0000000000562914
AUTHOR
G. Siracusa
Considerazioni tassonomiche sulle querce caducifoglie della Sicilia
On the basis of literature, herbarium and field investigations, a survey on the species of deciduous oaks occurring in Sicily is presented. A morphological description fitted with photos and drawings and completed by some chorological and ecological observations is reported for each species. Finally it is emphasized that the phenotypical variability observed in Sicily among the Q. pubescens group, even if let to consider the S.Thyrrhenian area as a probable speciation center of the group, on the other hand should also be related to the deforestation, which favoured the genetic mixing among populations.
The Lygeo-Stipetea class in Sicily
Basing on literature data and unpublished relevés from Sicily, a survey of the syntaxa belonging to the class Lygeo-Stipetea Rivas-Martínez 1978 is presented. This perennial vegetation is characterized by the dominance of big caespitose hemicryptophytes, and it is widely distributed in Sicily from the sea level up to 1500 m a.s.l. The class is represented in Sicily by two orders, floristically and ecologically well differentiated: Lygeo-Stipetalia, including the sole alliance Moricandio-Lygeion exclusively of clayey substrates, and Hyparrhenietalia hirtae, including five alliances (Hyparrhenion hirtae, Avenulo cincinnatae-Ampelodesmion mauritanici, Thero-Brachypodion ramosi, B…
A syntaxonomical survey of the Sicilian dwarf shrub vegetation belonging to the class Rumici-Astragaletea siculi
Basing on literature data and unpublished relevés from Sicily, a survey of the syntaxa belonging to the class Rumici-Astragaletea siculi Pignatti & Nimis 1980 em. Mucina 1997 (= Cerastio-Carlinetea nebrodensis Brullo 1984) is presented. The class groups orophilous plant communities dominated by dwarf- shrubs, often with a pulvinate and thorny growth form. The class is represented in Sicily by two orders: Rumici-Astragaletalia siculi Pignatti & Nimis 1980, including the sole alliance Rumici-Astragalion siculi Poli 1965, restricted to Mount Aetna, and Erysimo-Jurinetalia bocconei Brullo 1984, including two alliances: the acidophilous Armerion nebrodensis Brullo 1984 and the basiphilous Cerast…
THE CLASS QUERCO-FAGETEA SYLVATICAE IN SICILY: AN EXAMPLE OF BOREO-TEMPERATE VEGETATION IN THE CENTRAL MEDITERRANEAN REGION
A syntaxonomical revision of the class Querco-Fagetea sylvaticae in Sicily, based on literature data and unpublished relevés, is presented. This class groups the mesophilous woods characterized by the dominance of deciduous trees (e.g. Fagus sylvatica, Quercus sp. pl., Acer sp. pl.), and more rarely by conifers (Taxus baccata, Pinus nigra subsp. calabrica), as well as by other broadleaved trees, such as Betula aetnensis, Populus tremula, Castanea sativa. In Sicily, these woody communities are widespread in the northern and north-eastern districts of the island, chiefly on the highest peaks (Madonie, Nebrodi, Peloritani, and Etna). This class is represented in Sicily by two, both flor…
Syntaxonomical analysis of the beech forests from Sicily
The results of a phytosociological investigation on the beech forests occurring in Sicily are given. On the basis of literature and unpublished data, four well differentiated associations have been identified and classified within the Doronico-Fagion, alliance of Querco-Fagetea. All the surveyed woodlands are localized in the mountain belt of North and North-Eastern Sicily. The associations have been examined from the floristical, ecological, chorological and nomenclatural point of view. Besides, a numerical analysis applied to the phytosociological relevés emphasizes the differences among the associations.
La classe Quercetea ilicis in Sicilia.
On the basis of literature data and numerous unpublished relevès, a syntaxonomic revision of Quercetea ilicis class in Sicily is given. The surveyed associations are represented by evergreen, deciduous o mixed plant communities forming shrubland, maquis, bushland and woodland. They are communities dominated by sclerophylls or deciduous trees, widespread from the shoreline up to 1400 (1600) m of altitude, within the bioclimatic belts between the inframediterranean dry lower one and the mesomediterranean subhumid-humid one, extending to the supramediterranean belt. The study, regarding all the Sicilian territory including the neighboring islets, was carried out through the elaboration of syno…