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ilicis class and in the Quercetalia ilicis order, where the calcicolous coenoses (on limestones,
marls, dolornites, etc.) fall into the Fraxino-Quercion ilicis alliance (= Quercion ilicis p.p.),
while those of silicate substrates (on quartzarenites, shales, volcanics, etc.) are included in the
Erico-Quercion ilicis alliance (Brullo, 1984a; Brullo et al., 1977; Brullo & Marcenò, 1985a).

The Fraxino-Quercion ilicis alliance, described for the Italian Peninsula by Biondi,
Casavecchia, & Gigante (2003) as vicariant of the Quercion ilicis alliance (Braun-Blanquet,
1932), comprises, in Sicily, the following associations: - Pistacio lentisci-Quercetum ilicis
(western and southern part of Sicily: Bartolo, Brullo, Minissale, & Spampinato, 1990; Bazan,
llardi, Minissale, & Sciandrello, 2006; Brullo et al., 2009; Brullo & Marcenò, 1983; Brullo &
Marcenò, 1985a; Brullo & Ronsisvalle, 1975; Costanzo & Tomaselli, 1998; Fichera, Furnari,
& Scelsi, 1990; Furnari, 1965; Gianguzzi, Scuderi, & Pasta, 2006; Minissale, Musumarra, &
Sciandrello, 2006; Turrisi, Galletti, & llardi, 2002); - Rhamno alatemi-Quercetum ilicis (on
limestones of north-western Sicily, in the coastal-hilly belt: Brullo et al., 2009; Brullo &
Marcenò, 1985a; Gianguzzi et al., 1996; Gianguzzi & La Mantia, 2004; La Mantia &
Gianguzzi, 1999; Raimondo & Schicchi, 1998); - Doronico-Quercetum ilicis (Hyblean Mts.,
on limestone: Barbagallo, Brullo, & Fagotto, 1979a; Bartolo, Brullo, Minissale, &
Spampinato, 1990; Brullo & Marcenò, 1985a; Brullo, Minissale, & Siracusa, 1996; Costanzo
& Tomaselli, 1998); - Aceri campestris-Quercetum ilicis (on limestones of north-western
Sicily, between 1,000 and 1,500 m a.s.l.: Brullo, 1984a; Brullo & Marcenò, 1985a; Gianguzzi,
llardi, & Raimondo, 1995; Gianguzzi et al., 2001; Gianguzzi, La Mantia, & Rigoglioso, 2000;
Marcenò & Ottonello, 1993; Raimondo, Gianguzzi, & Schicchi, 1994);- Ostryo carpinifoliae-
Quercetum ilicis (Hyblean Mts.: Brullo, Minissale, & Siracusa, 1996; Nebrodi Mts.:
Gianguzzi, 1999a; Sicani Mts. on Mount delle Rose: Gianguzzi et al., 2001).

The Erico-Quercion ilicis alliance, as southern acidophilous vicariant of other types of
holm oak: wood (Brullo et al., 1977; Brullo et al. , 2009; Brullo & Marcenò, 1985a), comprises
the following associations: -Erica arboreae-Quercetum ilicis (Pantelleria Island: Brullo et al.,
1977; Hyblaean Mts.: Brullo & Marcenò, 1985a; Aeolian Islands: Brullo & Furnari, 1990); -
Teucrio siculi-Quercetum ilicis (Nebrodi and Peloritani Mts.; Bartolo, Brullo, Minissale, &
Spampinato, 1990; Brullo & Marcenò, 1985a; Gentile, 1969a), reported on the Etna (Brullo &
Marcenò, 1985a; Gentile, 1969a; Poli, Lo Giudice, & Ferlito, 1978; Poli & Maugeri, 1974),
Peloritani Mts. (Guarino, 1998), Nebrodi Mts. (Bartolo, Brullo, Minissale, & Spampinato,
1990; Brullo & Marcenò, 1985a; Gentile, 1969a; Gianguzzi, 1999a), Madonie Mts. (Bartolo,
Brullo, Minissale, & Spampinato, 1990) and Ficuzza Wood (Gianguzzi & La Mantia, 2004;
Gianguzzi, La Mantia, & Rigoglioso, 2000); - Sorbo graecae-Quercetum ilicis (heights of
Mount Etna: Brullo, Gianguzzi, La Mantia, & Siracusa, 2009); - Geranio versicoloris-
Quercetum ilicis (Madonie Mts.: Maniscalco & Raimondo, 2003).

3. Quercus suber woods (cl. Quercetea ilicis), located in the following areas: a) Tyrrhenian
dorsal (Genisto aristatae-Quercetum suberis subass. typicum and subass. pistacietosum
lentisci); b) hills at Messina (Doronico orientalis-Quercetum suberis); c) South-Central
sector (Stipo bromoidis-Quercetum suberis); d) Hyblean Mts. (Carici serrulatae-Quercetum
suberis)

EUNIS Code: 0 2.1115; Natura 2000 Code: 9330

In Sicily, cork oak: woods are climax communities related to calcarenitic or quartzarenitic
loose soils, distributed among the thermo- and the mesomediterranean climatic belts (sub-
hurnid ombrotype), absent in the smaller circum-Sicilian islands. They fall into the Quercetea
ilicis class, Quercetalia ilicis order and Erico-Quercion ilicis alliance (Brullo, 1984a;