium rupestre communities in Italy

The pale green dense Tor-grass (Brachypodium rupestre) tufts are a quite distinctive aspect of the Italian grassland pattern of the colline and submontane belts. B. rupestre is used to be found in secondary grasslands both in natural environments and in some aspects of the post-coltural environments such as forest clearances, abandoned terraced and extensive pastures. In northern Italy (Alps, Prealps and northern Apennines) B. rupestre has only sporadically been considered in the grasslands syntaxonomic frameworks. On the contrary it occurs in those regarding the central Italy where several semi-natural and post-coltural grassland associations (e.g. Polygalo flavescentis-Brachypodietum, Gal…

Karst underground protection in Sicily (southern Italy), some examples from speleological natural reserves