Title
Inner Apennines relict holm oak forests (Quercus ilex) with Cephalanthera longifolia, Melica uniflora, Anemone apennina, Melittis melissophyllum on rocky limestone habitats
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
Central Italy (Marche, Umbria, Abruzzia)
area frequency
20 polygons.
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Cephalanthero-Quercetum ilicis Biondi & Venanzoni 1984.
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
Open, usually shrub-formed forests, sometimes high-growing forest (at Spoleto) on shallow soiled, usually rocky cliffs.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Shrub layer
Lonicera xylosteum, Hippocrepis emerus, Laburnum anagyroides, rarely Acer obtusatum, Ostrya carpinifolia, Fraxinus ornus, Quercus ilex, Quercus pubescens, Buxus sempervirens, Euonymus latifolia, Pistacia terebinthus, Arbutus unedo, Ruscus aculeatus
Lianas
Clematis vitalba, Hedera helix, Smilax aspera, Tamus communis
Herb layer
Cephalanthera longifolia, Melittis melissophyllum, Anemone apennina, Melica uniflora, Hepatica nobilis, Silene italica, Primula acaulis, Lathyrus venetus, Rubia peregrina, Cyclamen repandum, Viola alba subsp. dehnhardtii, Asparagus acutifolius, Carex digitata, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Viola reichenbachiana, Galanthus nivalis
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
only epiphytes: Neckera complanata, Neckera crispa, Leptodon smithii, Eurhynchium striatum, Leucodon sciuroides, Frullania dilatata
Diagnostically important species
Quercus ilex; Cephalanthera longifolia, Melica uniflora, Anemone apennina
Ecological variants
Holm oak forests at higher locations.
Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
No details
Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)
Scutellario-Ostryetum (normal sites), rock communities with Saxifraga callosa var. australis.
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
species-rich beech forests(F146), Balkan oak-bitter oak forests (G19), downy oak forests (G44), mixed hop-downy oak forests (G52), alluvial forests (U18).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
Pinus halepensis stands, Prunetalia spinosae communities with Spartium junceum, Colutea arborescens and Cytisophyllum sessilifolium stands.
grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Brometalia communities.
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
Cereal fields, viniculture, olive groves, formerly Cotinus coggygria cultures on a local basis.
settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
Stellarietea mediae, Agropyretea intermedii-repentis.
Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
primarily in rock gorges (valley breakthroughs), rock slopes of varying exposure, mainly in the south
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
colline to montane; 150-900 m
Geology (bedrock)
limestone (Jurassic, Cretaceous)
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
humus carbonate soil, brown soils; (rendzic leptosols; lithic eutric cambisols)
soil texture
stony-grouany loam
soil moisture, water balance
moderately dry, dry
soil reaction
neutral, alkaline
soil fertility
meso-eutrophic, eutrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
IV4, IV5(X)
average annual temperature
11-13 °C
average annual precipitation
900-1000 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
21-23 °C
average temperature of the coldest month
2-4 °C
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
warm, dry, no frosts.
Importance for nature protection
Present state and development trend of natural vegetation (degree of endangerment)
Well preserved in parts (as monastic woods!); mainly degraded by grazing, timber use and charcoal production.
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
typical unit.
causes of endangerment
grazing (formerly), timber use, fire and charcoal production.
required measures for protection and restitution
Strict protection of monastic woods, cessation of use.
Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection
of the natural vegetation
Italy: nature park Monte Subasio (regional park!), Monteluco di Spoleto, Abbazia di Sassovivo, Eremo delle Carceri (=in connection with monasteries already since Roman times). In the whole Central and southern- Apennine far off the coast.
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
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Most important references (author, year)
Biondi & Venanzoni 1984; Francalancia & Orsomando 1981; Orsomando & Catorci 1991; Pedrotti 1988
Compiled by
F. Pedrotti; completed by F. Spada
