What about Pseudofumaria alba (Mill. ) Lidén dominated screes in Balkan?

Abstract

Pseudofumaria alba (Mill.) Lidén includes three subspecies of which P. a. subsp. leiosperma (P. Conrath) Lidén and P. a. subsp. acaulis (Wulfen) Lidén occur only in W Balkan. We analysed 78 georeferenced relevés described as screes with aforementioned subspecies. Until now, these types of phytocoenoses were included into the alliance Corydalion ochroleucae which is considered synonymous with Peltarion alliaceae and described as submediterranean alliance of the Central Dinarides. We performed UPGMA with chord distance analysis in R (ver. 3. 5. 2.) on matrix of 251 species x 74 relevés. Furthermore, the cluster analysis showed differentiation in two groups of relevés that correlates with altitude and canyon habitats, with distinct floristic composition and diagnostic species. Based on our findings, we propose that screes with P. a. subsp. leiosperma and P. a. subsp. acaulis as diagnostic species should be comprised by a new alliance Geranio—Pseudofumarion albae Trakić et al. all. nov. hoc loco within the order Drypidetalia spinosae, and clearly distinguished from the phytocoenoses belonging to the alliances of ravine Balkan forests in which edificator species are phanerophytes.