Title
Calabrian-Sicilian black pine forests (Pinus nigra subsp. laricio) with Hypochaeris laevigata
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
Italy: central Calabria as far as to the Etna (Sicily)
area frequency
4 polygons.
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Hypochaerido-Pinetum laricionis Bonin 1978, Pineta di Linguaglossa (Pinus nigra subsp. laricio) Di Benedetto, Poli & Tomaselli 1963.
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
Relatively dense, species-poorer (approx. 15-20 species/survey), up to 25 m tall forests with Pinus nigra subsp. laricio, and sometimes more frequently Quercus pubescens in the tree layer, with Daphne laureola, Rubus canescens, Cytisophyllum sessilifolium and Genista species in the shrub layer and dominant Pteridium aquilinum, Festuca circummediterranea, Brachypodium sylvaticum as well as Dactylis glomerata or Trifolium pratense in the weak to moderately closed herb layer. Companion species of a broad sociological amplitude are frequent.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Tree layer
Pinus nigra subsp. laricio, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus cerris, Quercus pubescens
Shrub layer
Cytisophyllum sessilifolium, Chamaespartium sagittale, Genista germanica, Rubus canescens, Daphne laureola
Herb layer
Hypochaeris laevigata, Teucrium siculum, Thymus serpyllum, Galium rotundifolium, Crepis leontodontoides, Pteridium aquilinum, Festuca circummediterranea, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Lathyrus pratensis, Carlina macrocephala, Trifolium pratense, Dactylis glomerata
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
No details
Diagnostically important species
Pinus nigra subsp. laricio; Chamaespartium sagittale; Hypochaeris laevigata
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)
Dry grassland with Potentilla calabra, Hypericum barbatum, Anthemis cretica subsp. calabrica; Aquifolio-Fagetum, Asyneumati-Fagetum.
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
species-rich beech forests (F148), Balkan oak-bitter oak forests (G19), downy oak forests (G53), thorn-cushion vegetation (N2), alluvial scrub (U37).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
Pinus nigra subsp. laricio plantations, Populus tremula communities (succession).
grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
in Calabria see under 'Natural accompanying vegetation'; Genista aetnensis or Pteridium aquilinum stands, Potentilla calabra-Deschampsia flexuosa community.
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
high mountain locations, weathered lava fields
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
predominately oro-Mediterranean, supra-Mediterranean; ca. 1000-1800 m
Geology (bedrock)
crystal, silicaceous rocks (Palaeozoic, Precambrian)
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
regosol, lithosol, andosols; (vitric andosols; lithic leptosols; dystric regosols)
soil texture
stony, loamy-sandy
soil moisture, water balance
moderately dry, dry
soil reaction
acidic, weakly acidic
soil fertility
oligo-mesotrophic, mesotrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
IV3b, IV4, X
average annual temperature
6-10 °C
average annual precipitation
as much as 1600 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
18-21 °C
average temperature of the coldest month
1-5 °C
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
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Importance for nature protection
Present state and development trend of natural vegetation (degree of endangerment)
Natural forests as well as forests strongly influenced by man, frequent plantations.
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
Communities worthy of protection: Pinetum laricio-relicts of the probable Tertiary Mediterranean-montane forests; species worthy of protection: all endemics.
causes of endangerment
Timber exploitation, fire, erosion.
required measures for protection and restitution
Preservation of the semi-natural remnants.
Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection
of the natural vegetation
Italy: regional nature park Etna, national park Calabria (Sila Grande, Sila Piccola, Aspromonte).
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
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Most important references (author, year)
Bonin 1978; Di Benedetto, Poli & Tomaselli 1963; Gentile 1969a; Pennacchini & Bonin 1975; Pirola & Zappalà 1960; Poli, Maugeri & Ronsisvalle 1981
Compiled by
Z. Neuhäuslová and R. Venanzoni
