Title
Sicilian thorn-cushion vegetation (Astragalus siculus) with Berberis vulgaris subsp. aetnensis in combination with oro-Mediterranean communities (Rumex aetnensis, Anthemis aetnensis)
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
Italy: Sicily (Etna)
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Astragaletum siculi Frei 1940 em. Poli 1965, Rumici-Anthemidetum aetnensis Frei 1940 em. Poli 1965, Rumici-Astragalion siculi Poli 1965.
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
Complex of interspersed oro-Mediterranean thorn-cushion communities with dominant endemic dwarf shrub and herb species (e.g. Astragalus siculus, Anthemis aetnensis, Scleranthus perennis subsp. vulcanicus, Berberis vulgaris subsp. aetnensis, Rumex aetnensis, Senecio aethnensis, Viola aethnensis, Saponaria sicula).
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Shrub layer
dwarf shrubs and thorn-cushions: Astragalus siculus, Berberis vulgaris subsp. aetnensis, Juniperus communis subsp. hemisphaerica
Herb layer
Senecio aethnensis, Galium aetnicum, Tanacetum siculum, Rumex aetnensis, Festuca circummediterranea, Saponaria sicula, Anthemis aetnensis, Viola aethnensis, Cuscuta kotschyana, Hypochaeris robertia, Genista aetnensis, Bellardiochloa variegata, Scleranthus perennis subsp. vulcanicus, Cerastium tomentosum, Bellardiochloa variegata
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
No details
Diagnostically important species
Astragalus siculus, Cuscuta kotschyana, Berberis vulgaris subsp. aetnensis, Scleranthus aetnensis, Rumex aetnensis, Senecio aethnensis, Hypochaeris robertia, Saponaria sicula, Viola aethnensis, Bellardiochloa variegata, Anthemis aetnensis
Ecological variants
No details
Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
---
Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)
---
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
species-rich beech forests (F148), black pine forests (K12).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
---
grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
---
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
---
settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
---
Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
high-mountain slopes
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
oro-Mediterranean; (1700)2000‑2900m
Geology (bedrock)
alkaline eruptive rocks, pyroclasts
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
weakly developed, stone-rich mountain soils of volcanic ashes and cinders; (vitric andosols; leptosols)
soil texture
stony, grouany
soil moisture, water balance
moderately dry
soil reaction
weakly to moderately acidic
soil fertility
mesotrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
X
average annual temperature
7-8 °C
average annual precipitation
1000 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
July 13-17 °C
average temperature of the coldest month
January -0,8 to -4 °C
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
extreme changes in temperature; temperature below 0 °C in November to April.
Importance for nature protection
Present state and development trend of natural vegetation (degree of endangerment)
Still near-natural to a large extent.
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
All communities of the endemic Rumici-Astragalion siculi as well as all endemics of the Etna region are worthy of protection.
causes of endangerment
Construction activity, tourism, winter sports, volcanism.
required measures for protection and restitution
Visitor guidance.
Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection
of the natural vegetation
Italy (Sicily): Parco dell’Etna.
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
---
Most important references (author, year)
Pignatti, Pignatti, Nimis & Avanzini 1980; Poli 1965; Poli, Maugeri & Ronsisvalle 1981
Compiled by
Z. Neuhäuslová and F. Pedrotti
