Phytosociological analysis of the Genista sp. pl. garrigues of the Cisto-Lavanduletea and Rosmarinetea officinalis classes in the South-Tyrrhenian area (Mediterranean Region)

Abstract

The study reviews the Genista sp. pl. garrigues ascribable to the classes Cisto-Lavanduletea (acidophilous communities on volcanics and quartzarenites) and Rosmarinetea officinalis (basiphilous communities on calcareous and calcareous-dolomite substrates), in the southern territories of the Italo-Tyrrhenian Province. The floristic-synecological characterization of the identified coenoses led to the description and/or redefinition of various new syntaxa. They are distributed in the two new suballiances Calicotomo villosae–Genistenion tyrrhenae and Genisto aristatae–Calicotomenion infestae of the class Cisto-Lavanduletea (Lavanduletalia stoechadis and Calicotomo villosae–Genistion tyrrhenae), and in the alliance Cisto eriocephali–Ericion multiflorae of the class Rosmarinetea officinalis (Rosmarinetalia officinalis), with two new described associations.

Keywords::

• Cisto-Lavanduletea
• Italo-Tyrrhenian biogeographical Province
• multivariate analysis
• phytosociology
• Rosmarinetea officinalis

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the anonymous reviewers for the critical review of the text. This work was carried out with financial support from Università degli Studi di Palermo (Ricerca d'Ateneo ex 60%: “Vegetazione dei corsi d'acqua della Sicilia in sistemi paesaggistici con problematiche d'impatto ambientale”, resp. Prof. L. Gianguzzi).

Supplemental data

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed doi:10.1080/11263504.2014.1000425.