Vegetation types with Quercus ithaburensis subsp. macrolepis in Greece

Abstract

Quercus ithaburensis subsp. macrolepis is an important component of the Mediterranean flora, forming distinctive forests in the thermo and meso Mediterranean vegetation zone. The purpose of this study was to investigate the structure of Q. ithaburensis subsp. macrolepis communities of mainland and insular Greece, from a phytoecological point of view. The identification followed the Braun-Blanquet method and was based on 138 records from 19 areas. Seventeen vegetation types with Q. ithaburensis subsp. macrolepis have been distinguished in which the species holds a dominant, sub-dominant or differential role. All these groupments are attached to the class Quercetea ilicis distinguished in forest units of the Quercetalia ilicis (Quercion ilicis alliance) and pre-forest units of the Pistacio-Rhamnetalia alaterni (Ceratonio-Rhamnion and Pistacio-Rhamnion alliances) orders, while some very degraded communities, are difficult to be classified from a phytosociological point of view. Several diagnostic species of other phytosociological classes also appear, reflecting the impacts that these communities have undergone. The life form spectrum of these communities shows that therophytes are the most represented while for the chorological spectrum, the Mediterranean element is dominant.