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Syntaxonomic survey of the class Peganoharmalae‐Salsoletea vermiculatae Br.‐Bl. & O. Bolos1958 in ItalyS. Brullo a , G. Giusso del Galdo a , R. Guarino b , P. Minissale a , S. Sciandrello a & G.Spampinato ca Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania,Via A. Longo 19, Catania, 95125, Italyb Department of Environmental Biology and Biodiversity, University of Palermo, via Archirafi38, Palermo, 90123, Italyc Department S.T.A.F.A, University of Reggio Calabria, P.zza San Francesco 4, Gallina (RC),89061, Italy

Accepted author version posted online: 06 Aug 2012.Version of record first published: 11Sep 2012.

To cite this article: S. Brullo, G. Giusso del Galdo, R. Guarino, P. Minissale, S. Sciandrello & G. Spampinato (): Syntaxonomicsurvey of the class Pegano harmalae‐Salsoletea vermiculatae Br.‐Bl. & O. Bolos 1958 in Italy, Plant Biosystems - AnInternational Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology: Official Journal of the Societa Botanica Italiana,DOI:10.1080/11263504.2012.717544

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Syntaxonomic survey of the class Pegano harmalae-Salsoletea

vermiculatae Br.-Bl. & O. Bolos 1958 in Italy

S. BRULLO1, G. GIUSSO DEL GALDO1, R. GUARINO2, P. MINISSALE1,

S. SCIANDRELLO1, & G. SPAMPINATO3

1Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Via A. Longo 19, 95125 Catania,

Italy; 2Department of Environmental Biology and Biodiversity, University of Palermo, via Archirafi 38, 90123 Palermo, Italy

and 3Department S.T.A.F.A., University of Reggio Calabria, P.zza San Francesco 4, 89061 Gallina (RC), Italy

AbstractAfter a general outline on the syntaxonomical framework of the class Pegano harmalae-Salsoletea vermiculatae Br.-Bl. & O.Bolos 1958, the occurrence of this vegetation in the Italian territory is examined. In Italy, this vegetation is mostly found onclayish or marly substrata, particularly if slightly enriched with nitrates and chlorides. With reference to the Rivas-Martınezbioclimatic classification, the Italian stands have an infra- to thermo-Mediterranean thermotype (marginally up to the meso-Mediterranean one) with dry or arid ombrotype. In particular, this vegetation is well represented in Sicily, while in Sardiniaand along the Italian Peninsula, it progressively becomes more rare and localized. Altogether, 21 associations are recognized,11 of which are described here for the first time. The surveyed associations are ascribed to the following alliances: Salsolooppositifoliae-Suaedion mollis (linked to less disturbed and more thermo-xeric habitats) and Artemision arborescentis (moredisturbed and less thermo-xeric habitats). Finally, some conservation issues are discussed.

Keywords: Phytosociology, Pegano-Salsoletea, Italy, conservation, habitat

Introduction

The class Pegano-Salsoletea Br.-Bl & O. Bolos 1958

groups halo-nitrophilous scrublands colonizing

marly to clayey substrata and evaporitic sediments

in the Mediterranean, Saharan-Atlantic and Macar-

onesic Regions, particularly under thermo-xeric

climatic conditions (Rivas-Martınez et al. 2002).

This vegetation is characterized by succulent Cheno-

podiaceae with a chamaephytic to nanophanerophytic

habit, such as Salsola (S. oppositifolia, S. vermiculata),

Suaeda (S. vera, S. pruinosa), Atriplex (A. halimus, A.

glauca), frequently found together with other repre-

sentative species, belonging to the genera Peganum

(P. harmala), Artemisia (A. arborescens, A. herba-alba,

A. campestris), Anabasis (A. articulata), Haloxilon (H.

articulatum), and Limonium sp.pl.

The nomenclatural vicissitudes of the class being

studied are rather complicated: it was first described

for the Ebro Valley (Spain) by Braun-Blanquet and

Bolos (1958) to emphasize the floristic autonomy of

the order Salsolo. vermiculatae-Peganetalia harmalae

and the alliance Salsolo-Peganion, previously framed

by the same authors (Braun-Blanquet & Bolos 1954)

into the class Chenopodietea Br.-Bl in Br.-Bl et al. 1952.

Further researches widened the range of the class

to a great deal of the Iberian Peninsula and of the

southern Mediterranean territories (Rivas Goday &

Rivas-Martınez 1963; Bolos et al. 1970; Rigual

Magallon 1972; Peinado & Martinez Parras 1984;

Brullo et al. 1985; Peinado et al. 1986, 1989; Gehu

& Biondi 1986; Biondi 1988; Alcaraz et al. 1991;

Rivas-Martınez et al. 1993, 2002; Costa et al. 2000;

Alonso & De la Torre 2002).

In the meantime, several new orders and alliances

were added to the class (Appendix 1): the first

addition was proposed by Rivas Goday and Rigual

Magallon (1958), who described the Salsolo-Fagonion

creticae, replacing the Salsolo-Peganion in the Alicante

Province. Successively, Rivas Goday and Rivas-

Martınez (1963) included new orders in the

class two: the Onopordo-Salsoletalia Rivas Goday &

Correspondence: S. Brullo, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Via A. Longo 19, 95125 Catania, Italy.

Email: [email protected]

Plant Biosystems, 2012; 1–26, iFirst article

ISSN 1126-3504 print/ISSN 1724-5575 online ª 2012 Societa Botanica Italiana

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Rivas-Martınez 1963 (with the alliances Salsolo-

Peganion and Onopordion arabici Br.-Bl. & O. Bolos

1958) and the Atriplicetalia glaucae Rivas Goday &

Rivas-Martınez 1963 (with the new alliances Salsolo-

Carthamion Rivas Goday & Rivas-Martınez 1963 and

Haloxilo-Atriplicion Rivas Goday & Rivas-Martınez

1963). All these syntaxa were reconsidered and

validated by Rigual Magallon (1972), who included

into them several associations and proposed the new

alliance Salsolo-Suaedion.

In later years, some more syntaxa have been

proposed for the Iberian Peninsula: the two alliances

Salsolo-Artemision and Atriplicion glaucae were de-

scribed as nomina nuda by Folch (1981); the

Medicagini citrinae-Lavaterion arboreae, proposed by

Bolos and Vigo (1984); the order Helichryso-Santo-

linetalia squarrosae, proposed by Peinado and Martı-

nez Parras (1984) to group the alliances Artemisio

glutinosae-Santolinion rosmarinifoliae Costa 1975 and

Santolinion pectinato-canescentis Peinado & Martınez-

Parras 1984, that, in the opinion of the same authors

and of Peinado et al. (1986), are closely related to the

glareicolous vegetation of the Andryaletalia ragusinae

Rivas Goday ex Rivas Goday & Esteve 1972.

For the Canary Islands, the endemic order

Chenoleoidetalia tomentosae and the alliance Cheno-

leoidion tomentosae were described by Sunding

(1972). His proposal has been followed by Rivas-

Martınez et al. (1993), who proposed, in addition,

the new endemic order Forsskaoleo angustifoliae-

Rumicetalia lunariae, with the two alliances Launaeo

arborescentis-Schizogynion sericeae and Artemision thus-

culae-Rumicion lunariae.

Also, some synanthropic plant communities char-

acterized by pantropical chorotypes was ascribed to the

class Pegano-Salsoletea: this is the case of the order

Nicotiano glaucae-Ricinetalia communis, with the alli-

ance Nicotiano glaucae-Ricinion communis, described

for the Canary Islands by Rivas-Martınez et al. (1999).

This is the case, as well, of the Lycio europaei-Ipomoeion

purpureae, proposed by Bolos (1988) for the Mediter-

ranean Region and framed into the Ipomoeetalia

purpureae Oberd. ex O.Bolos 1988, order of the class

Ruderali-Manihotetea utilissimae Leonard in Taton

1949. These last two syntaxa have been synonymized

by Rivas-Martınez et al. (2002) with the Salsolo-

Peganetalia and Pegano-Salsoletea, respectively, but the

alliance Lycio europaei-Ipomoeion purpureae has been

kept valid. A syntaxonomical survey of the class at

issue in the Iberian and Macaronesian territories was

presented by Rivas-Martınez et al. (2001, 2002).

For the semi-deserts of Cyrenaica (Libya), the

order Hammado scopariae-Anabasietalia articulatae

was described by Brullo and Furnari (1996) and

framed into the class Pegano-Salsoletea with the

alliance Limonion tubiflori, a Libyan vicariant of the

North-Egyptian Thymelaeion hirsutae Tadros & Atta

1958. Furthermore, the Artemision arborescentis has

been described by Gehu and Biondi (1986) for the

central Mediterranean territories and the Argiranthe-

mo succulenti-Calendulion maderensis for the Madeira

Islands by Capelo et al. (2000).

At the centre of the Mediterranean Basin, the

Pegano-Salsoletea vegetation has been found in the

southern part of the Italian Peninsula (Biondi 1988;

Biondi et al. 1992, 1994a; Pirone 1995; Brullo et al.

2001), in Sardinia (Biondi et al. 1988; Biondi &

Mossa 1992; Biondi et al. 1994b), Corsica (Gehu &

Biondi 1986; Gehu et al. 1986, 1988), and Sicily

(Brullo et al. 1980, 1985, 1988, 2000; Brullo &

Siracusa 2000). In all these sites, the vegetation

hitherto described belongs to the order Salsolo

vermiculatae-Peganetalia harmalae, even if the occur-

rence of stands ascribable to the Nicotiano glaucae-

Ricinetalia communis cannot be excluded. Aim of this

study is to make a point about the consistence of the

Pegano-Salsoletea vegetation in Italy, basing on

literature and original data.

Material and methods

Our survey is based on 263 phytosociological releves,

partially taken from literature. On the whole, 21

associations have been recognized, 11 of which are

new. For the identification of the new associations,

besides the structural and floristic homogeneity,

particular care was paid to the dominant species,

often denoting slightly different edaphic and micro-

climatic conditions in the vegetation at issue. The

numerical analysis has been performed on the cover

data of 72 selected releves (Van der Maarel 1979),

three for each plant community (Table S1), pro-

cessed by the software package Syn-Tax 2000

(Podani 2001). The releves selected for the numerical

analysis are those whose ratio between the total

number of species and the character ones was

minimized (Westhoff & Van der Maarel 1973; Noest

et al. 1989). The Euclidean distance algorithm was

used to produce the dissimilarity matrix, and the

simple average criterion was adopted to produce the

classification dendrogram. Vegetation data were inter-

preted in terms of syntaxonomical classification, based

on cover and floristic affinities, following the Zurich-

Montpellier approach (Braun-Blanquet 1964).

In the list commented below, the associations of

each alliance are alphabetically reported. The struc-

ture of the entries mostly follows the proposal of

Dengler et al. (2003), as well as the recommenda-

tions of the International Code of Phytosociological

Nomenclature (Weber et al. 2000). The bioclimatic

classification follows Rivas-Martınez (1997) and

Rivas-Martınez et al. (2004a, 2004b). For the taxa

nomenclature, some vascular plant checklists have

2 S. Brullo et al.

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been followed (Conti et al. 2005; Giardina et al.

2007; Greuter 2008).

Results

The Pegano-Salsoletea vegetation of Italy is chiefly

found on clayish and marly soils, particularly if

slightly enriched with nitrates and chlorides, in

places with infra- or thermo-Mediterranean thermo-

type (marginally up to the meso-Mediterranean one)

with dry or arid ombrotype. This vegetation is well

represented in Sicily, while in Sardinia and southern

Italy, it becomes more rare and localized. The

following differential/character species of Pegano-

Salsoletea and Salsolo. vermiculatae-Peganetalia har-

malae are frequently found in Italy: Lycium intrica-

tum, Atriplex halimus, Capparis sicula, Moricandia

arvensis, and Asparagus stipularis.

According to our surveys (Table I), the vegetation

can be ascribed to the following two alliances

(Appendix 2):

(A) Salsolo. oppositifoliae-Suaedion mollis Rigual

1972: vegetation of natural habitats, sometimes

favoured by human activities, in remarkable

xeric conditions. The associations ascribed to

this alliance have their primary stands on clayey

badlands (locally named ‘‘calanchi’’), coastal

slopes and along the borders of salt marshes

and coastal lagoons, slightly above the water-

table. They can be considered as permanent

edapho-xerophilous plant communities domi-

nated by relatively few highly specialized

species. In former contributions, these associa-

tions were ascribed to the Salsolo vermiculatae-

Peganion harmalae (see Brullo et al. 1980, 1985,

2000, 2001; Brullo & Siracusa 2000; Bartolo

et al. 1982, 1990). According to Rivas-Martı-

nez et al. (2002), the latter name applies to

plant communities linked to meso-supramedi-

terranean semiarid and lower-dry semiconti-

nental bioclimates of the inner Iberian

Peninsula, while those of Italy, for their ecology

and floristic settlement, should be ascribed to

the Salsolo oppositifoliae-Suaedion mollis (Rivas-

Martınez 2011). Indeed, the Italian commu-

nities are well characterized by the occurrence

of Salsola oppositifolia, Salsola vermiculata and

Suaeda vera, all linked to remarkable thermo-

xeric habitats falling in the infra- and thermo-

Mediterranean bioclimatic belt.

(B) Artemision arborescentis Gehu & Biondi in Gehu

et al. 1986: vegetation of disturbed habitats,

particularly frequent on clayish slopes next to

human settlements, roadsides, and folds, on

soils enriched with nitrogen and phosphates. It

is found in the thermo- and, marginally,

meso-Mediterranean bioclimatic belt, under

some more mesic conditions than the phyto-

coenoses ascribed to the previous alliance.

Differential species are Artemisia arborescens

and Anagyris foetida, with the former one often

dominant in such vegetation.

Also, the numerical analysis strongly supports the

recognition of two groups, clearly corresponding to

the two alliances occurring in Italy (Figure 1).

Salsolo oppositifoliae-Suaedion mollis

Suaedo verae-Atriplicetum halimi Biondi

1988 – Table I (21–22)

Holotypus: rel.2, tab.4, Biondi (1988).

Character species: Suaeda vera.

Structure and ecology: Markedly, halo-nitrophilous

association colonizing coastal rocky habitats (marls,

conglomerates, limestone and sandstone) were di-

rectly influenced by the sea-spray and dunged by the

seabirds. The physiognomy is given by the dense

bushes of Suaeda vera and Atriplex halimus, normally

achieving high cover values. According to Biondi

(1988), several different sub-associations can be

identified, depending on the type of substratum

and on the ecotonal contacts with other plant

communities (see Biondi 1988).

Distribution: Central and southern Italy (Figure 2,

online Appendix), along the Adriatic coast, and

Tremiti Islands (Biondi 1988; Pirone 1995).

Camphorosmo monspeliacae-Atriplicetum ha-

limi Biondi, Ballelli & Taffetani 1992 – Table I

(18)

Holotypus: rel.2, tab.2, Biondi et al. (1992).

Character species: Camphorosma monspeliaca.

Structure and ecology: This association is found

inland, where it colonizes the steepest part of clayey

badlands at 200 to 600 m a.s.l., within the meso-

Mediterranean subhumid bioclimatic belt (Biondi

et al. 1992). The structure is given by a prostrate

layer of Camphorosma monspeliaca mixed with scat-

tered bushes of Atriplex halimus. On less sloping sites,

this vegetation comes into contact with the perennial

dry grasslands of Camphorosmo monspeliaci-Lygeetum

sparti Biondi et al. 1992.

Distribution: Basilicata, in the valley of Basento River

(Figure 2 online Appendix).

Atriplici halimi-Polygonetum tenoreani Biondi,

Ballelli & Taffetani 1992 – Table I (19)

Holotypus: rel.2, tab.3, Biondi et al. (1992).

Character species: Polygonum tenoreanum, endemic to

southern Italy.

Structure and ecology: This association replaces the

Camphorosmo monspeliacae-Atriplicetum halimi on

Pegano-Salsoletea in Italy 3

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Tab

leI.

Syn

op

tic

tab

leo

fth

eP

egano-

Sals

olet

ave

get

atio

nin

Ital

y.

(con

tinued

)

4 S. Brullo et al.

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Tab

leI.

(Con

tinued

).

1-

Cappari

do

sicu

lae-

Sals

olet

um

oppos

itifol

iae

(SE

Sic

ily

(aft

erB

arto

loet

al.

19

82

,T

ab.

24

,su

bS

uaed

o-S

als

olet

um

oppos

itifol

iae)

.

2-

Cappari

do

sicu

lae-

Sals

olet

um

oppos

itifol

iae

(Sic

ily,

Ad

ran

o;

Bru

llo

&S

irac

usa

20

00

,T

ab.1

7,

sub

Suaed

o-S

als

olet

um

oppos

itifol

iae)

.

3-

Cappari

do

sicu

lae-

Sals

olet

um

oppos

itifol

iae

(Sic

ily,

Po

rto

Em

ped

ocl

e,T

ab.4

B).

4-

Asp

ara

goalb

i-S

als

olet

um

oppos

itifol

iae

(Sic

ily

and

SC

alab

ria;

Tab

.4A

).

5-

Thapsi

opel

agi

cae-

Sals

olet

um

oppos

itifol

iae

(Lam

ped

usa

;B

arto

loet

al.

19

90

,T

ab.1

0,

sub

Suaed

o-S

als

olet

um

oppos

itifol

iae)

.

6-

Lim

onio

opule

nti

-Sals

olet

um

oppos

itifol

iae

(Sic

ily,

Po

rto

Em

ped

ocl

e;B

rullo

etal

.1

98

0,

Tab

.1).

7-

Lim

onio

cata

nzaro

i-S

als

olet

um

oppos

itifol

iae

(Sic

ily,

Cap

oB

ian

co;

Bru

llo

etal

.1

98

5,

Tab

.1).

8-

Lim

onio

cata

nzaro

i-S

als

olet

um

oppos

itifol

iae

(Sic

ily,

Rib

era,

Tab

.2A

).

9-

Lim

onio

calc

ara

e-S

uaed

etum

ver

ae

(CS

icily,

S.

An

gel

oM

uxar

o,

Tab

.2B

).

10

-S

als

olet

um

agr

igen

tinae

(CS

icily;

Bru

llo

etal

.1

98

5,

Tab

.2).

11

-S

als

olet

um

agr

igen

tinae

(ES

icily,

Ad

ran

o;

Bru

llo

&S

irac

usa

20

00

,T

ab.1

8).

12

-S

als

olet

um

agr

igen

tinae

(Sic

ily,

Tab

.2C

).

13

-S

als

olo

oppos

itifol

iae-

Suaed

etum

pel

agi

cae

(Lam

ped

usa

;B

arto

loet

al.

19

90

,T

ab.1

1).

14

-S

uaed

over

ae-

Lim

onia

stre

tum

mon

opet

ali

(Lam

ped

usa

;B

arto

loet

al.

19

90

,T

ab.1

2).

15

-S

uaed

over

ae-

Lim

onia

stre

tum

mon

opet

ali

(Sic

ily,

Tab

.3A

).

16

-H

alim

iono

por

tula

coid

is-S

als

olet

um

oppos

itifol

iae

(SS

icily,

Man

fria

;B

rullo

etal

.2

00

0T

ab.9

).

17

-H

alim

iono

por

tula

coid

is-S

als

olet

um

oppos

itifol

iae

(Sic

ily,

Rib

era,

Tab

.4C

).

18

-C

am

phor

osm

om

onsp

elia

cae-

Atr

iplice

tum

halim

i(B

asilic

ata;

Bio

nd

iet

al.

19

92

,T

ab.2

).

19

-A

trip

lici

halim

i-P

olyg

onet

um

tenor

eani

(Bas

ilic

ata;

Bio

nd

iet

al.

19

92

,T

ab.3

).

20

-A

trip

lici

halim

i-H

alim

ionie

tum

por

tula

coid

is(S

icily,

Cat

ania

;T

ab.3

B).

21

-S

uaed

over

ae-

Atr

iplice

tum

halim

i(A

pu

lia,

Tre

mit

iIs

lan

ds;

Bio

nd

i1

98

8,

Tab

.4).

22

-S

uaed

over

ae-

Atr

iplice

tum

halim

i(A

bru

zzo

;P

iro

ne

19

95

,T

ab.2

1,

ril.

1-3

).

23

-A

spara

gost

ipula

ris-

Sals

olet

um

ver

mic

ula

tae

typ

icu

m(S

ard

inia

,C

apo

S.

Elia;

Bio

nd

i&

Mo

ssa

19

92

,T

ab.1

5,

rel.

3-8

,su

bS

als

olo

ver

mic

ula

tae-

Atr

iplice

tum

halim

i).

24

-A

spara

gost

ipula

ris-

Sals

olet

um

ver

mic

ula

tae

typic

um

(Sar

din

ia,

Cal

aM

osc

a,T

ab.5

A,

rel.

1-4

).

25

-A

spara

gost

ipula

ris-

Sals

olet

um

ver

mic

ula

tae

art

emis

ieto

sum

arb

ores

centi

s(S

ard

inia

,C

apo

S.

Elia;

Bio

nd

i&

Mo

ssa

19

92

,T

ab.1

5,

rel.

9-1

3,

sub

Sals

olo

ver

mic

ula

tae-

Atr

iplice

tum

halim

i).

26

-A

spara

gost

ipula

ris-

Sals

olet

um

ver

mic

ula

tae

art

emis

ieto

sum

arb

ores

centi

s(S

ard

inia

,C

ala

Mo

sca,

Tab

.5A

,re

l.5

-10

).

27

-A

spara

gost

ipula

ris-

Sals

olet

um

ver

mic

ula

tae

art

emis

ieto

sum

arb

ores

centi

s(S

ard

inia

,C

agliar

i;B

ion

di

etal

.1

99

4b

,T

ab.2

,su

bA

trip

lici

halim

i-A

rtem

isie

tum

arb

ores

centi

s).

28

-L

ycio

euro

paei

-Art

emis

ietu

marb

ores

centi

s(S

icily,

Tab

.7B

).

29

-L

ycio

euro

paei

-Art

emis

ietu

marb

ores

centi

s(S

icily,

Agir

a;C

ost

anzo

etal

.,2

00

5,

Tab

.15

).

30

-L

imon

ioop

tim

ae-

Sals

olet

um

oppos

itifol

iae

(Sic

ily,

Po

nte

Cin

qu

eA

rch

i,T

ab.7

A).

31

-C

oron

illo

vale

nti

nae-

Art

emis

ietu

marb

ores

centi

s(S

icilia

,C

alta

vult

uro

,T

ab.7

C).

32

-L

ycio

intr

icati

-Sals

olet

um

oppos

itifol

iae

(Sic

ily,

Man

fria

;B

rullo

etal

.2

00

0,

Tab

.8su

bS

uaed

over

ae-

Sals

olet

um

oppos

itifol

iae)

.

33

-L

ycio

intr

icati

-Sals

olet

um

oppos

itifol

iae

(Sic

ily,

Tab

.5B

).

34

-A

trip

lici

halim

i-A

rtem

isie

tum

arb

ores

centi

ssa

lsol

etum

oppos

itifol

iae

(Sic

ily,

Sic

ulian

a,T

ab.6

A).

35

-A

trip

lici

halim

i-A

rtem

isie

tum

arb

ores

centi

ssa

lsol

etum

oppos

itifol

iae

(Sic

ily,

Agir

a;C

ost

anzo

etal

.2

00

5,

Tab

.14

).

36

-A

trip

lici

halim

i-A

rtem

isie

tum

arb

ores

centi

shalim

ionet

usu

mpor

tula

coid

is(S

icily,

Fo

ceS

imet

o;

Sar

din

ia;

Tab

.6B

).

37

-A

trip

lici

halim

i-A

rtem

isie

tum

arb

ores

centi

sty

pic

um

(Ap

ulia,

Gar

gan

o&

Tre

mit

iIs

lan

ds;

Bio

nd

i1

98

8,

Tab

.1).

38

-A

trip

lici

halim

i-A

rtem

isie

tum

arb

ores

centi

sty

pic

um

(NS

ard

inia

;B

ion

di

etal

.1

98

8,

Tab

.1).

39

-A

trip

lici

halim

i-A

rtem

isie

tum

arb

ores

centi

sty

pcu

m(N

Cal

abri

a;B

ion

di

etal

.1

99

4a,

Tab

.8).

40

-M

edic

agi

ni

arb

orea

e-S

als

olet

um

oppos

itifol

iae

(Sic

ily,

Lic

ata,

Tab

.5C

).


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steep, heavily eroded badlands formed by alternating

clayey and sandy layers. Due to the fast weathering of

the dwelled sites, this vegetation never achieves high

cover values. The structure is given by clumps of

Polygonum tenoreanum, mixed with more scattered

bushes of Atriplex halimus.

Distribution: Basilicata, in the valley of Basento River


Limonio opulenti-Salsoletum oppositifoliae

Brullo, Grillo & Scalia 1980, nom. inver.

propos. – Table I (6).

Syn.: Salsolo oppositifoliae-Limonietum opulenti Brullo,

Grillo & Scalia 1980

Holotypus: rel.14, tab.1, Brullo et al. (1980).

Character species: Limonium opulentum, Herniaria

empedocleana and Suaeda kocheri, all endemic to S-

Sicily, plus Reaumuria vermiculata, a South-Medi-

terranean and Saharo-Syndic element, in Italy found

only in few places along the southern coast of Sicily.

Structure and ecology: Chamaephytic and nanopha-

nerophytic vegetation colonizing coastal badlands

and steep heavily eroded marly outcrops, within the

lower thermo-Mediterranean lower dry bioclimate

belt. The most abundant species are Salsola opposi-

tifolia, Atriplex halimus, and Suaeda vera. On less

sloping sites, this vegetation comes in contact with

the Euphorbietum dendroidis Guinochet in Guinochet

and Drounieau 1944. According to the Art 42 of the

ICPN (Weber et al. 2000), it is proposed here to

modify the name of the association, since Salsola

oppositifolia is the species physiognomically

dominant.

Distribution: Sicily, near Porto Empedocle and

Agrigento (Figure 5 online Appendix). Very loca-

lized but, until a recent past, relatively common in

this area, both inland and along the coast (Brullo

et al. 1980). At present times, a deregulated urban

sprawl, stone-quarries and landfills are seriously

threatening this plant community.

Salsoletum agrigentinae Brullo, Guglielmo &

Pavone 1985 – Table I (10–12); Table II C


Figure 1. Dendrogram of the releves of Table S1. Algorithm: simple average, Euclidean distance.

6 S. Brullo et al.

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Tab

leII

.L

imon

ioca

tanzaro

i-S

als

olet

um

oppos

itifol

iae

(A),

Lim

onio

calc

ara

e-S

uaed

etum

ver

ae

(B),

Sals

olet

um

agr

igen

tinae

(C)

(con

tinued

)


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Character species: Salsola agrigentina, endemic to

central and southern Sicily, belonging to the cycle

of Salsola vermiculata (Botschantzev 1975).

Structure and ecology: Nanophanerophytic vegetation

colonizing steep heavily eroded clayish badlands

within the thermo-Mediterranean dry bioclimatic

belt. It tolerates high concentrations of chlorides, as

testified by the occurrence of salt crystals on the

ground surface during the summer months. This

vegetation is relatively dense with Salsola agrigentina,

the dominant species, growing together with Salsola

oppositifolia, Suaeda vera and Atriplex halimus. On less

sloping sites, this vegetation comes into contact with

the perennial dry grasslands of Lavatero agrigentinae-

Lygeetum sparti Brullo 1985.

Distribution: Central and southern Sicily, both inland

and near the coast (Figure 4 online Appendix).

Limonio catanzaroi-Salsoletum oppositifoliae

Brullo, Guglielmo & Pavone 1985, nom. inver.

propos. – Table I (7–8); Table IIA

Syn.: Salsolo oppositifoliae-Limonietum catanzaroi

Brullo, Guglielmo & Pavone 1985.


Character species: Limonium catanzaroi, endemic to

few scattered sites of western Sicily, and Hel-

minthotheca aculeata, having a Sicilian-Maghrebid

distribution.

Structure and ecology: The physiognomy of this

association is given by the dominance of Salsola

oppositifolia and Limonium catanzaroi, growing on

salty lithosoils deriving from the erosion of marls or

marly clays interposed to sandstone layers. It occurs

within the thermo-Mediterranean dry bioclimatic

belt. On more mature soils, as the salinity decreases,

this vegetation is replaced by the maquis of the

Pistacio-Chamaeropetum humilis Brullo e Marceno

1985 or by perennial dry grasslands of the Astragalo

huetii-Ampelodesmetum mauritanici Minissale 1995.

According to the Art 42 of the ICPN (Weber et al.

2000), it is here proposed to modify the name of the

association, since Salsola oppositifolia is the species

physiognomically dominant.

Distribution: South-western Sicily, from Ribera to

Capo Bianco (Figure 5 online Appendix).

Salsolo oppositifoliae-Suaedetum pelagicae

Bartolo, Brullo, Minissale & Spampinato

1990 – Table I (13)

Holotypus: rel.4, tab.11, Bartolo et al. (1990)

Character species: Suaeda pelagica, endemic to Lam-

pedusa and belonging to the cycle of S. palestina Eig

& Zohary (Bartolo et al. 1988).

Structure and ecology: Nano-phanaerophytic vegeta-

tion colonizing steep south-facing marly outcrops

and the detritus accumulating at their base, within

the infra-Mediterranean dry bioclimatic belt. TheTab

leII

.(C

onti

nued

).

Rel

.1

-2,

Cap

oB

ian

co(S

icu

lian

a),

04

.06

.20

09

;3

-4,

Mo

nta

gn

aM

ago

ne

(Rib

era)

,0

5.0

6.2

00

9;

5-9

,C

.da

An

cid

ra(R

iber

a),

05.0

6.2

00

9;

Rel

.1

0,

San

t’A

ngel

oM

uxar

o(A

gri

gen

to),

13

.05

.20

09

;1

1-1

5,

ibid

.,0

5.0

6.2

00

9;

16

-17

,C

.da

Val

angh

e(A

dra

no

),2

5.0

5.2

00

9;

18-1

9,

ibid

.,2

6.0

3.2

00

9;

Rel

.20

-23

,M

acca

lub

ed

iA

rago

na,

13

.05

.20

09.

8 S. Brullo et al.

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Tab

leII

I.S

uaed

over

ae-

Lim

onia

stre

tum

mon

opet

ali

(A),

Atr

iplici

halim

i-H

alim

ionie

tum

por

tula

coid

is(B

).

(con

tinued

)


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climatic stress is further amplified by the intense

direct sunlight, by the frequent coastal winds and salt

spray. Near the sea, this association gets in contact

with the Limonietum lopadusani Bartolo et al. 1990,

while on vertical cliffs, it is replaced by the

Chiliadenetum lopadusani Bartolo et al. 1990.

Distribution: Island of Lampedusa, along the south-

western coast (Figure 2 online Appendix).

Suaedo verae-Limoniastretum monopetali

Bartolo, Brullo, Minissale & Spampinato

1990 – Table I (14–15); Table IIIA

Holotypus: rel.2, tab.12, Bartolo et al. (1990)

Character species: Limoniastrum monopetalum, a

South-Mediterranean species normally found in

coastal salt marshes, as a member of the vegetation

ascribed to the class Sarcocornietea fruticosae. In the

context of Pegano-Salsoletea, it can be regarded as a

differential species.

Structure and ecology: Association dominated by the

big prostrate shrubs of Limoniastrum monopetalum

mixed with succulent Chenopodiaceae like Suaeda

vera, Salsola Oppositifolia, and Atriplex halimus. It

colonizes loamy sediments resulting from the weath-

ering of marly clays, marls, and carbonatic sand-

stones. Even if linked to thermo- and infra-

Mediterranean dry bioclimatic belt, it benefits from

a slight edaphic humidity provided by the shallow

water-table. It is typically found on flat or gently

sloping coastal sites, exposed to southern winds and

to the sea-spray. In more sheltered and elevated

places, it is replaced by the maquis of Oleo-Ceratonion

and Periplocion angustifoliae Rivas-Martinez 1975.

Distribution: This association was first described for

the Island of Lampedusa by Bartolo et al. (1990).

Recently, it has been recorded, as well, in some

localities along the southern and western Sicilian

coast (Figure 3 online Appendix).

Halimiono portulacoidis-Salsoletum oppositi-

foliae Brullo, Guarino & Ronsisvalle 2000 –

Table I (16–17); Table IVC


Character species: Halimione portulacoides.

Structure and ecology: Association colonizing hol-

lowed sites and basins created by the weathering on

horizontal layers of limestone and carbonatic sand-

stones, where the combined action of sea-storms and

coastal winds accumulates loamy sediments and

organic matter. This explains the abundance of the

Halimione portulacoides, a species normally found in

coastal salt marshes belonging to the class Sarcocor-

nietea fruticosae Br.-Bl. & R. Tx. ex A. & O. Bolos

1950, and particularly in the Halimiono portulacoidis-

Suaedetum verae. In this context, instead, Halimione

portulacoides grows together with many characteristics

of the class Pegano-Salsoletea, such as Suaeda vera,Tab

leII

I.(C

onti

nued

).

Rel

.1-3

,P

ort

oE

mp

edo

cle,

nea

rV

illa

Ro

man

a,0

4.0

6.2

00

9;4

-8,S

cala

dei

Tu

rch

i,R

ealm

on

te,0

4.0

6.2

00

9;R

el.9

,L

ido

Ro

ssel

lo,R

ealm

on

te,0

4.0

6.2

00

9;1

0-1

1,P

un

taB

racc

etto

(Rag

usa

),(B

arto

loet

al.

19

82

,ta

b.2

2,

rel.

14

-15

);R

el.

12

-17

,R

ock

yco

ast

of

Cat

ania

,2

5.0

4.1

99

5;

18

-19

,ib

id.,

29

.03

.199

4.

10 S. Brullo et al.

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Salsola Oppositifolia, and Lycium intricatum, within

the thermo-Mediterranean dry bioclimatic belt.

Distribution: Southern Sicily (Figure 5 online Appen-

dix), near Gela (Brullo et al. 2000; Guarino et al.

2008), and Ribera (Agrigento).

Atriplici halimi-Halimionietum portulacoidis

ass. nova – Table I (20); Table IIIB

Holotypus: rel.13, tab.3, hoc loco.

Character species: Halimione portulacoides.

Structure and ecology: Nano-phanerophytic vegetation

colonizing flat or gently sloping volcanic outcrops

along the sea, influenced by the sea-spray and by the

organic waste accumulated during the sea-storms. It

is linked to thermo-Mediterranean subhumid biocli-

matic belt, in catenal contact with the Crithmo-

Limonietea vegetation. Like the Halimiono portulacoi-

dis-Salsoletum oppositifoliae, this association is char-

acterized by the dominance of Halimione

portulacoides, but it clearly differs from the latter for

the habitat conditions and for the absence of Salsola

oppositifolia.

Distribution: North-eastern Sicily, along the volcanic

coast of Catania (Figure 5 online Appendix).

Table IV. Asparago albi-Salsoletum oppositifoliae (A), Capparido siculae-Salsoletum oppositifoliae (B), Halimiono portulacoidis-Salsoletum

oppositilofilae (C)

Rel. 1-2, Sicily, Porto Empedocle, 04.06.2009; 3-4, Sicily, Porto Empedocle near Villa Romana, 04.06.2009; Rel. 5, Sicily, C.da Ancidra

(Ribera), 05.06.2009; 6, Calabria, rocky coast near Capo dell’Armi, 04.05.1987 (Brullo et al. 2001, tab.48, rel.2); Rel. 7, Calabria, Saline

Ioniche, 06.06.1996 (Brullo et al. 2001, tab.48, rel.3); 8-9, Sicily, Porto Empedocle, 04.06.2009; Rel. 10-11, Sicily, Porto Empedocle near

Villa Romana, 04.06.2009; 12, C.da Ancidra (Ribera), 05.06.2009.


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Tab

leV

.A

spara

gost

ipula

ris-

Sals

olet

um

ver

mic

ula

tae

(A),

Lyc

ioin

tric

ati

-Sals

olet

um

oppos

itifol

iae

(B),

Med

icagi

ni

arb

orea

e-S

als

olet

um

oppos

itifol

iae

(C).

(con

tinued

)

12 S. Brullo et al.

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Capparido siculae-Salsoletum oppositifoliae

ass. nova – Table I (1–3); Table IVB

Syn.: Suaedo verae-Salsoletum oppositifoliae auct. sic.

non Rivas Goday & Rigual 1958


Character species: Capparis sicula.


colonizing heavily eroded clayey badlands, both

inland and in coastal sites. It can tolerate extreme

edaphic conditions, where the concentration of

chlorides is so high that often, during the summer

drought, they become visible as salt crystals on the

ground surface. This association is a permanent

edaphophilous community linked to the lower

thermo-Mediterranean lower dry bioclimatic belt,

within the climatic plant communities of the Oleo-

Ceratonion.

Distribution: Western flank of Mt. Etna, near Adrano,

and southern Sicily, from Porto Empedocle (Agri-

gento) to Capo Passero (Fig.4 online Appendix). By

previous authors (Bartolo et al. 1982; Brullo &

Siracusa 2000), this vegetation was ascribed to the

Suaedo verae-Salsoletum oppositifoliae (O. Bolos 1957)

Rivas Goday and Rigual 1958, association described

for the Province of Alicante, in southern Spain.

Despite the relatively similar physiognomy, chiefly

given by the dominance of Salsola oppositifolia and

Suaeda vera, the Spanish vegetation is well char-

acterized by a pool of W-Mediterranean species

missing from Sicily. Therefore, a new association is

proposed here.

Limonio calcarae-Suaedetum verae ass. nova –

Table I (9); Table IIB

Holotypus: rel.10, tab. 2, hoc loco.

Character species. Limonium calcarae, endemic to

central Sicily.

Structure and ecology: Halo-nitrophilous association

colonizing clayish badlands belonging to the Sicilian

evaporitic series. It dwells heavily eroded gullies and

steep slopes within the thermo-Mediterranean dry

bioclimatic belt. The structure is given by scattered

tufts of Limonium calcarae, by far the most abundant

species in this context, mixed with sparse individuals

of Suaeda vera and Moricandia arvensis.

Distribution: Central Sicily (Figure 5 online Appen-

dix), far from the sea (Caltanissetta and Agrigento

provinces).

Thapsio pelagicae-Salsoletum oppositifoliae

ass. nova – Table I(5)

Syn.: Suaedo verae-Salsoletum oppositifoliae Bartolo

et al. 1990 non Rivas Goday & Rigual 1958

Holotypus: rel.5, tab.10, Bartolo et al. (1990), hoc

loco.

Character species: Thapsia pelagica, endemic to Lam-

pedusa (formerly attributed to T. garganica byTab

leV

.(C

onti

nued

).

Rel

1-4

,6

-8C

agliar

i,C

ala

Mo

sca,

26

.4.1

989

;5

,9

,1

0,

ibid

.,2

4.0

6.2

00

9;

11

-12

,S

cala

dei

Tu

rch

i,R

ealm

on

te,

04

.06.2

00

9;

13

,ro

cky

coas

tn

ear

Mt.

Polisc

ia(L

icat

a),

28

.05

.200

9;

Rel

.1

4-1

9,

Mt.

Lu

ngo

(Gel

a),

16.0

8.2

00

5;

20

-22

,C

.da

Mo

llar

ella

(Lic

ata)

,0

5.0

5.2

00

7;

23

,ib

id.,

28

.05

.20

09

;2

4,

rock

yco

ast

nea

rM

t.P

olisc

ia(L

icat

a),

28

.05

.20

09

.


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Bartolo et al. 1990), and Reichardia tingitana, a

South-Mediterranean species ranging up to the

Pelagic Islands.


linked to marly substrata dunged by the seabirds,

within the infra-Mediterranean semiarid bioclimatic

belt. Its physiognomic characterization is given by a

dense layer of Salsola oppositifolia, Suaeda vera, and

Atriplex halimus that, towards the inland, are pro-

gressively replaced by the climatophilous vegetation

of the Periplocion angustifoliae.

Distribution: Island of Lampedusa (Figure 4 online

Appendix).

Note: This vegetation was previously ascribed by

Bartolo et al. (1990) to the Suaedo verae-Salsoletum

oppositifoliae (O. Bolos 1957) Rivas Goday and

Rigual 1958, association described for the Province

of Alicante, in southern Spain. Despite the relatively

similar physiognomy given by the dominance of

Salsola oppositifolia and Suaeda vera, the Spanish

vegetation is well characterized by a pool of W-

Mediterranean species, lacking from Lampedusa.

The Lampedusa populations ascribed by Bartolo

et al. (1990) to Thapsia garganica have been recently

described by Brullo et al. (2009) as new species,

namely T. pelagica.

Asparago albi-Salsoletum oppositifoliae ass.

nova – Table I (4), Table IVA


Table VI. Atriplici halimi-Artemisietum arborescentis subass. salsoletosum oppositifoliae (A), subass. halimionetosum portulacoidis (B).

Rel. 1-5, Siculiana Marina, 15.05.1993; 6-8, Capo Bianco (Siculiana), 04.06.2009; Rel. 9-11, Foce del Simeto (Brullo et al. 1988, tab.19);

12-13, Cagliari, Stagno di Santa Gilla, 25.06.2009.

14 S. Brullo et al.

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Tab

leV

II.

Lim

onio

opti

mae-

Sals

olet

um

oppos

itifol

iae

(A),

Lyc

ioeu

ropaei

-Art

emis

ietu

marb

ores

centi

s(B

),C

oron

illo

vale

nti

nae-

Art

emis

ietu

marb

ores

centi

s(C

)

(con

tinued

)


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Character species: Asparagus albus.

Structure and ecology: Nano-phanaerophytic vegeta-

tion chiefly colonizing coastal stands, or rarely inner

stand, characterized marly soils. It usually dwells

very steep slopes, mainly represented by cliffs or

rocky outcrops. It is floristically differentiated by

Salsola oppositifolia, usually reaching high cover

values, and by the occurrence of Asparagus albus.

This association is a permanent edaphophilous

community linked to the lower thermo-Mediterra-

nean lower dry bioclimatic belt, within the climatic

plant communities of the Oleo-Ceratonion.

Distribution: Southern Sicily, near Porto Empedocle

and Ribera (Agrigento), and southern Calabria, near

Reggio Calabria, along the rocky coast between Capo

dell’Armi and Saline Ioniche (Figure 4 online

Appendix).

Asparago stipularis-Salsoletum vermiculatae

ass. nova – Table I (23–27); Table VA

Syn.: Salsolo vermiculatae-Atriplicetum halimi Biondi

& Mossa 1992 non Rivas-Martınez et al. 1991.

Holotypus: rel.8, tab.15, Biondi & Mossa (1992), hoc

loco.

Character species: Salsola vermiculata, a W-Mediterra-

nean species ranging up to southern Sardinia, and

Limonium dubium, endemic to Sicily, Sardinia and

Corsica.

Structure and ecology: Vegetation colonizing relatively

steep marly slopes exposed to the salt-spray and

dunged by the seabirds, within the thermo-Mediter-

ranean dry bioclimatic belt. Its ecological niche

stretches between the vegetation of Crithmo-Limonie-

tea Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl. et al. 1952 and the thermo-

xerophilous maquis ascribed to the Euphorbio den-

droidis-Anagyretum foetidae Biondi and Mossa 1992

(Oleo-Ceratonion Br.-Bl. ex Guinochet and Droui-

neau 1944). The structure is given by Salsola

vermiculata, that together with Atriplex halimus,

Asparagus stipularis, and Suaeda vera, forms a tangled

scrubland, densely covering the ground.

We agree with Biondi and Mossa (1992) which,

besides to the typical aspect without Artemisia

arborescens, describe the subass. artemisietosum arbor-

escentis (Biondi & Mossa 1992) comb. nov. which is

characterized by the occurrence of A. arborescens,

often with high cover values. From the ecological

viewpoint, the subass. typicum is exclusively linked to

primary stands, as testified by the lacking of A.

arborescens, while the subass. artemisietosum arbores-

centis grows on disturbed habitats, with an higher

concentration of nitrates.

Distribution: Southern Sardinia, on promontories and

coastal capes eastward of Cagliari (Figure 3 online

Appendix).

Note: This vegetation was already sampled by Biondi

and Mossa (1992) and ascribed to the SalsoloTab

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16 S. Brullo et al.

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vermiculatae-Atriplicetum halimi (Br.-Bl. & Bolos

1958) Rivas-Martınez et al. 1991. Despite the similar

physiognomy, the Sardininan stands are quite

different from those of the Iberian Peninsula for

ecological and floristic reasons: the Spanish associa-

tion grows inland, within the meso-Mediterranean

dry bioclimatic belt and belongs to the Salsolo-

Peganion harmalae, an alliance that is not represented

in Italy.

Artemision arborescentis

Atriplici halimi-Artemisietum arborescentis

Biondi 1988 – Table I (34–39); Table VI

Holotypus: rel.4, tab.1, Biondi (1988).

Character species: Atriplex halimus and Artemisia

arborescens.

Structure and ecology: Synanthropic shrublands domi-

nated by the two nominal species of the associations,

sometimes growing together with Suaeda vera. This

very poor floristic settlement is often found in coastal

sites, on marly and conglomeratic substrata, some-

times used as dumping places for urban waste and

rubbles (Biondi 1988). It can be considered as a

permanent edaphic community whose evolution is

contrasted by the human disturbance, combined to

the action of natural ‘‘hecklers’’ like coastal winds,

seabirds, salt-spray, etc. It is found within the

thermo-Mediterranean dry to subhumid bioclimatic

belt, often in contact with the Oleo-Ceratonion-

vegetation. In addition to the typical aspect and to

the var. with Suaeda vera, already described by

Biondi (1988), the following two sub-associations

can be recognized: (a) subass. salsoletosum oppositi-

foliae Costanzo et al. 2005 (holotypus: rel.3, tab.14,

Costanzo et al. 2005), dwelling steep marly cliffs

exposed to the sea; (b) subass. halimionetosum

portulacoidis subass. nova (holotypus: rel.9, tab.6,

hoc loco), which is found on loamy sediments

surrounding coastal salt marshes.

Distribution: Southern Italy (Tremiti Islands, Garga-

no, and northern Calabria), Sardinia and Sicily


Limonio optimae-Salsoletum oppositifoliae

ass. nova – Table I (30); Table VIIA


Character species: Limonium optimae, endemic to

central Sicily (Raimondo 1993, Falci 2000).

Structure and ecology: Association colonizing marly

limestone and warps along the Salso river and its

tributaries, known since ancient times for the salinity

of their water, resulting from the leaching of

evaporitic layers. This vegetation is found between

300 and 400 m a.s.l., within the thermo-Mediterra-

nean subhumid bioclimatic belt. Typically, it has

quite an open structure, given by sparse shrubs of

Salsola oppositifolia and Artemisia arborescens, mixing

together with denser clumps of Limonium optimae.

Distribution: Central Sicily, near Caltanissetta (Figure

5 online Appendix).

Coronillo valentinae-Artemisietum arbores-

centis ass. nova – Table I (31); Table VIIC


Character species: Coronilla valentina, Ruta chalepensis.

Structure and ecology: Association colonizing steep,

heavily eroded, marly slopes, within the thermo-

Mediterranean subhumid bioclimatic belt, between

400 and 500 m a.s.l. The structure is given by sparse

shrubs of Artemisia arborescens, Salsola oppositifolia

and Anagyris foetida, mingled with the smaller bushes

of Coronilla valentina and Ruta chalapensis. This

vegetation is ecologically quite specialized, linked to

relatively fine-grained debris frequently disturbed by

the deposition of new eroded material. In more

stable contexts, it tends to be replaced by the Oleo-

Ceratonion vegetation.

Distribution: Central and northern Sicily (Figure 3

online Appendix).

Lycio europaei-Artemisietum arborescentis

ass. nova –Table I (28–29); Table VIIB


Character species: Lycium europaeum.


colonizing clayey substrata next to urban and rural

settlements, within the meso-Mediterranean dry to

subhumid bioclimatic belt, at 500–700 m a.s.l. It has

some more mesophilous requirements in comparison

with the above-mentioned associations and often

achieves high cover values. The structure is given by

the big bushes of Artemisia arborescens and Atriplex

halimus, tangled with Lycium europaeum: a synan-

thropic species frequently found in secondary habi-

tats like road-sides, pathways, and embankments.

Distribution: Central and northern Sicily (Figure 2

online Appendix).

Notes: This plant community was formerly described

by Costanzo et al. (2005) as ‘‘aggr. Lyceum euro-

paeum’’ from central Sicily.

Lycio intricati-Salsoletum oppositifoliae ass.

nova – Table I (32–33); Table VB

Syn.: Suaedo verae-Salsoletum oppositifoliae Brullo

et al. 2000 non Rivas Goday & Rigual 1958


Character species: Lycium intricatum, a SW-Mediter-

ranean thermo-xerophilous species.


growing on steep marly to clayish badlands, often

with southern exposures. Its optimum is within the

thermo-Mediterranean dry bioclimatic belt, near the

coast. The structure is rather dense and intricate,


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with big bushes of Salsola oppositifolia, Suaeda vera,

Asparagus stipularis and Lycium intricatum, growing

together with Artemisia arborescens, which tends to

prevail in the most disturbed sites. On gently sloping

sites, this vegetation is progressively replaced by dry

grasslands with Lygeum spartum.

Distribution: Coasts of southern Sicily, from Realm-

onte (Agrigento) to Gela (Fig.2 online Appendix).

Notes: In a previous contribution (Brullo et al. 2000),

this vegetation was ascribed to the Suaedo verae-

Salsoletum oppositifoliae (O. Bolos 1957) Rivas Goday

and Rigual 1958, association described for the

Province of Alicante, in southern Spain. Depite the

relatively similar physiognomy, due to substantial

floristic and ecologic differences, it is here preferred

to describe a new association.

Medicagini arboreae-Salsoletum oppositifoliae

ass. nova – Table I (40); Table VC


Character species: Medicago arborea, a NW-Mediter-

ranean species which is very rare in Sicily.

Structure and ecology: This association is found on

limestone and carbonatic sandstones disturbed by

the sea-spray and dunged by the seabirds. It can be

considered an edaphic vicariant of the Lycio intricati-

Salsoletum oppositifoliae. Also in this case, the

structure is very dense, with Medicago arborea as

dominant species, and Salsola oppositifolia, Artemisia

arborescens, Suaeda vera and Atriplex halimus as

subordinates.

Distribution: Southern coast of Sicily, near Licata


Discussion

The phytosociological surveys carried out on this

very peculiar vegetation allowed to examine not only

the ecological differences of the investigated plant

communities, but also to evaluate the anthropogenic

effects on their structure and floristic composition.

Furthermore, thanks to synecologic approach, it was

possible to analyse the transformation of the plant

landscape in Sicily (Biondi 2011; Pott 2011; Blasi &

Frondoni 2011). All the associations occurring in

Italy, and examined in this study, are structurally,

floristically, and ecologically well differentiated, as

also confirmed by the numerical analysis. Figure 1

shows two clusters clearly separated, corresponding

to the Salsolo-Suedion mollis (cluster A) and to the

Artemision arborescentis (cluster B). Cluster B is quite

homogenous, since it includes plant communities

floristically poor, and chiefly playing a secondary

role, while three subclusters can be recognized within

cluster A. In particular, subcluster A1 groups the

associations characterized by the occurrence and

dominance of Salsola oppositifolia, thus suggesting

that these phytocoenoses are strictly linked to

particularly dry environments. The associations fall-

ing in subcluster A1 are found on stands of central-

southern Sicily, Lampedusa, as well as the south-

ernmost point of Calabria (i.e., Capo dell’Armi);

from the bioclimatic viewpoint, the thermotypes of

these growing sites are ranging from the infra- to the

thermo-Mediterranean dry. Subcluster A2 gathers

the plant communities dominated by Suaeda vera,

plant having its optimal growth conditions on soils

with a higher water capacity. The ecological beha-

viour of S. vera is also testified by the fact that it is the

key-species of the Suaedion verae (Sarcocornietea

fruticosae), alliance including subhalo-nitrophilous

phytocoenoses colonizing the edges of salt-marshes.

The associations of this subcluster are known only

for Sicily and Lampedusa. Finally, subcluster A3

groups the associations exclusively occurring in

Sardinia and central-southern Italy. Such plant

communities are characterized by the dominance of

Atriplex halimus, usually growing together with

Suaeda vera, while Salsola oppositifolia is definitely

missing. This is probably due to the bioclimatic

features of the dwelled sites, which are usually less

arid than the previous ones, since they fall into meso-

Mediterranean thermotype, or more rarely into the

thermo-Mediterranean one.

Conclusions

The class Pegano-Salsoletea is represented in Italy by

several well-differentiated phytosociological units,

that deserve more attention than what is normally

attributed to such vegetation. Apart from the

botanical interest, it is worth to remind that all the

surveyed associations are to be ascribed to the habitat

‘‘1430 – Halo-nitrophilous shrubs (Pegano-Salsole-

tea)’’, mentioned in the Supplement 1 of the

European Directive 43/92.

Moreover, most of the sites colonized by this

vegetation have an outstanding stratigraphic and geo-

morphological interest. Just to make an example, the

Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) iden-

tifies in Mt. San Nicola, near Gela (S Sicily), the

stratigraphic reference for the Quaternary/Pleisto-

cene lower boundary. Similarly, the badlands of

Vrica, in southern Calabria, identify the early stage of

Pleistocene, known as ‘‘Calabrian Stage’’ (Gibbard

et al. 2010).

It can be noted, as well, that most of the species

characterizing the Pegano-Salsoletea vegetation have

an outstanding bio-geographical interest, to track

back the Plio-Pleistocenic phases of the Mediterra-

nean Basin. In fact, they originated from Irano-

Turanian and Saharo-Arabian elements and spread

around the Mediterranean basin during the Messi-

nian Age, of which they can be considered as ‘‘living

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traces’’ (Guarino et al. 2006). Quite relevant is the

occurrence within the surveyed plant communities of

several rare endemic species, such as Thapsia

pelagica, Suaeda kocheri, S. pelagica, Herniaria empe-

docleana, Limonium opulentum, L. dubium, L. catan-

zaroi, L. calcarae, L. optimae, Salsola agrigentina, and

Polygonum tenoreanum. The dwelled sites are chiefly

represented by ecologically very specialized habitats,

whose geographical and overall ecological isolation

strongly favoured the speciation processes of these

halophytes.

Unfortunately, many of the stands colonized by

the Pegano-Salsoletea vegetation are prone to the

recent demographic changes that invested the

Mediterranean people in last decades. The so-called

‘‘coastalization’’ (Cori 1999; Ivanov et al. 2008)

associated to a deregulated urban development has

determined quite an high human density in the close

proximity of most of the Pegano-Salsoletea stands in

Italy.

The proximity of these sites to areas of rapid

population growth and urban development is a

source of increasing concern, also because the

naturalistic and scientific value of such vegetation is

ignored by the most, the public access to sensitive

habitats/biotopes is totally uncontrolled. The resi-

dential development appropriated (often embezzled)

a great deal of the areas where the Pegano-Salsoletea

vegetation was growing relatively undisturbed until

recent years. In this sense, the case of the Limonio

opulenti-Salsoletum oppositifoliae is emblematic: it is

estimated that in the last three decades, 80% of the

habitat went lost, even if some floristic reminiscences

of the former vegetation can be sadly found in

dumpsites, parking places, garaging, and towing

services, along the walls of the power station of

Porto Empedocle. The same holds true for the many

‘‘badlands’’ that, due to the waterproof properties of

the clay, have been transformed in landfills for the

urban solid waste. This is the case, for instance, of a

relevant percentage of the habitat formerly occupied

by the Capparido siculae-Salsoletum oppositifoliae, near

the town of Adrano.

Impacts from human activities are resulting in a

severe habitat loss and declining environmental

quality for the Pegano-Salsoletea vegetation. Roads,

dust, pollution, industrial activities, and uncon-

trolled off-road access are limiting factors in the

population dynamics of the most sensitive species.

Moreover, the overall disturbance will probably

make introduced feral species more competitive,

opening the way to multiple problems, such as the

potential to out-compete native species, habitat

alteration, and alteration of the trophic levels. Up

to now, the only non-native species having a

significant presence in the Pegano-Salsoletea vegeta-

tion of Italy are as follows: Boerhavia repens, Ricinus

communis, Solanum sodomaeum, and Nicotiana glauca,

but if the human disturbance increases, it cannot be

excluded that, in the next future, new exotic species

become stronger competitors of the native ones.

An integrated management plan is urgently

needed. It should include a zoning framework to

protect key habitats and species from detrimental

human activities as well as to allow (and suggest)

appropriate sustainable uses. It is to be hoped that, in

the next future, men and resources will be found in

order to make more acceptable the conflict between

human activities and conservation needs for the still

surviving patches of Pegano-Salsoletea vegetation.

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617–726.

Appendix 1. Syntaxonomical scheme of the

class Pegano-Salsoletea in the Mediterranean

Basin (up to alliance level)

PEGANO HARMALAE-SALSOLETEA VERMI-

CULATAE Br.-Bl & O.Bolos 1958

Syn.: Ruderali-Manihotetea utilissimae Leonard in

Taton 1949 corr. O.Bolos 1988

SALSOLO VERMICULATAE-PEGANETALIA HARMALAE Br.-

Bl. & O.Bolos 1954

Syn.: Onopordo-Salsoletalia Rivas Goday & Rivas-

Martınez 1963

Atriplicetalia glaucae Rivas Goday & Rivas-Martınez

1963

Ipomoeetalia purpureae Oberd. ex O.Bolos 1988

Salsolo vermiculatae-Peganion harmalae Br.-Bl. &

O.Bolos 1954

Syn.: Salsolo-Fagonion creticae Rivas Goday &

Rigual Magallon 1958

Salsolo-Carthamion arborescentis Rivas Goday &

Rivas-Martınez 1963

Salsolo-Artemision Folch 1981 n.n.

Salsolo oppositifoliae-Suaedion mollis Rigual 1972

Syn.: Suaedenion fruticoso-verae Peinado, Martınez

Parrasa & Bartolome 1986

Suaedenion verae Peinado, Martınez Parrasa &

Bartolome 1986 corr. Peinado et al. 1989

Artemision arborescentis Gehu & Biondi in Gehu

et al. 1986

Hammado articulatae-Atriplicion glaucae Rivas

Goday & Rivas-Martınez ex Rigual 1972 corr.

Alcaraz et al. 1991

Syn.: Haloxilo-Atriplicion Rivas Goday & Rivas-

Martınez 1963 n.n.

Haloxilo-Atriplicion Rivas Goday & Rivas-Martınez

ex Rigual 1972

Atriplicion glaucae Folch 1981 n.n.

Atriplicenion glaucae Peinado, Martınez Parrasa &

Bartolome 1986

Medicagini citrinae-Lavaterion arboreae O.Bolos,

Folch & Vigo in O. Bolos & Vigo 1984

Lyceo europaei-Ipomoeion purpureae O.Bolos 1988

HAMMADO SCOPARIAE-ANABASIETALIA ARTICULATAE

Brullo & Furnari 1996

Limonion tubiflori Brullo & Furnari 1996

Thymelaeion hirsutae Tadros & Atta 1958

CHENOLEOIDETALIA TOMENTOSAE Sunding 1972

Chenoleoideion tomentosae Sunding 1972

HELICHRYSO-SANTOLINETALIA SQUARROSAE Peinado &

Martinez Parras 1984

Artemisio glutinosae-Santolinion rosmarinifoliae

Costa 1975

Santolinion pectinato-canescentis Peinado & Marti-

nez Parras 1984

FORSSKAOLEO ANGUSTIFOLIAE-RUMICETALIA LUNARIAE

Rivas-Martınez et al. 1993

Launaeo arborescentis-Schizogynion sericeae Rivas-

Martınez et al. 1993

Artemision thusculae-Rumicion lunariae Rivas-Mar-

tınez et al. 1993

Argyranthemo succulenti-Calendulion maderensis

Capelo et al. 2000

NICOTIANO GLAUCAE-RICINETALIA COMMUNIS Rivas-

Martınez, Fernandez-Gonzalez & Loidi 1999

Nicotiano glaucae-Ricinion communis Rivas-Martı-

nez, Fernandez-Gonzalez & Loidi 1999

Appendix 2. Syntaxonomical scheme of the

surveyed associations

PEGANO-SALSOLETEA Br.-Bl & O.Bolos 1958

Salsolo vermiculatae-Peganetalia harmalae Br.-Bl. &

O. Bolos 1954

Salsolo oppositifoliae-Suaedion MOLLIS Rigual

1972

Asparago albi-Salsoletum oppositifoliae ass. nova

Atriplici halimi-Halimionietum portulacoidis ass.

nova

Atriplici halimi-Polygonetum tenoreani Biondi, Bal-

lelli & Taffetani 1992

Camphorosmo monspeliacae-Atriplicetum halimi

Biondi, Ballelli & Taffetani 1992

Capparido siculae-Salsoletum oppositifoliae ass.

nova

Halimiono portulacoidis-Salsoletum oppositifoliae

Brullo, Guarino & Ronsisvalle 2000

Limonio calcarae-Suaedetum verae ass. nova

Salsoletum agrigentinae Brullo, Guglielmo & Pavone

1985

Limonio catanzaroi Salsoletum oppositifoliae Brullo,

Guglielmo & Pavone 1985 nom. invers. propos.

Limonio opulenti-Salsoletum oppositifoliae Brullo,

Grillo & Scalia 1980 nom. invers. propos.

Salsolo oppositifoliae-Suaedetum pelagicae Bartolo

et al. 1990

Suaedo verae-Atriplicetum halimi Biondi 1988

Suaedo verae-Limoniastretum monopetali Bartolo

et al. 1990


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Thapsio pelagicae-Salsoletum oppositifoliae ass. nova

Asparago stipularis-Salsoletum vermiculatae ass. nova

a) typicum

b) artemisietosum arborescentis (Biondi & Mossa

1992) comb. nova

ARTEMISION ARBORESCENTIS Gehu & Biondi in Gehu

et al. 1986

Atriplici halimi-Artemisietum arborescentis

Biondi 1988

a) salsoletosum oppositifoliae subass. nova

b) halimionetosum portulacoidis subass. nova

Coronillo valentinae-Artemisietum arborescentis ass.

nova

Limonio optimae-Salsoletum oppositifoliae ass. nova

Lycio europaei-Artemisietum arborescentis ass. nova

Lycio intricati-Salsoletum oppositifoliae ass. nova

Medicagini arboreae-Salsoletum oppositifoliae ass.

nova

Figure 2. Distribution map of some Pegano-Salsoletea associations occurring in Italy, Sardinia, and Sicily.

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Figure 3. Distribution map of some Pegano-Salsoletea associations occurring in Italy, and Sicily.


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Figure 5. Distribution map of some Pegano-Salsoletea associations occurring in Sicily.

Figure 4. Distribution map of some Pegano-Salsoletea associations occurring in Calabria and Sicily.

24 S. Brullo et al.

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Tab

leS

1.

Asp

arag

oal

bi-

Sal

sole

tum

op

po

siti

foliae

(rel

.1-3

),C

app

arid

osi

cula

e-S

also

letu

mo

pp

osi

tifo

liae

(rel

.4-6

),H

alim

ion

op

ort

ula

coid

is-S

also

letu

mo

pp

osi

tifo

liae

(rel

.7-9

),L

imo

nio

cata

nza

roi-

Sal

sole

tum

op

po

siti

foliae

,L

imo

nio

calc

arae

-Su

aed

etu

mve

rae

(rel

.13

-15),

Sal

sole

tum

agri

gen

tin

ae(r

el.1

6-1

8),

Su

aed

ove

rae-

Lim

on

iast

retu

mm

on

op

etal

i(r

el.1

9-2

1),

Atr

iplici

hal

imi-

Hal

imio

nie

tum

po

rtu

laco

idis

(rel

.22

-24

),C

amp

ho

rosm

om

on

spel

iaca

e-A

trip

lice

tum

hal

imi

(rel

.25

-27

),A

trip

lici

hal

imi-

Po

lygo

net

um

ten

ore

ani

(rel

.28

-30

),T

hap

sio

pel

agic

ae-S

also

letu

mo

pp

osi

tifo

liae

(rel

.31

-33

),

Sal

solo

op

posi

tifo

liae

-Su

aed

etu

mp

elag

icae

(rel

.34

-36

),S

uae

do

vera

e-A

trip

lice

tum

hal

imi

(rel

.37

-39

),L

imo

nio

op

ule

nti

-Sal

sole

tum

op

po

siti

foliae

(rel

.40

-42),

Atr

iplici

hal

imi-

Art

emis

ietu

m

arb

ore

scen

tis

typ

us

(rel

.43

-45

),A

trip

lici

hal

imi-

Art

emis

ietu

mar

bo

resc

enti

ssa

lso

leto

sum

op

po

siti

foliae

(rel

.46

-48

),A

trip

lici

hal

imi-

Art

emis

ietu

mar

bo

resc

enti

sh

alim

ion

eto

sum

po

rtu

laco

idis

(rel

.49

-

51

),L

imo

nio

op

tim

ae-S

also

letu

mo

pp

osi

tifo

liae

(rel

.52

-54

),L

ycio

euro

pae

i-A

rtem

isie

tum

arb

ore

scen

tis

(rel

.55

-57

),C

oro

nillo

vale

nti

nae

-Art

emis

ietu

mar

bo

resc

enti

s(r

el.5

8-6

0),

Asp

arag

ost

ipu

lari

s-

Sal

sole

tum

verm

icu

lata

ety

pic

um

(rel

.61

-63),

Asp

arag

ost

ipu

lari

s-S

also

letu

mve

rmic

ula

tae

sued

ieto

sum

(rel

.64

-66

),L

ycio

intr

icat

i-S

also

letu

mo

pp

osi

tifo

liae

(rel

.67

-69

),M

edic

agin

iar

bo

reae

-

Sal

sole

tum

op

po

siti

foliae

(rel

.7

0-7

2).

(con

tinued

)


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Tab

leS

1.

(Con

tinued

).

26 S. Brullo et al.

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