abstract Contribution to the knowledge of the Pruno-Rubenion ulmifolii sub-alliance in Italy. On the basis of both published and unpublished data, an
overview regarding the sub-alliance Pruno-Rubenion in central Italy is presented in this paper. The unpublished data regards two important
phytosociological associations occurring in the coastal, sub-coastal and sub-apennine areas of the tyrrhenian side of central Italy such as Roso-Rubetum ulmifolii and Lonicero-Rosetum sempervirentis. The Pruno-Rubenion community types seems to be mainly widespread within the thermo and meso-mediterranean bioclimate, while from a syndynamical point of view, these belong to Quercetalia ilicis and termophilous Quercetalia pubescenti petraeae woodlands seral context. In some cases, also, Pruno-Rubenion communities may occur in humid extra-zonal areas enclosed in a bioclimatic context tending to Pistacio-Rhamnetalia potential vegetation. Although, at present, Pruno-Rubenion sub-alliance has never been used in syntaxonomical schemes regarding Prunetalia spinosae vegetation in Italy, actually it is well suited to include several Pruno-Rubion community types described in this territory. Thus, it is possible to hypotize, which in addition to eastern Spain and southern France, the Pruno-Rubenion distribution area could also include large areas of the Iitalian Peninsula, in particular of the tyrrhenian district. A synoptic table composed of the main Pruno-Rubenion associations described in southern Europe seems to confirm this hypothesis. |
