Title
Cosican-Sardinian thorn-cushion vegetation (Anthyllis hermanniae, Astragalus sirinicus) in combination with alpine/oro-Mediterranean communities (Doronicum grandiflorum, Oxyria digyna, Sibbaldia procumbens)
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
France: Corsica (in all mountain massifs above 1800 m, from Cinto to Fornello); Italy: Sardinia
area frequency
15 polygons.
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Corsica: Paronychio-Armerietum multicepitis (genistetosum lobelioidis) Gamisans 1977, Berberido-Genistetum lobelioidis Gamisans 1977 (syn.: Genisto-Carlinetum macrocephalae Klein 1972); Sardinia: Teucrio-Santolinetalia insularis Arrigoni 1986 (Armerio-Genistion salzmannii Arrigoni 1986), Carici-Genistetalia lobelii (Klein 1972) Arrigoni 1986 (Anthyllion hermanniae Klein 1972), Triseto-Genistetum corsicae Gamisans 1977, Astragaletum genargentei Pignatti & Nimis 1980.
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
Corsica: open to moderately closed thorn-cushion communities (30-50 cm high) mainly with nanophanerophytes and thorn chamaephytes (Juniperus communis subsp. alpina, Genista salzmannii var. lobelioides, Berberis vulgaris subsp. aetnensis, Astragalus sirinicus, Anthyllis hermanniae etc.). Sardinia: oro-Mediterranean open thorn-cushion vegetation with species of montane garrigues (Santolina corsica, Teucrium marum, Cerastium supramontanum, Crepis bellidifolia, Sesleria insularis etc.), with many endemic species.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Shrub layer
dwarf shrubs and low shrubs: Juniperus communis subsp. alpina, Genista salzmannii var. lobelioides, Genista corsica, Astragalus genargenteus (Sardinia), Anthyllis hermanniae, Thymus herba-barona; isolated Juniperus oxycedrus, Quercus ilex, Rosmarinus officinalis, Santolina corsica, Teucrium marum, Cerastium supramontanum, Crepis bellidifolia, Berberis vulgaris subsp. aetnensis, Rosa serafinii
Herb layer
Bellardiochloa variegata, Deschampsia flexuosa, Luzula spicata, Nardus stricta, Trisetum conradiae, Armeria multiceps, Paronychia polygonifolia, Hieracium lactucella subsp. nanum, Hypochaeris robertia, Cerastium soleirolii; Melica minuta, Sedum album, Bromus madritensis, Brachypodium retusum, Cerastium boissierianum, Cerastium gibraltaricum, Viola corsica, Poa balbisii, Festuca morisiana, Crepis bellidifolia, Trisetum gracile, Bunium alpinum subsp. corydalinum, Armeria sardoa, Carlina macrocephala, Sagina pilifera, Armeria multiceps, Plantago subulata subsp. insularis, Ligusticum corsicum, Poa bulbosa, Stachys glutinosa, Carex caryophyllea, Bellium bellidioides, Sesleria insularis
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
No details
Diagnostically important species
Corsica : Genista salzmannii var. lobelioides (dominant), Astragalus sirinicus, Anthyllis hermanniae, Thymus herba-barona, Armeria multiceps, Paronychia polygonifolia, Bellardiochloa variegata, Hieracium lactucella subsp. nanum, Hypochaeris robertia, Cerastium soleirolii, Juniperus communis subsp. alpina, Trisetum conradiae; Sardinia: Santolina corsica, Nepeta foliosa, Cerastium supramontanum, Helianthemum appeninum subsp. stoechadifolium, Acinos sardous, Polygala sardoa, Galium lucidum, Ptychotis sardoa, Clypeola jonthlaspi, Scabiosa holosericea, Helianthemum oelandicum subsp. allionii, Teucrium marum, Bunium alpinum subsp. corydalinum, Sesleria insularis subsp. barbaricina, Anthyllis hermanniae, Paeonia mascula subsp. russii, Lamium corsicum
Ecological variants
Different forms depending on altitude, soil thickness and exposure.
Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
In Sardinia with endemic species: Sesleria insularis subsp. barbaricina, Cerastium supramontanum, Acinos sardous, Polygala sardoa, Helianthemum appeninum subsp. stoechadifolium.
Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)
Corsica: Caricion caryophyllae, Alnetum suaveolentis, communities of the alpine belt (Gnaphalio-Sibbaldietum procumbentis, Doronico-Oxyrietum digynae); Sardinia: Crepido-Brachypodietum pinnati, Festucetum morisianae, Thymo-Juniperetum nanae, Plantagini-Armerietum sardoae.
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
species-rich beech and fir-beech forests (F145), downy oak forests (G43).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
---
grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Pastures.
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
---
settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
---
Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
mountain tops, rocks, mountain slopes, high-mountain dolinas
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
Corsica: subalpine-alpine; predominately (1200) 1700-2200 m; Sardinia: oro-Mediterranean, 1200-1800 m
Geology (bedrock)
predominately siliceous rocks: granite, granodiorite, rhyolites, porphyry, slate (Permian, Carboniferous; Palaeozoic), locally limestone
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
shallow, stone-rich mountain soils; (dystric cambisols; chromic luvisols; vitric andosols; orthic podzols; leptosols)
soil texture
grouany, stony, rocky
soil moisture, water balance
fresh; in summer dry
soil reaction
moderately to weakly acidic
soil fertility
oligotrophic to meso-eutrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
Corsica : X; Sardinia: IV5
average annual temperature
6-10 °C
average annual precipitation
600-1400 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
July 12-16 °C
average temperature of the coldest month
January/February -1 to 3 °C
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
3-5 months covered by snow, distinct summerly dry periods.
Importance for nature protection
Present state and development trend of natural vegetation (degree of endangerment)
Near-natural vegetation worthy of protection, sometimes these are replacement communities of altimontane-subalpine broad-leaved and coniferous forests.
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
Sardinia: Cerastio supramontani-Helianthemetum crocei, Nepeto foliosae-Santolinetum insularis; all endemic species are worthy of protection (Sesleria insularis subsp. barbaricina, Cerastium supramontanum, Acinos sardous, Polygala sardoa, Helianthemum appeninum subsp. stoechadifolium, Nepeta foliosa), further Ribes sardoum among others
causes of endangerment
more or less intense grazing, fire, tourism.
required measures for protection and restitution
Sardinia: plans to establish a national park.
Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection
11. Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection
of the natural vegetation
France (Corsica): Massif du Rotondo, Massif du Cinto, Massif du Renoso, Massif de l'Incudine; Italy (Sardinia): Monti del Gennargentu.
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
Italy (Sardinia): Monti del Gennargentu.
Most important references (author, year)
Arrigoni 1986; Arrigoni & Di Tommaso 1991; Dupias, Gaussen, Izard & Rey 1965; Gamisans 1977; Klein 1972; Pignatti, Pignatti, Avanzini & Nimis 1977
Compiled by
Z. Neuhäuslová, U. Bohn based on documents by J. Gamisans, Pignatti et al. and F. Pedrotti
