Page 14 - escursioni_A

Itineraries
As for the litho-halophilous chasmophitic communities, the class
CRITHMO-STATICETEA is locally represented by very well preser-
ved communities referred to Limonietum bocconei (endemic to NW
Sicily and Egadi Islands), Limonietum tenuiculi and Senecioni bicolo-
ris-Helichrysetum messerii (both endemic to Marettimo) on the rocky
shores subject to marine salt-spray, and by Hyoseridetum taurinae on
the rocky cliffs near the coast.
The rare (and often degraded) spots of halo-nitrophilous annual
vegetation of the coastal strandlines (CAKILETEA MARITIMAE)
found on Egadi islands may be referred to the associations Salsolo
kali-Euphorbietum paraliae and Salsolo kali-Cakiletum maritimae (EU-
PHORBION PEPLIS). Favignana also hosts some spots of grey dune
vegetation (Sporoboletum arenarii, AMMOPHILETEA).
The halo-hygrophilous hemicryptophitic community Inulo crithmoi-
dis-Juncetum maritimi (JUNCETEA MARITIMI) surrounds the brackish
swamps of Favignana. This habitat also hosts Ruppietum drepanensis (RUP-
PIETEA) and several plant communites belonging to THERO-SALICOR-
NIETEA (Suaedetum spicatae, Salsoletum sodae and Cressetum creticae).
Nuclei of halo-hygrophylous chenopod scrub (SALICORNIETEA
FRUTICOSAE) occur along the coasts of Favignana and Marettimo
exposed to intense marine salt-spray (Agropyro scirpei-Inuletum crith-
moidis, INULION CRITHMOIDIS). To the same class should be ascri-
bed the low-growing scrub with Limonium aegusae at Favignana and
several pure stands of Suaeda vera and/or Arthrocnemum glaucum oc-
curring on some satellite islets of Favignana and Levanzo, where this
plants are able colonize the nutrient-rich and disturbed nesting sites
of the yellow-legged seagull (Larus michahellis) due to their tolerance
to high nitrate and phosphate soil content.
Vegetation of cliffs, walls and screes
Local rocky habitats cover a very wide surface and burst with ri-
chness of endemic species and species assemblages.
Several moss- and fern-rich communities linked to the humid and
dripping cliffs (ADIANTETEA: Adiantum capillus-veneris and Asple-
nium sagittatum) are scattered in the territory: a very good example
occurs in the picturesque rock blocks labyrinth of Firriato, other spots
occur in the rock crevices of Marettimo, and in the natural caves of
Zingaro reserve, Levanzo and Favignana.

63