Title
North and middle Apennine beech forests (Fagus sylvatica), partly with Abies alba, with Geranium nodosum, partly Trochiscanthes nodiflora
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
Italy: north and central Apennine; France: Corsica
area frequency
32 polygons.
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Geranio nodosi-Fagion Gentile 1974, Trochiscantho-Fagetum Gentile 1974, Cardamino heptaphyllae-Fagetum Oberdorfer 1967 p.p., Polysticho-Fagetum Feoli et Lagonegro 1982.
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
Two- to three-layered, growthy, herb-rich beech forests, sometimes with added Abies alba and Acer pseudoplatanus, and occasionally with Sorbus aucuparia in the tree layer; in the shrub layer Laburnum alpinum is present as an addition to upgrowths of the tree layer. In the herb layer there are dominating species of mesophilous deciduous forests, and occasionally also species of the Quercetalia pubescenti-petraeae. Mosses are found above all on stones and tree trunks. Within the spectrum of lifeforms hemicryptophytes and geophytes are frequent alongside phanerophytes.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Tree layer
Fagus sylvatica dominating, Abies alba isolated admixed, Acer pseudoplatanus, Sorbus aucuparia
Shrub layer
Laburnum alpinum, Rosa pendulina (upper line), Daphne laureola
Lianas
Hedera hekix, Rubus hirtus
Herb layer
Geranium nodosum, Adenostyles australis, Prenanthes purpurea, Aruncus dioicus, Saxifraga rotundifolia, Galanthus nivalis, Scilla bifolia, Lathyrus venetus, Luzula nivea, Cardamine bulbifera, Cardamine enneaphyllos, Senecio ovatus, Galium odoratum, Hieracium murorum, Polystichum aculeatum, Melica uniflora, Viola reichenbachiana, Ranunculus lanuginosus, Sanicula europaea, Veronica montana, Hepatica nobilis, Euphorbia amygdaloides, Salvia glutinosa, Allium ursinum, Lilium martagon, Mercurialis perennis
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
Hypnum cupressiforme
Diagnostically important species
Fagus sylvatica; Geranium nodosum, Trochiscanthes nodiflora, Adenostyles australis, Valeriana tripteris, Polystichum aculeatum, Lathyrus venetus, Saxifraga rotundifolia, Cardamine enneaphyllos
Ecological variants
In the lower altitudinal belts and on south-facing slopes with a higher proportion of Quercetalia pubescenti-petraeae species; different trophic levels.
Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
Northern Apennine (Trochiscantho-Fagetum): Trochiscanthus nodiflora (only Liguria), Cardamine kitaibelii, Festuca altissima, Veronica urticifolia, Lonicera alpigena; central Apennines (Polysticho-Fagetum): Cardamine heptaphylla, Polystichum aculeatum.
Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)
Carpino-Coryletum in wet gulleys on north-facing slopes; Rhamno alpini-Amelanchieretum ovalis (scrub on scree); Juniperus communis subsp. hemisphaerica scrub.
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
alpine grassland (B51, B52), dwarf shrub communities (C35), dwarf pine scrubs (C36), sessile oak-bitter oak forests (G11), flowering ash-downy oak forests (G44), hop-downy oak forests (G52, G53), holm oak forests (J18), black pine forests (K10), alluvial forests (U18).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
Pinus nigra forestry, Juniperus oxycedrus and Cytisophyllum sessilifolium scrub; Acer campestre-Populus tremula pioneer trees.
grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Heaths with Vaccinium myrtillus and Hypericum richeri in the north Apennines; pastures: Cynosurion communities (Cynosuro-Trifolietum repentis), calcareous grassland (Phleo ambigui-Bromion erecti).
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
Lens culinaris vegetation, weed community: Sinapio arvensis-Anthemidetum arvensis.
settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
Heracleo-Rumicetum obtusifolii, Chaerophylletum aurei, Chaerophylletum temuli, Symphyto bulbosi-Ranunculetum lanuginosi, Carduetum chrysacanthi.
Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
High mountains, steep slopes of different exposure, carved valleys, more rarely flatter locations, and sometimes dolinas
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
montane to altimontane; 950-1800 m
Geology (bedrock)
volcanic rocks, Tertiary sediments (flysch, molasse), limestone, chalky clay (Tertiary, Cretaceous, Jurassic, Triassic)
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
typical base-rich brown soils, limestone-brown soils, more rarely rendzines, mostly stone-rich; (calcaric and stony eutric cambisols; stony chromic luvisols; rendzic leptosols)
soil texture
loamy, mostly stone-rich
soil moisture, water balance
fresh to moderately dry
soil reaction
moderately acidic to neutral
soil fertility
mesotrophic to eutrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
IV3a, IV3c, IV5(X), X
average annual temperature
8-13 EC
average annual precipitation
850-1300 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
August 17-20 EC
average temperature of the coldest month
February 0-2 EC
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
---
Importance for nature protection
Present state and development trend of natural vegetation (degree of endangerment)
Almost everywhere forest strands have been subject to the influence of man, but there are still some expansive and contiguous semi-natural forests; in the northern Apennines and Abruzzia there are mainly high forests combined with less intensive forms of cultivation.
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
Nearly-natural beech forests.
causes of endangerment
Formerly forest clearing, grazing, timber exploitation, forestry, ski sport, tourism.
required measures for protection and restitution
Reduction of use. More strictly protected nature reserves should be designated for preserving semi-natural forests and allowing their natural regeneration.
Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection
of the natural vegetation
Italy: Parco Nazionale dei Monti Sibillini, Parco Nazionale delle Foreste Casentinesi, Parco Nazionale Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga, Parco Nazionale dell’Abruzzo.
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
Semi-dry grassland, Cynosurion-communities, in national parks mentioned above.
Most important references (author, year)
Ballelli & Biondi 1982; Credaro, Ferrari, Pirola, Speranza & Ubaldi 1980; Dupias, Gaussen, Izard & Rey 1965; Gentile 1974; Oberdorfer & Hofmann 1967
Compiled by
Z. Neuhäuslová and F. Pedrotti, revised by U. Bohn
