Abstract
The results of a phytosociological investigation regarding the orophilous cushion-like vegetation occurring in the top of the high mountains of central-southern Greece and in some Ionian (Lefkas, Cephalonia) and Aegean Islands (Euboea, Samos, Lesvos, Chios and Thassos) are provided. Based on 680 phytosociological relevès (460 unpublished and 220 from literature), a new syntaxonomical arrangement is proposed with the description of a new class, including two new orders, eight new alliances, and several associations (many of them new). Compared to the previous hierarchical framework usually followed in the literature, this study provides a more realistic and clear phytosociological characterization of this peculiar and archaic vegetation type, which is exclusive to the high mountains of the north-eastern Mediterranean. The new arrangement is mainly based on the phytogeographical role of the orophytes featuring this very specialized vegetation, which is essentially represented by endemics or rare species belonging to the ancient Mediterranean Tertiary flora. In addition, taxonomic research on the orophilous flora occurring in these plant communities allowed to identify six species new to science (i.e., Astragalus corinthiacus, Allium cremnophilum, A. cylleneum, A. orosamium, A. karvounis, and A. lefkadensis) and a new subspecies (i.e., Allium hirtovaginatum subsp. samium), and two new combinations (i.e., Astragalus rumelicus subsp. euboicus and subsp. taygeticus) are proposed.
Highlights
The orophilous cushion-like vegetation colonizing the cacuminal stands of the highest mountains of the Mediterranean territories has always aroused a lot of interest from botanists, mainly for the occurrence of a peculiar and specialized flora
During the phytosociological investigation carried out in the high-mountains of Greece, we have collected several orophytes belonging to the genus Astragalus and Allium, which are very peculiar from the taxonomical point of view and traited as taxa new to science
This study allowed to improve the knowledge on the orophilous pulvinate vegetation occurring in the high-mountains of continental and insular Greece
Summary
The orophilous cushion-like vegetation colonizing the cacuminal stands of the highest mountains of the Mediterranean territories has always aroused a lot of interest from botanists, mainly for the occurrence of a peculiar and specialized flora. Many plants that characterize these phytocoenoses (usually localized at high altitude) belong to the ancient Tertiary Mediterranean flora They are represented mostly by dwarf nanophanerophytes and chamaephytes mixed with caespitose hemicryptophytes which form plant communities often covering large surfaces. This ecologically specialized vegetation is associated and adapted to long wintry periods of lasting snow cover (sometimes till late spring), as well as to prolonged summer droughts with intense winds. It occurs mostly on rocky places with undeveloped and immature soils due to the prevailing harsh climatic conditions and wide diurnal and annual variations. Such factors seem to converge to climatic conditions of the temperate cold climate inserted in the Mediterranean context [3]
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