Title
Apennine dwarf shrub communities (Vaccinium myrtillus, Hypericum richeri) on siliceous rocks
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
Italy: north Apeninne (Monte Giovo to Monti della Laga), central Apeninne
area frequency
3 polygons.
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Vaccinio-Hypericetum richeri Pirola & Corbetta 1971.
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
Three-layered dwarf shrub communities with well developed dwarf shrub, herb and moss layers; primarily Vaccinium myrtillus and frequently Hypericum richeri. Boreal and Apennine species are present.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Herb layer
Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium uliginosum subsp. microphyllum, Hypericum richeri, Diphasiastrum alpinum, Listera cordata, Totorta vivipara, Soldanella alpina, Antennaria dioica, Deschampsia flexuosa
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
Polytrichum juniperinum, Cetraria islandica, Peltigera rufescens
Diagnostically important species
Vaccinium myrtillus, Hypericum richeri
Ecological variants
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Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
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Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)
Nardion grasslands.
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
alpine grasslands (B51), species-rich beech forests (F146).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
---
grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Nardion pasture lands.
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
---
settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
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Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
mountainous relief
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
subalpine; (1900) 2000-2300 m
Geology (bedrock)
siliceous rock
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
podzole, brown podzole (Mancini 1966); (lithic leptosols; dystric regosols; orthic podzols).
soil texture
stone-rich, sandy-loamy
soil moisture, water balance
fresh
soil reaction
very acidic, acidic
soil fertility
oligotrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
X
average annual temperature
<7 °C
average annual precipitation
1100-1800 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
July 12-16 °C
average temperature of the coldest month
January -3 to -1 °C
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
---
Importance for nature protection
Present state and development trend of natural vegetation (degree of endangerment)
Influenced by man
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
No details
causes of endangerment
Winter sports and other recreational activities.
required measures for protection and restitution
Limitation of tourism.
Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection
of the natural vegetation
North Apeninne (Monte Giovo, Monti della Laga).
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
North Apeninne.
Most important references (author, year)
Pirola & Corbetta 1971
Compiled by
F. Pedrotti and Z. Neuhäuslová
