Contribution to the study of the Greek flora: Flora and vegetation of the Enousses (Oinousses) islands (E. Aegean area)

Abstract

Summary Enousses is an islets group situated eastwards of Chios island (E. Aegean, Greece), which remained quite unexplored floristically. Based on our herborizations, 270 taxa belonging to 51 families and 204 genera of spermatophytes are listed for the flora of this area. The flora of the area is analysed and the plant species recognized are classified into 9 chorological groups and 5 life form types. The results of this analysis confirm the Mediterranean character of the flora since the Mediterranean elements and the therophytes are predominant in the area. The vegetation of all islets is characterized by the dominance of phryganic communities, and the three “vegetation zones” distinguished (littoral, sublittoral and interior ones) are described. Geological history, geography, microecological differences, random events and human activities seem to be the most important factors related to the diversity of the flora and vegetation observed in our area. Special attention has been given to human interference, since in the bigger islets of the group -which are used for agriculture, grazing etc. - high percentages of Therophytes and Leguminous species have been observed (indexes of disturbance). On the contrary, in the smaller ones, which are not affected by human activities (i.e. Vatopoula), these indexes show deviate values. For this reason, the importance of the small islets ecosystems in floristic and ecological studies in the Aegean area is pointed out.