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32. Olive groves sometimes nùxed with other dry crops (cl. Stellarietea mediae: ali.
Fumarion wirtgenii-agrariae, Diplotaxion erucoidis, Chenopodion botryos, Echio-
Galactition tomentosae, Fedio-Convolvulion, etc.)

EUNIS Codes: G2.91, Gl.D3, 11.3

The rural economy and the agriculturallandscape of Sicily are also characterized by the Olive
cultivation (Figure S11c), whose plantations sometimes have a peculiar historical identity,
with very old plants irregularly located along serni-abandoned small farms, where they also
play an important role to prevent soil erosion. This is the case of the Tyrrhenian hillsides,
where they go from the Palermo area to the Madonie Mts., as well as from the Nebrodi Mts.
up to the Peloritani Mts. Other nuclei are located in the foothills of Etna, in the Hyblean
Plateau and in the southern coastal belt up to the Trapani area, with other nuclei also in the
inlands, such as on the Sicani Mts.

In addition to the Olive (Olea europaea var. europaea), other tree species are grown in dry,
such as: - the Almond (Prunus dulcis), present in pure or rnixed cultivation within the
landscape of the "Gessoso-Solfifera" Formation, among the Agrigento, Caltanissetta and
Enna areas; - the Pistachio (Pistacia vera), typical of the western slope of Etna, in particular
in Bronte and Adrano areas; - the Carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua), with traditional plantations
characterizing the landscape of the Hyblean Plateau; - the manna Ashes (Fraxinus ornus and
F. angustifolia), now con:fined to the Castelbuono and Pollina territories on the Madonie Mts.

Phytocoenotic aspects weeding these crops are ascribed to the Stellarietea mediae class
(orders Soiano nigri-Polygonetalia convolvuli, Chenopodietalia muralis and Thero-
Brometalia), with severa! coenoses referred to the Chenopodion botryos (Brullo & Marcenò,
1980), Fumarion wirtgenii-agrariae (Brullo & Marcenò, 1980, l985b; Scuderi, 2006) and
Fedio-Convolvulion cupaniani alliances (Brullo, 1982, 1983; Brullo, Fagotto, Lo Cicero, &
Piccione, 1980; Brullo & Spampinato, 1986; D' Amico, 2009; Ferro, 1980; Maugeri, 1975;
Scuderi, 2006). Other vegetation aspects are ascribed to the Galio aparines-Urticetea
dioicae class, Galio aparines-Alliarietalia petiolatae order, Allion triquetri alliance (Brullo &
Marcenò, 1985b; Gianguzzi, 1999b, c; Gianguzzi & La Mantia, 2004; Guarino, 1998).

33. Hazel groves within the climacic domain of mesophilous woods of the classes Quercetea
ilicis and Querco-Fagetea

EUNIS Code: Gl.D

Hazel (Corylus avellana) cultivation is widespread on the Tyrrhenian slopes of the Nebrodi
(Figure S11e) and the Peloritani Mts., and in the north-eastern part of Etna; moreover, a small
group is located in the Madonie area in the Polizzi Generosa countryside. Hazel groves are
located in the mesomediterranean belt (subhurnid-humid ombrotype), on deep soils evolved
from flysch, volcanics, etc. Until the last two decades of the last century they were one of the
most profitable tree-crops; currently they are in evident decline, although the plantations
always maintain their naturalistic-environmental value, also playing an important role in the
hydrogeological defense of marginai and steep areas. Phytosociological studies were carried
out for the aspects at Polizzi Generosa (Di Martino, Marcenò, & Raimondo, 1963) and
Messina (Gianguzzi, Venturella, & Raimondo, 1990), however without attaining specific
plant associations. The underbrush is characterized by a rich presence of acidophilous species
typical of wood communities attributable to the Quercetalia ilicis (class Quercetea ilicis) and
Quercetalia pubescenti-petraeae orders (class Querco-Fagetea), as a function of the climatic
belt in which Hazel plantations fall.