The Vegetation of the Pie’ Vettore Debris (Sibillini Mountains, Central Italy)

Abstract

This work describes the vegetation that colonizes the rubble deposits of glacial origin on the southeast slopes of Monte Vettore (Sibillini Mountains, central Apennines), at altitudes between 1000 and 1800 m. Today these deposits are colonized by some pioneer herbaceous species (Rumex scutatus, Epilobium dodonaei, Scrophularia canina) and shrubby species (Amelanchier ovalis, Lonicera caprifolium, Prunus spinosa, Cytisophyllum sessilifolium, Rosa canina, Clematis vitalba, Viburnum lantana, Juniperus communis and J. deltoides = J. oxycedrus and others). The latter form the Junipero oxycedri-Amelanchieretum ovalis Pedrotti 1994 association, Cytision sessilifolii alliance, Prunetalia spinosae order and Rhamno-Prunetea class, already noted for other locations in the Sibillini Mountains. Where the soil is more developed, a shrubland dominated by Prunus spinosa, Ligustrum vulgare, Cytisophyllum sessilifolium and other species has grown up, attributed to the new association Cytisophyllo sessilifolii-Prunetum spinosae ass. nova hoc loco, Cytision sessilifolii alliance. This association occurs in many other locations of the montane belt of the Marche Region (central Apennines).