Festuca pallens host, a new species of the Italian flora in the central Apennines. Ecological and phytosociological considerations

Abstract

In this paper, evidence for the presence of Festuca pallens Host in Italy is presented for the first time. This species is typical of the submontane and lower montane belt of the Gran Sasso d'Italia, a limestone massif of the Apennine chain (central Italy). In the Apennines this species occurs where subcontinental bioclimatic conditions and very shallow and subalcaline soils with abundance of calcareous debris prevail. From a phytosociological point of view, Festuca pallens seems to mainly characterise chamefitic Bromus erectus or Stipa capillata communities belonging to the xerophitic fringe of the Brometalia erecti grasslands.