Page 18 - GainguzziPaniniCusimano

Ampelodesmos mauritanicus grasslands are quite common throughout Sicily (Trapani Mts.,
Palermo area, Sicani Mts., Nebrodi Mts. , Peloritani Mts., Erean Mts., Hyblean Mts., Southern
Sicily, etc.), where they represent replacement aspects of both acidophilus and basiphilous
wood communities (class Quercetea ilicis), between the thermo- and mesomediterranean
bioclimatic belts (subhumid ombrotype); they are also present in Marettimo and Pantelleria
islands, although not on a great extension. These grasslands fall within the Lygeo-Stipetea
class, Hyparrhenietalia order and Avenulo-Ampelodesmion mauritanici alliance (Brullo et al.,
2010; Brullo, Scelsi, & Spampinato, 2001; D'Amico & Gianguzzi, 2007; Minissale, 1995),
with several associations described.

16. Mesophilous and sub-hygrophilous grasslands of the sub-mountain and mountain belts
[cl. Festuco valesiacae-Brometea erecti, Molinio-Arrhenatheretea] in the climacic domain
of wood communities with mediterranean species (cl. Quercetea ilicis), deciduous species
(cl. Querco roboris-Fagetea sylvaticae) and orophilous conifers (cl. Junipero sabinae-
Pinetea sylvestris)

EUNIS Codes: El.511, El.55, E1.8, E5.22; Natura 2000 Code: 62AO, 6220*

Mesophilous grasslands mainly ascribed to the Molinio-Arrhenatheretea and Festuco-
Brometea classes - sometimes also including orophilous aspects of the Cisto-Lavanduletea
class - are spread in submontain and mountain areas of Sicily, between the meso- and
supramediterranean bioclimatic belts (Brullo, Scelsi, & Spampinato, 2001). In particular,
some aspects of the Molinio-Arrhenatheretea class (Cirsietalia vallis-demonis,
Plantaginetalia majoris and Holoschoenetalia vulgaris orders) bave been reported for the
Madonie Mts. (Brullo, 1984a; Raimondo, 1980), the Nebrodi Mts. (Brullo & Grillo, 1978;
Gianguzzi, 1999a), the Peloritani Mts. (Guarino, 1998), the Palermo area, the Sicani Mts.
(Gianguzzi & La Mantia, 2004), the Hyblean Mts. (Brullo, Grillo, & Terrasi, 1976a, b), etc.
The Rumici-Astragaletalia siculi order (Brullo, 1984a; Brullo et al., 2005; Brullo, Scelsi, &
Spampinato, 2001; Pignatti et al., 1980) includes other orophilous coenoses, dominated by
hemicryptophytes and small pulvinate shrubs, located in cacuminal areas on the most
important elevations in Sicily. On the Etna they can be found also above the altitudinal limit
of the wood, characterizing peculiar primary aspects with a pioneer character.

17. Dwarf woods of xeric river terraces, coastal and sometimes inland, with: a) Tamarix sp.
pl. (cl. Nerio-Tamaricetea, ali. Tamaricion africanae); b) Nerium oleander (all. Rubo-Nerion
oleandri)

EUNIS Code: F9.311 , F9.3131 ; Natura 2000 Code: 92DO

The fmal stretches of torrents and streams - located between the infra- and
thermomeditearranean belts, usually dry in summer - are characterised by a reduced
vegetation coverage, also due to the periodic reshape of the riverbed. In the highest part of
their floodplain, they host xerophilous riparian thickets, more or less sparse, characterised by
species of Tamarix (T. africana, T. gallica, etc) and/or by Nerium oleander (Figure S9a).
These coenoses are framed within the class Nerio-Tamaricetea [orders Tamaricetalia
africanae (alliance Tamaricion africanae) and Nerio oleandri-Viticetalia agni-casti (alliance
Rubo-Nerion oleandri)] and include the following associations: - Tamaricetum gallicae,
frequently present in the streams of the southem part of Sicily (Platani, Salso and Gela rivers,
etc.) and in the retrodunal brackish plains (Brullo & Spampinato, 1990); - Tamaricetum
africano-arboreae, reported for the lacustrine shores of the Biviere di Gela Lake (Brullo &