Title
Apeninne black pine forests (Pinus nigra subsp. nigra) with Genista sericea and Laserpitium garganicum
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
Italy: Abruzzia
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Genisto (sericeae)-Pinetum nigrae Bonin 1978.
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
Three-layered stands dominated by Pinus nigra with Orno-Ostryon, Festuco-Seslerietea or Quercetalia pubescentis species and with a sparse moss layer, interspersed to closed depending on site, often only as islands on rocky tops and ridges.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Tree layer
Pinus nigra subsp. nigra, locally with Fagus sylvatica
Shrub layer
Chamaecytisus spinescens, Cytisophyllum sessilifolium, Genista sericea
Herb layer
Orthilia secunda, Sesleria tenuifolia, Helianthemum oelandicum subsp. incanum, Helictotrichon praetutianum and Laserpitium garganicum
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
Hypnum cupressiforme, Brachythecium spp.
Diagnostically important species
Pinus nigra, Orthilia secunda, Laserpitium garganicum
Ecological variants
No details
Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
Endemic subspecies of Pinus nigra subsp. nigra in Abruzzia.
Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)
Beech forests, Quercetalia pubescentis-forests, Festuco-Brometea rock communities.
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
species-rich beech forests (F146).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
Pinus nigra plantations, Juniperus oxycedrus scrub.
grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Pastures, dry grassland.
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
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settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
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Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
Mountains, richly structured relief, rocky steep slopes
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
montane, altimontane; 900-1700 m
Geology (bedrock)
limestone (Cretaceous, Jurassic)
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
shallow humus carbonate soils (rendzinas), proto-humus carbonate soil; (lithic, rendzic and calcaric leptosols; lithic eutric cambisols)
soil texture
stone-rich, rocky
soil moisture, water balance
moderately dry, dry
soil reaction
neutral, alkaline
soil fertility
meso-eutrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
IV5(X), X
average annual temperature
8-10 °C
average annual precipitation
as much as 1350 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
July 15-18 °C
average temperature of the coldest month
January -2 to -1 °C
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
sites rich in precipitation, partly strong insolation (southern slopes).
Importance for nature protection
Present state and development trend of natural vegetation (degree of endangerment)
Stands sometimes degraded by man, and only some small stands are well preserved and protected.
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
Genisto (sericeae)-Pinetum nigrae.
causes of endangerment
Timber use, grazing.
required measures for protection and restitution
Strict protection of all natural and semi-natural stands.
Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection
of the natural vegetation
Italy: slope above Villetta Barrea, northern slopes of La Camosciara (national park Abruzzia).
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
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Most important references (author, year)
Bonin 1978; Pennacchini & Bonin 1975
Compiled by
R. Venanzoni and Z. Neuhäuslová, F. Pedrotti
