https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4983-8931
![Sample our Environment & Agriculture journals, sign in here to start your access, latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5934/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Environment-Agriculture.jpg"})
Abstract
Melittio-Quercion frainetto and Melittio-Quercion confertae are two alliances, which were proposed about simultaneously 40 years ago through two different papers regarding southern Italy and southern Greece, respectively. The aims of this paper are to establish valid name, nomenclatural type and distribution range of these two alliances and to verify whether they display a sufficient degree of syntaxonomic autonomy when compared to the ecologically and geographically neighbouring alliances. A data matrix composed of 43 frequency columns summing 1242 phytosociological relevés x 625 taxa was prepared and statistically analysed. The results suggested that the thermophilous Quercus cerris and Q. frainetto oak woods of the southern Apennines and the southern Balkans deserve to be classified in two separated alliances. The application of the principle IV of the ICPN established that the correct name of the alliance is Melittio albidae-Quercion frainetto Barbéro, Bonin, Gamisans et Quézel in Bonin et Gamisans 1976 and that it was typified in southern Italy. Accordingly, the new name Geranio asphodeloidis-Quercion frainetto is here proposed for southern Greece in substitution of Melittio-Quercion confertae (nom. illeg.). The syntaxonomic proposal advanced in this paper brings significant modifications in the current version of the checklist of the European syntaxa (Eurovegchecklist).
Acknowledgments
We are very grateful to Alessandro De Santis for his help in preparing the synoptic tables to A. Carni, V. Stupar and R. Tzonev for the interesting exchanges of opinions on the southeastern European oak woods during Congresses and meetings, and to the Editor and the three anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments and suggestions. This research was carried out within the “Sapienza” University of Rome research project (Prot. AI26174YT8) “biosystematic, taxonomic and phytosociological investigations on the amphi-Adriatic plant species, communities and landscapes (Resp. Romeo Di Pietro).
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Correction Statement
This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Romeo Di Pietro
All the authors planned the research, R.D.P and P.F. led the writing, R.D.P and M.T. performed the statistical analyses and worked on the phytosociological nomenclature issues, while all authors critically revised the manuscript.
Paola Fortini
All the authors planned the research, R.D.P and P.F. led the writing, R.D.P and M.T. performed the statistical analyses and worked on the phytosociological nomenclature issues, while all authors critically revised the manuscript.
Giampiero Ciaschetti
All the authors planned the research, R.D.P and P.F. led the writing, R.D.P and M.T. performed the statistical analyses and worked on the phytosociological nomenclature issues, while all authors critically revised the manuscript.
Leonardo Rosati
All the authors planned the research, R.D.P and P.F. led the writing, R.D.P and M.T. performed the statistical analyses and worked on the phytosociological nomenclature issues, while all authors critically revised the manuscript.
Daniele Viciani
All the authors planned the research, R.D.P and P.F. led the writing, R.D.P and M.T. performed the statistical analyses and worked on the phytosociological nomenclature issues, while all authors critically revised the manuscript.
Massimo Terzi
All the authors planned the research, R.D.P and P.F. led the writing, R.D.P and M.T. performed the statistical analyses and worked on the phytosociological nomenclature issues, while all authors critically revised the manuscript.