The oldest Pinus nigra plantations in the central Apennines: distribution and floristic-vegetational characterisation

Giulio Tesei,Marina Allegrezza,Annarita Frattaroli,Silvia Montecchiari,Carlo Console,Gianfranco Pirone,Giampiero Ciaschetti,Sandro Ballelli,Cecilia Ottaviani

doi:10.3897/pls2021582/02

Abstract

This paper represents the first syntaxonomic study on the Pinus nigra subsp. nigra artificial stands in the Apennines. It refers exclusively to the mature Pinus nigra forest plantations in the central Apennines that were planted before the 1950s, and then not managed. The mature Pinus nigra forest plantations in the central Apennines are distributed within four National Parks, on limestone substrata, mainly with southern aspects and rugged slopes, and at elevations ranging from 655 m to 1670 m a.s.l.. Two new phytosociological associations are described here and classified in the alliance Junipero communis–Pinion nigrae: Orthilio secundae–Pinetum nigrae and Digitalidi micranthae–Pinetum nigrae. The association Orthilio secundae–Pinetum nigrae comprises the relative mesophilous mature pine forests of the supratemperate thermotype in the plant landscape context of the alliance Aremonio agrimonioidis–Fagion sylvaticae potential vegetation belt. The Digitalidi micranthae–Pinetum nigrae comprises the thermophilous pine forests occurring on rocky stands within mesotemperate and lower supratemperate thermotypes in the potential belt of alliance Carpinion orientalis woods. The comparison of these two new associations and the phytosociological literature concerning the natural communities of Pinus nigra in the Apennines highlights their floristic and coenological autonomy.

Highlights

On the Italian peninsula, the indigenous Pinus nigra s.l. populations belong to two taxa: Pinus nigra subsp. nigra, which includes the variety italica of the subsp. nigra recognized for the steeper slopes of a few sites in the Abruzzo region (Bruschi et al 2006), and Pinus nigra subsp. laricio (Bartolucci et al 2018)
This study represents the first syntaxonomic analysis of the Pinus nigra subsp. nigra artificial stands in the Apennines
It refers exclusively to the mature Pinus nigra forest plantations in the central Apennines at elevations above 600 m a.s.l. that were planted before the 1950s and have not been managed for many years

Summary

Introduction

Laricio (southern Apennines and Sicily) (Bartolucci et al 2018). Nigra (eastern Alps and central-southern Apennines), which includes the variety italica of the subsp. These are included in priority habitat 9530*: (sub-) Mediterranean pine of endemic black pines – (sub-) Mediterranean pine forests with endemic black pines (Habitat Directive 92/43/EEC). The communities dominated by Pinus nigra s.l. in the mountain systems of the Mediterranean basin are currently referred to two classes: Junipero-Pinetea sylvestris and Erico-Pinetea (Mucina et al 2016). The class Junipero-Pinetea sylvestris refers to the relict oromediterranean and submediterranean orotemperate dry pine forests, juniper woods and related scrub of the Mediterranean. A recent phytosociological study of the forests dominated by Pinus nigra subsp. pal-

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