Title
South Italian-Sicilian beech forests (Fagus sylvatica), partly with Abies alba, with Geranium versicolor, Campanula trichocalycina
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
South Italy: Campania, Calabria (Sila-group, Aspromonte), Sicily (Nebroden)
area frequency
31 polygons.
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Geranio striati-Fagion Gentile 1969, Campanulo (trichocalycinae)-Fagetum Gentile 1969 (syn.: Asyneumati-Fagetum Gentile 1969) (nicht in Sicily), Aquifolio-Fagetum Gentile 1969 (syn.: Anemono apenninae-Fagetum Brullo 1984).
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
High forest with dominating beech, locally fir (Abies alba, Abies nebrodensis), a poor shrub undergrowth, an interspersed herb layer with varying degrees of coverage (up to approx. 70 %) and sparse mosses.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Tree layer
Fagus sylvatica dominating, locally admixed Abies alba, Abies nebrodensis (only Sicily)
Shrub layer
Ilex aquifolium, Rubus glandulosus, Rubus hirtus, locally Laburnum alpinum, Daphne laureola
Herb layer
Melica uniflora, Viola reichenbachiana, Galium odoratum, Polystichum setiferum, Luzula sylvatica, Festuca drymeja, Campanula trichocalycina, Geranium versicolor, Stellaria nemorum, Lamium flexuosum, Lathyrus venetus, Anemone apennina, Galium rotundifolium, Allium pendulinum, Euphorbia amygdaloides, Doronicum orientale, Sanicula europaea, Milium effusum, Ranunculus lanuginosus, Polygonatum multiflorum, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Aremonia agrimonoides, Mycelis muralis, Oxalis acetosella
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
No details
Diagnostically important species
Fagus sylvatica; Ilex aquifolium; Geranium versicolor, Campanula trichocalycina, Lamium flexuosum, Lathyrus venetus, Doronicum orientale, Anemone apennina, Allium pendulinum
Ecological variants
Mesophilous and thermophilous forms.
Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
With more or less fir depending on region; Abies nebrodensis in Sicily; with Luzula sicula in Sicily.
Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)
Rock and scree vegetation.
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
alpine vegetation (B52), mixed sessile oak-bitter oak forests (G14, G15), downy oak forests (G44, G53), holm oak forests (J21), Balkan pine and black pine forests (K6, K12), thorn-cushion vegetation (N2), alluvial forests (U37).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
Pinus nigra subsp. laricio forestry, scrub with Laburnum alpinum, Cytisophyllum sessilifolium, Spartium junceum; in woodland glades and on clearings: Polygali-Cytisetum scoparii.
grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Pastures with Gentiana lutea, Asphodelus albus, locally Meum athamanticum; semi dry grassland; Sicily: Cynosuro-Plantaginetum cupanii; Calabria: sometimes Nardion, Pteridium aquilinum stands.
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
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settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
Ruderal vegetation with Atropa bella-donna, Sambucus ebulus.
Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
Mountain ranges, slopes and mountain plateaus
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
montane, oroMediterranean; 700-1900 m
Geology (bedrock)
limestone, dolomite, chalky clay (Cretaceous, Jurassic, Triassic); slate, granites, gneiss (Palaeozoic, Precambrian); volcanic ashes and rocks (Tertiary, Quaternary), sediments (Tertiary)
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
acidic and limestone-brown soils, leached brown soils, ranker, rendzines; mostly stone-rich; (stony chromic cambisols; stony chromic eutric and calcaric luvisols; rendzic and dystric leptosols)
soil texture
sandy-loamy or loamy, often grouany, stony
soil moisture, water balance
fresh to moderately dry
soil reaction
moderately acidic to neutral
soil fertility
mesotrophic, meso-eutrophic to eutrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
IV3b, IV4, IV5(X), X
average annual temperature
11-13 EC
average annual precipitation
1000-1500 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
18-22 EC
average temperature of the coldest month
2-5 EC
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
Summerly dry period.
Importance for nature protection
Present state and development trend of natural vegetation (degree of endangerment)
There are still many and sometimes extensive beech forests that remain preserved, but these have been more or less heavily influenced by man.
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
All nearly-natural stands; Abies nebrodensis in Sicily (Madonie).
causes of endangerment
Forest grazing, forest use (low forest management), clearing and transformation into grassland. In more recent times afforestation with Pinus nigra subsp. laricio.
required measures for protection and restitution
Some areas of this unit are protected in national parks, but the greater part remains unprotected; all semi-natural stands should be preserved, exploitation should be reduced, and in selected areas utilisation should be completely terminated.
Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection
of the natural vegetation
South Italy: Parco Nazionale del Monte Pollino, Foresta del Garigliano, Parco Nazionale della Sila, Aspromonte; Sicily: Parco Naturale dell’Etna and Parco Naturale delle Madonie.
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
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Most important references (author, year)
Brullo, Guarino, Minissale, Siracusa & Spampinato 1999; Gentile 1969a; Poli Marchese & Puzzolo 1999; Raimondo 1980
Compiled by
F. Pedrotti and Z. Neuhäuslová, completed by U. Bohn
