Quercetea Ilicis Research Articles

Phytosociological analysis of the Sidi Boughaba Biological Reserve, Kénitra, Morocco

Abstract The biological reserve of Sidi Boughaba has a unique plant biodiversity, with many animals, including birds, finding refuge there. Data on this biodiversity is old and incomplete. This phytosociological study was carried out to define the vegetation structure of the area. Stratified sampling was carried out and 124 relevés were recorded. Multivariate statistical analyses (correspondence factorial analysis and hierarchical ascending classification) used to process the relevés revealed the presence of 9 plant groups, including 4 plant associations and 5 subassociations, which belong to 3 phytosociological classes (Ammophiletea, Quercetea ilicis and Querco roboris-Fagetea sylvaticae). Quercetea ilicis is the most widespread in the area, showing several successional stages on grey and consolidated dunes. Vegetation of Ammophiletea can only be found on mobile sand. Vegetation of the class Querco roboris-Fagetea sylvaticae occupies an inter-dunar depression on hydromorphic soil. The association Pterido aquilinum-Populetum albae is newly described as five subassociations of Clematido cirrhosae-Juniperetum lyciae.

The flora of the island of Rivanj and the vegetation of the macchia and forest of Rivanj and the Sestrice islets

According to literature data and field research conducted in 2019 and 2020, there are 346 vascular native and non-native taxa with the ability to survive outside crops (309 species, 36 subspecies and varieties) on the island of Rivanj (3,615 km2). Including 84 taxa in cultivation, we state that the total flora of Rivanj numbers 430 taxa. Those in cultivation are not included in the flora analysis. During earlier research, 45 taxa were recorded, while 385 taxa are listed for the first time in this work. In addition to the flora inventory, a taxonomic, ecological and phytogeographical analysis was performed. The results are presented in Tables 1–4 and Figure 2. The composition of the flora is dominated by angiosperms, in which dicotyledons (73.99%) are significantly more common than monocotyledons (23.99%). The flora also includes two ferns and 5 gymnosperms. By the number of taxa, the most represented families are Poaceae (13.01%), Asteraceae s.l. (11.85%) and Fabaceae (8.96%). The spectrum of life forms is dominated by therophytes (43.93%) and hemicryptophytes (24.28%), while plants of the Mediterranean floral element (42.77%) dominate in the phytogeographical analysis, which indicates the climatic conditions and geographical position of the island of Rivanj. Four endemics and four endangered taxa (Lathyrus ochrus – critically endangered, Carex extensa – endangered and two vulnerable taxa: Orchis tridentata and Parapholis incurva) were recorded in the flora, as well as five orchid. Eleven invasive taxa were recorded in the weed and ruderal vegetation of the settlement (3.18% of the total flora of the island). The investigation of the macchia and forest vegetation of the island of Rivanj and the islets of Sestrice was conducted in 2019 and 2020. The relevés were produced and analyzed according to the Braun-Blanquet method. Thirty relevés presenting the vegetation of the Quercetea ilicis and Pinetea halepensis classes were statistically analyzed and their dendrogram created. The results are shown in Tables 5–7 in accordance with the classic presentation regarding phytosociological relevés. Through the syntaxonomic analysis the Erico arboreae-Arbutetum unedonis Allier et Lacoste 1980 ex Foggi in Foggi et Grigioni 1999, Myrto communis-Pistacietum lentisci (Molinier 1954) Rivas-Martínez 1975, Pistacio lentisci-Juniperetum turbinatae Trinajstić 1987 ex Asensi, Díez-Garretas & Quézel 2007 and Myrto communis-Quercetum ilicis (Horvatić 1963) Trinajstić (1976) 1985 associations from the Quercetea ilicis class and the Pistacio lentisci-Pinetum halepensis De Marco, Veri & Caneva 1984 association. The autochthonous macchia and forest vegetation is mostly endangered by planted community of Aleppo pine on the islet of Mala Sestrica and on smaller areas on the island of Rivanj. North-west of the settlements on the Rivanj island a thick and impassable macchia grows. It is necessary to clear out the firefighting access paths and ban all activities that might cause fire.

A new association of relict maquis with Ptilostemon greuteri (Oleo-Ceratonion, Quercetea ilicis), located in a circumscribed area of north-western Sicily

This paper illustrates the results of a survey aimed at deepening available knowledge on the ecology of Ptilostemon greuteri (Asteraceae), a very rare palaeoendemic and relict nano-phanerophyte discovered about 15 years ago on Monte Inici, near Castellammare del Golfo (province of Trapani, north-western Sicily). Two plant communities characterised by P. greuteri are described in detail; they occur in the locus classicus and in a second, recently discovered stand, which is also very localised and threatened by fire. The field investigations revealed that the sites where the species grows are very similar from the ecological point of view; in fact, both of them are located on the steep slopes of deep gullies, benefitting from constantly cool and shady microclimatic conditions, and allowed to a) better identify the currently preferred habitat (ledges, screes at the base of cliffs), b) analyse from a floristic and phytosociological point of view the maquis communities where P. greuteri grows as co-dominant or dominant species, referable to the class Quercetea ilicis, c) to identify the syndynamic role that these coenoses play within the series and microgeoseries of local vegetation. As far as syntaxonomy is concerned, the Malvo olbiae-Ptilostemonetum greuteri ass. nova is described, a basiphilous, thermophilous and shade-tolerant maquis framed in the Oleo-Ceratonion alliance. Moreover, two subassociations are described: 1) typicum subass. nova, corresponding to a pioneer maquis community prevailing on the coarse, loose and mobile debris located along the slopes at the base of rock cliffs, where P. greuteri is clearly dominant and shows a nano-phanerophytic habitus, and 2) euphorbietosum bivonae subass. nova, a primary aspect found of the ledges of carbonate cliffs, where the species can play either a dominant or co-dominant role with other elements of the maquis (Euphorbia bivonae, Chamaerops humilis, etc.), sometimes showing a slightly smaller size.

Phytosociology and Vegetation of Plants of Beit Jibrin in Palestine

This paper describes a study on the vegetation and floristics of the territory of Beit Jibrin in Palestine, in areas such as Forest the Snabreh (Qasa), Khallet Mahmoud and Khallet AL-Taweel, among others. In view of the lack of studies on the phytosociology and communities of plants in the south-west of Palestine, as this region represents a unique diversity of plants, and the addition of these plants to Mediterranean Basin region plants, we conducted this study to identify and describe the plants of this region. Beit Jibrin is an ancient Canaanite Palestinian city that belongs to inframediterranean and thermomediterranean thermotypes, as well as arid, semi-arid and dry ombrotypes. This area is very important floristically, with a high rate of endemism: of the 290 species documented, 37 of them (12.75%) were endemic to the region. Vegetation was sampled on twelve representative plots (releves) and analyzed using the Braun-Blanquet phytosociological analysis method. Two communities of forest maquis, macchie and steppe vegetation were found. Forest vegetation were represented by the Cupresso sempervirentis–Pinetum halepensis ass. nova. association, in the class of Quercetea ilicis Br.-Bl. ex. A. and O. Bolòs 1950, the order of Pinetalia halepensis, Biondi et al. (2014), and a new alliance: Cupresso sempervirentis–Pinus halepensis; forests maquis vegetation as the association of Pistacio lentisci—Quercetum calliprini ass. nova., with the suggested new class of Quercetea calliprini or palaestini in addition to Quercetea ilicis Br.-Bl. ex. A. and O. Bolòs 1950 and the order of Quercetalia calliprini (Zohary 1960), with an alliance of Quercion calliprini (Zohary 1960). These were adapted in arid, semi-arid, dry and sub-humid ombrotypes, as well as infra- and thermotropical to mesomediterranean thermotypes, with many different types of soils, such as limestone, brown ruinsenas, terra rossa and others.

The concept of vegetation class and order in phytosociological syntaxonomy

In order to stabilize the defining concepts of the higher rank syntaxonomic units such as class or order, the criteria of floristic content and unity of origin are enunciated. This is done with the aim of preventing the fragmentation of the large classes and the subsequent typological inflation. For orders, the criterion of specific floristic content is discussed, with orders that have been described to encompass seral secondary forests or the separation of forest vegetation from that which is dominated by shrubs rejected, due to their weak floristic characterization. These criteria have been applied to two forest vegetation classes: the European temperate (Querco-Fagetea) and the Mediterranean (Quercetea ilicis). For the first, it is argued in favor of maintaining a single class for all temperate deciduous forests in Europe instead of dividing them into four. Within this single class five orders are distinguished: Fagetalia, Quercetalia roboris, Quercetalia pubescenti-petraeae, Alno-Fraxinetalia and Populetalia albae, rejecting the orders that have been proposed for secondary forests because they have few characteristic taxa. For the sclerophyllous and macchia forests of Mediterranean Europe, the Quercetea ilicis class can be split into two or three geographical orders, rejecting the Pistacio-Rhamnetalia alaterni as a shrubby physiognomic unit. Taxonomic reference: Castroviejo S (coord. gen.) (1986–2012) Flora iberica 1–8, 10–15, 17–18, 21. Real Jardín Botánico, CSIC, Madrid, ES. Syntaxonomic reference: Mucina et al. (2016).

Bibliographical note on the syntaxonomy of the vegetation of Tlemcen, Hafir, Moutas and its reserve (North-western Algeria)

This study provides bibliographical note on the syntaxonomy of the vegetation of Tlemcen, Hafir, Moutas of North-western Algeria, including the associations and alliances of the different higher units found in the Hafir forest and the Moutas Reserve. In this work, we observed modifications of forest and pre-forest structures according to bioclimatic variations. However, in this region, the xericity of the climate is not the only factor destroying the plant cover, anthropization is also a degradation factor. While being aware of the negative consequences, man, through their abusive cultivation, illegal logging, overgrazing, urbanization, the depletion of natural resources;, inhibits the evolution of vegetation, participates in the replacement of a rich plant cover by another and more xerophytic plant cover with thorny and/or toxic feature. The landscape is dominated, for the most part, by open and degraded formations based on therophytes and chamaephytes, linked to Rosmarinetea and Cisto-Lavanduletea. The tree structures in Hafir and the Moutas reserve, still occupy only minimal areas subject to the destructive actions of man and his flock. These formations are still linked to the Quercetea ilicis. These ecosystems are marked by a regressive evolution (forest, pre-forest, scrub, scrubland and therophytization).
 Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 27(2): 345-358, 2020 (December)

Vegetation types with Quercus ithaburensis subsp. macrolepis in Greece

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.

Syntaxonomic synopsis of the forest and tall scrub vegetation of Northern Algeria

This paper presents the first syntaxonomic conspectus of the forest and scrub communities of Northern Algeria. The communities belong mainly to the zonal classes such as the Quercetea ilicis, Quercetea pubescentis and Junipero-Pinetea sylvestris (new to Algeria). The azonal vegetation is represented by four classes: Alno glutinosae-Populetea albae , Salicetea purpureae , Alnetea glutinosae Franguletea (the latter being recognized in Algeria for the first time). We attempted to include all known syntaxa as featured in both regular and grey literature; many of those still await effective publication or formal validation. The paper also presents formal descriptions (and/or validations) of one new order, 12 new alliances, and 15 new associations.

Classification of plant communities along postfire succession in Pinus brutia(Turkish red pine) stands in Antalya (Turkey)

The paper deals with the classification of plant communities that appear along postfire succession of Pinus brutia forests (Turkish red pine). The research took place in the Antalya region in the southern part of Turkey. Samplings were performed in nine areas, with different periods after fire: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 12, 20, 40 years, and a mature forest with an estimated age of 60 years. Numerical classification and ordination analysis were used to determine the communities and to understand the temporal changes. The vegetation classification showed that separate plant communities can be distinguished along the succession line. It was found that immediately after fire semiruderal, subnitrophilous communities (Ajugo chamaepitys-Lactucetum serriolae, Eryngio falcate-Securigerion securidacae, Carthametalia lanati, Artemisietea vulgaris) appear, which remain until the third year, when low scrub vegetation up to 1-m high develops, dominated by low scrub species and termed garrigue (Phlomido grandiflorae-Cistetum salvifolii, Helichryso sanguinei-Origanion syriaci, Cisto-Micromerietalia julianae, Cisto-Micromerietea julianae); during the following years, up to 5-m-high scrub vegetation called maquis appears (Arbuto andrachnes-Quercetum cocciferae, Arbuto andrachnes-Quercion cocciferae, Pistacio lentisci-Rhamnetalia alaterni, Quercetea ilicis), which remains until the twentieth year when forest vegetation dominated by Pinus brutia (Glycyrrhizo asymetricae-Pinetum brutiae, Quercion calliprini, Quercetalia ilicis, Quercetea ilicis) develops. The work also discusses the classification of vegetation in the wider area of the eastern Mediterranean region by also indicating some syntaxonomical problems in Turkey.

A phytosociological analysis of the Quercus coccifera L. stands in south Albania (NE Mediterranean)

Abstract The results of a phytosociological investigation of the Quercus coccifera L. stands occurring along the Adriatic and Ionian coasts in south Albania are given. The surveyed stands are localized in the Thermo-Mediterranean and Meso-Mediterranean belts. On the basis of literature and unpublished data, Q. coccifera stands extend from the shoreline up to 680 m of altitude, within the Quercetea ilicis vegetation zone. According to numerical analysis, Q. coccifera stands in south Albania can be divided into two broad groups forming macchia of 3–4 m height and low shrublands [0.5–1.5(-2) m)] defined primarily by degree of human pressure and altitudes. In addition, relevés from Q. coccifera stands in Albania were differentiated from Croatian and Montenegrin the Fraxino orni-Quercetum cocciferae associations. Conversely, Q. coccifera stands in south Albania share several biological and ecological similarities with those of the eastern Adriatic coast: hemicryptophytes prevailed and the chorological spectrum highlights a clear dominance of the steno-Mediterraneans. With respect to indicator values, an important differentiation from the eastern Adriatic associations was shown only in higher light intensity of the stands in Albania.

A test on Ellenberg indicator values in the Mediterranean evergreen woods (Quercetea ilicis)

The consistency and reliability of Ellenberg’s indicator values (Eiv) as ecological descriptors of the Mediterranean evergreen vegetation ascribed to the phytosociological class Quercetea ilicis have been checked on a set of 859 phytosociological releves × 699 species. Diagnostic species were identified through a Twinspan analysis and their Eiv analyzed and related to the following independent variables: (1) annual mean temperatures, (2) annual rainfall. The results provided interesting insights to disentangle the current syntaxonomical framework at the alliance level demonstrating the usefulness of ecological indicator values to test the efficiency and predictivity of the phytosociological classification.

The forests of Pinus pinaster Aiton subsp. pinaster of the NW-Italian Tyrrhenian sector

The present work deals with natural and subnatural forests of Pinus pinaster Aiton subsp. pinaster of Liguria and Tuscany regions. After a short introduction on the taxonomy and biogeography of Pinus pinaster subsp. pinaster, three new associations are described: Erico scopariae-Pinetum pinastri, Erico arboreae-Pinetum pinastri and Buxo sempervirentis-Pinetum pinastri. These associations belong to the new alliance Genisto pilosae-Pinion pinastri (Quercetalia ilicis order, Quercetea ilicis class). It also describes the new shrub association Genisto pilosae-Buxetum sempervirentis, dynamically linked to the forest of pine called Buxo sempervirentis-Pinetum pinastri. Characteristic and differential species, ecology, distribution, dynamic and catenal relationships of the new Pinus pinaster subsp. pinaster associations and the new alliance are also described.

On the nomenclature of some high-rank syntaxa of European forest vegetation

We present a detailed nomenclatural analysis of the class names Carpino-Fagetea, Querco-Fagetea, Quercetea robori-sessiliflorae, Quercetea ilicis and Vaccinio-Piceetea. The current literature presents contradictory opinions about the legitimacy and correct author citation of these names, often motivated by deviating interpretations of the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature. This primarily concerns the provisions of Articles 2b, 3j, 3m and 35 which can be interpreted in quite different ways, leading to divergent conclusions on the validity and legitimacy of a name. Thus, the problems discussed in this paper are of general relevance for phytosociological nomenclature, highlighting the need for amendments and clarifications to be implemented in the next edition of the Code. Moreover, we suggest establishing a formal procedure to request a binding decision on specific cases to stabilise the interpretation of the Code.

The Paliurus spina-christi dominated vegetation in Europe

AbstractThe revision of the Paliurus spina-christi dominated vegetation of Europe is presented here. The study area includes the north-eastern part of Iberian Peninsula and Provence to the west, and spreads through the Apennine Peninsula to the Balkan Peninsula and up to Eastern Mediterranean areas. The phytosociological releves of Paliurus spina-christi dominated vegetation found in the literature for these European territories were gathered together in a phytosociological table. Floristic analysis, cluster analysis, and indirect gradient analysis were performed to determine the similarities and differences between the different Paliurus spina-christi dominated communities and their correlations with the main bioclimatic indices described in the literature. The various analyses highlight the existence of nine different associations (one of which is described here for the first time) that are attributed to different syntaxonomic levels.In the conclusion, a syntaxonomical scheme is proposed that classifies the European vegetation of shrublands in the class Rhamno-Prunetea which includes the class Paliuretea. Currently, we recognized three orders within this class: Prunetalia spinosae for central and south-central Europe; Pyro spinosae-Rubetalia ulmifolii within the Temperate oceanic bioclimate of the sub-Mediterranean variant; Paliuretalia spinae-christi with a central Mediterranean and sub-Mediterranean distribution, that mainly occurs in the central-eastern Mediterranean (Southern Apennine Peninsula) and the Balkans.Finally, a part of the shrub vegetation dominated by Paliurus spina-christi is referred to the class Quercetea ilicis, the order Pistacio lentisci-Rhamnetalia alaterni, the alliance Oleo sylvestris-Ceratonion siliquae and the suballiance Oleo sylvestris- Paliurenion spinae-christi that refers to thermophilous shrub communities that require high edaphic humidity.

Syntaxonomic analysis of the preforest and forest vegetation in the thermo- and eumediterranean zone around Antalya Gulf, Turkey

The aim of the current study was to reveal the syntaxonomical structure of Pinus brutia Ten. Forests and the preforest communities in the vicinity of Antalya Gulf. Of the preforest communities, Dorsytaecho hastatae-Oleutum oleastri ass. Nova is individualized as a paraclimax association. Although little is known about the syntaxonomy of the communities of cliff, rupicolous, and mural communities in the thermomediterranean zone, these are connected with the classes Asplenietea trichomanis (Br.-Bl. İn Meier and Br.-Bl. 1934) Oberd. 1977 and Onosmetalia frutescentis Quézel 1964. In the west of the gulf, Phlomido bourgaei-Pinetum brutiae Akman et al. 1998 and its three subassociations were determined: quercetosum aucheri subass. Nova, phlomidetosum lyciae subass. Nova, and iridetosum unguiculariae subass. Nova. The red pine communities in the western side of the gulf are included in Ceratonio-Rhamnion oleoidis Barbero and Quézel 1979 of the order Pistacio lentisci-Rhamnetalia alaterni Rivas Martinez 1975 belonging to the class Quercetea ilicis Braun-Blanq. İn Braun-Blanq., Roussine and Nègre 1952.Two new associations, Phlomido leucophtactae-Pinetum brutiae ass. Nova and Glycyrrhiza asymetrica-Pinetum brutiae ass. Nova, which are rich in endemics, were determined particularly at the eastern coastal zone of the gulf. These were included in the alliance Quercion calliprini (Zohary 1962) Quézel, Barbero and Akman 1978 of the order Pistacio lentisci-Rhamnetalia alaterni of Quercetea ilicis.

New syntaxa for the prodrome of Italian vegetation

The aim of this study is to provide new syntaxa for the Italian vegetation checklist. For the class Rhamno–Prunetea which includes the class Paliuretea the new alliance Rhamno saxatilis–Paliurion spinae-christi is described, that is included in the order Paliuretalia spinae-christi with a central-western Mediterranean and sub-Mediterranean distribution. Otherwise, the more thermophilous Paliurus spina-christi vegetation is included in the new suballiance named as Oleo sylvestris–Paliurenion spinae-christi within the alliance Oleo–Ceratonion of the class Quercetea ilicis. For the class Trifolio–Geranietea medii, a new alliance named Hyperico calabricae–Asphodelion macrocarpi is proposed here.

Estimation of the polleniferous potential of a Mediterranean landscape through the analysis of pollen harvested by Apis mellifera L.

The aim of this study was to estimate the polleniferous potential of the most common plant communities and crops across the landscape through the study of pollen loads collected by Apis mellifera. We analysed pollen load samples from hives located in Mallorca (western Mediterranean) for one year and compared the results with a phytosociological study of the foraging area. We also analysed meteorological data to evaluate the influence of some environmental factors on the pollen production phenology. We identified 74 different pollen types (66.2% from native flora, 25.7% from exotic flora, and 8.1% from crops) belonging to 33 families. The highest polleniferous potentials in the landscape were attained by sclerophyllous forests (Quercetea ilicis) in spring, crops in autumn, wild annual rangelands (Stellarietea mediae) in winter and gardens in late summer. Our results suggest that the higher the coverage present in a vegetation class, the higher the quantity and diversity of pollen that may be provided to pollinators; therefore, its polleniferous potential may be higher. Some meteorological conditions (rainfall, temperature and daily hours of sunlight) may affect this potential through their influence on flowering phenology.

Hellenic Woodland Database

The Hellenic Woodland Database (GIVD ID EU-GR-006) includes releves from 59 sources, approximately, as well as unpublished releves. In total 4,571 releves have already been entered in the database, but the database is going to continue growing in the near future. Species abundances are recorded according the 7-grade Braun-Blanquet scale. The oldest releves date back to 1963. For the majority of releves (more than 90%) environmental data (e.g. altitude, slope aspect, inclination) exist. Releves entered in the database represent both evergreen and deciduous forests, as well as scrubs and they belong (according to the original publications) to the classes Quercetea ilicis, Rhamno-Prunetea spinosae, Erico-Pinetea, Quercetea pubescentis, Querco-Fagetea, Vaccinio-Piceetea and Populetea albae. Most releves (approximately 69%) concern northern Greece (floristic regions of northeastern, north-central Greece and northern Pindos), while the remainder concern the rest of Greek mainland as well as the islands.

Caractérisation phytosociologique de la végétation du parc national de Gouraya (Béjaïa, Algérie)

Phytosociological characterization of the vegetation of Gouraya National Park (Béjaïa, Algeria). Gouraya National Park covers a calcaro-dolomitic littoral solid mass and its silicicolous prolongation towards the west. It belongs to the regional hotspot of “Kabylies-Numidia-Kroumiria” but its vegetation was just partially explored. We try here a first synthesis under the phytosociological point of view. On the basis of 144 species and 56 floristic “relevés” submitted to factorial correspondence analysis and ascending hierarchical classification, the phytosociological study of Gouraya National Park highlighted seven vegetation groups attached to four phytosociological classes : the Quercetea ilicis Braun–Blanquet, 1947 and subordinated syntaxa, the Querco-Fagetea Braun–Blanquet & Vlieg, 1937 and subordinated syntaxa, and the Crithmo-limonietea Braun–Blanquet, 1947 and Asplenietea rupestris (H. M) Braun–Blanquet, 1934. We can note also the presence of species characteristic of the Rosmarinetea officinalis Braun–Blanquet, 1947 em. Rivas Martinez, Diaz, Prieto, Loidi & Penas, 1991 and of Stellarietea mediae R. TX. Lohmeyer & Preising 1950. Within these groups, those assigned to Bupleuro-Euphorbietum dendroidis Géhu et al., 1992 can be divided in two subgroups, the typical sub-association and a new sub-association named here bupleuretosum plantaginei, characterized by the presence of rupicolous endemism. This study showed the peculiarity of the vegetation of this local biodiversity hotspot (important area for plants) and will be followed by a more in-depth study of the rupicolous littoral and sub-littoral vegetation of the area.

Morphological, chorological and ecological plasticity of Cistus incanus in the southern Balkans

Two subspecies of Cistus incanus L. occurring in the southern Balkans were studied: C. incanus L. ssp. incanus and C. incanus ssp. creticus (L.) Heywood. After studying the morphological differences, the communities dominated by these two subspecies were sampled according to the central European method. The localities of the relevés show the distribution pattern of the two subspecies. The typical subspecies can be found in the area of distribution of thermophilous deciduous forests of Carpinion orientalis, whereas the subspecies creticus grows in the area of the evergreen broad‐leaved forests of Quercetea ilicis. The communities were classified as Diantho–Cistetum incani Micevski et Matevski ex Čarni, Matevski et Šilc ass. nova hoc loco and Calicotomo villosae–Cistetum cretici Oberdorfer 1954. Analyses of traits (life span, life form, proportion of certain families, bioindicator values and chorotypes) reveal that the harshest site conditions prevail within Diantho–Cistetum incani, which appears as an initial stage of the vegetation succession. Calicotome–Cistetum cretici is a subsequent stage of succession, since the extreme degradation of vegetation on these sites results in ephemeral communities dominated by Poa bulbosa assigned to Romulion.