Mountain pine scrubs and heaths with Ericaceae in the south-eastern Alps

Abstract

The sub-alpine belt in the south-eastern Alps, is characterized by the presence of numerous chamaephytic and nanophanerophitic communities. The structure of these formations is homogenous and dominated by few species such as: Pinus mugo, Rhododendron sp. pl., Juniperus communis subsp. alpina, Genista radiata, Erica carnea subsp. carnea and Calluna vulgaris. The flora, however, is heterogeneous, because in this ecotonal belt there is the influence of many different vegetation classes. The syntaxonomic scheme proposed tries to combine the significance of these two fundamentals elements in the phytosociological method. Twelve associations are considered and two of them (Rhodothamno chamaecisti-Juniperetum alpini and Vaccinium vitis-idaeae-Callunetum vilgaris) are described here for the first time.

Keywords:

• Moutain pine scrubs
• subalpine heaths
• south-eastern Alps
• syntaxonomy