The Orophilous Shrubby Vegetation of the <i>Juniperetalia hemisphaericae</i> Order in Sicily: A Refuge Habitat for Many Endemic Vascular Species
2024
Saverio Sciandrello | Gianpietro Giusso del Galdo
An in-depth analysis of the orophilous vegetation dominated by <i>Juniperus hemisphaerica</i> in Sicily, based on literature data and unpublished relevés, is presented. A total of 156 phytosociological relevés were processed and analyzed using classification and ordination methods. Overall, 151 vascular plant species were recorded, of which 38% were endemic species, with a dominant hemicryptophytic biological form (49%). Classification of the relevés, supported by ordination, showed two main vegetation groups: one including the <i>Juniperus</i> communities of Mt. Madonie (<i>Cerastio tomentosi</i>–<i>Juniperetum hemisphaericae</i> and <i>Pruno cupanianae</i>–<i>Juniperetum hemisphaericae</i>), and the other including the vegetation of Mt. Etna (<i>Bellardiochloo aetnensis</i>–<i>Juniperetum hemisphaericae</i> and <i>Roso siculae</i>–<i>Juniperetum hemisphaericae</i> ass. nova). Furthermore, a new alliance, <i>Berberido aetnensis</i>–<i>Juniperion hemisphericae</i>, is proposed for Sicily.
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