<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The forests of the Tolfa-Ceriti mountains (Latium, central Italy) were investigated through a phytosociological approach. 249 relevés were performed and treated with multivariate analysis. 13 woodland communities were identified, of which 7 belong to <italic>Quercetalia pubescenti-petraeae</italic>, 1 to <italic>Fagetalia sylvaticae</italic>, 1 to <italic>Populetalia</italic> and 4 to <italic>Quercetalia ilicis</italic>. The thermophilous Turkey oak-forests occurring on the trachytic hills of the Ceriti Mountains and on the flysch substrates of the Tolfa Mountains were included in <italic>Rubio peregrinae-Quercetum cerridis</italic> ass. nova. <italic>Quercus cerris</italic> and <italic>Fraxinus angustifolia</italic> subsp. <italic>oxycarpa</italic> woodland communities of the footslopes have been ascribed to <italic>Fraxino oxycarpae-Quercetum cerridis</italic>, while the widespread mesophilus Turkey oak forests have been ascribed to <italic>Melico-Quercetum cerridis. Cephalantero longifoliae-Quercetum cerridis</italic> has been restricted to acid and oligotrophic soils. <italic>Quercus petraea</italic> woodlands, occurring on trachytic substrates have been described as a new association named <italic>Carici olbiensis-Quercetum petraeae</italic> ass. nova. All these mixed oak woods have been included in the alliance <italic>Crataego laevigatae-Quercion cerridis</italic> Arrigoni 1997. The nomenclatural problems concerning the prior name <italic>Teucrio siculi-Quercion cerridis</italic> Ubaldi 1988 are also discussed. The beech forests of the higher altitudes have been included in <italic>Fraxino orni-Fagetum sylvaticae</italic>, while the <italic>Alnus glutinosa</italic> ravine woodlands have been described as belonging to the new association <italic>Polysticho setiferi-Alnetum glutinosae</italic>. Secondary communities of <italic>Acer monspessulanum</italic> and <italic>Acer campestre</italic> developed on flysch substrates, and of <italic>Erica arborea</italic> and <italic>Arbutus unedo</italic> (<italic>Erico-Arbutetum unedonis</italic>) developed on trachytic substrates, have also been identified. Finally two types of <italic>Quercus ilex</italic> wood have been identified: <italic>Cyclamino repandi-Quercetum ilicis</italic>, on sandstones, and the new association <italic>Arbuto unedonis-Quercetum ilicis</italic> ass. nova on volcanic soils. This latter community can be considered as a coenological and geographical vicariant in central Italy of the sicilian <italic>Erico-Quercetum ilicis</italic>.</p></abstract>

The forests of the Tolfa-Ceriti mountains (Latium, central Italy) were investigated through a phytosociological approach. 249 relevés were performed and treated with multivariate analysis. 13 woodland communities were identified, of which 7 belong to Quercetalia pubescenti-petraeae, 1 to Fagetalia sylvaticae, 1 to Populetalia and 4 to Quercetalia ilicis. The thermophilous Turkey oak-forests occurring on the trachytic hills of the Ceriti Mountains and on the flysch substrates of the Tolfa Mountains were included in Rubio peregrinae-Quercetum cerridis ass. nova. Quercus cerris and Fraxinus angustifolia subsp. oxycarpa woodland communities of the footslopes have been ascribed to Fraxino oxycarpae-Quercetum cerridis, while the widespread mesophilus Turkey oak forests have been ascribed to Melico-Quercetum cerridis. Cephalantero longifoliae-Quercetum cerridis has been restricted to acid and oligotrophic soils. Quercus petraea woodlands, occurring on trachytic substrates have been described as a new association named Carici olbiensis-Quercetum petraeae ass. nova. All these mixed oak woods have been included in the alliance Crataego laevigatae-Quercion cerridis Arrigoni 1997. The nomenclatural problems concerning the prior name Teucrio siculi-Quercion cerridis Ubaldi 1988 are also discussed. The beech forests of the higher altitudes have been included in Fraxino orni-Fagetum sylvaticae, while the Alnus glutinosa ravine woodlands have been described as belonging to the new association Polysticho setiferi-Alnetum glutinosae. Secondary communities of Acer monspessulanum and Acer campestre developed on flysch substrates, and of Erica arborea and Arbutus unedo (Erico-Arbutetum unedonis) developed on trachytic substrates, have also been identified. Finally two types of Quercus ilex wood have been identified: Cyclamino repandi-Quercetum ilicis, on sandstones, and the new association Arbuto unedonis-Quercetum ilicis ass. nova on volcanic soils. This latter community can be considered as a coenological and geographical vicariant in central Italy of the sicilian Erico-Quercetum ilicis.

The Forest Vegetation of the Tolfa-Ceriti Mountains (Northern Latium - Central Italy)

Department I. T. A. C. A., sect. TECA, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Flaminia 70, 00196 Roma

Department of Plant biology, Sapienza University of Rome, P.zzle Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Roma

Hacquetia

The forests of the Tolfa-Ceriti mountains (Latium, central Italy) were investigated through a phytosociological approach. 249 relevés were performed and...

The Forest Vegetation of the Tolfa-Ceriti Mountains (Northern Latium - Central Italy)

Published Online: May 17, 2010

Page range: 91 - 150

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10028-010-0002-2

Keywords
gozdna vegetacija, ICPN, Apeninski polotok, fitocenologija, sintaksonomija

This content is open access.

The Forest Vegetation of the Tolfa-Ceriti Mountains (Northern Latium - Central Italy)

Published Online: May 17, 2010

Page range: 91 - 150

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10028-010-0002-2

Keywordsgozdna vegetacija, ICPN, Apeninski polotok, fitocenologija, sintaksonomija

This content is open access.

Keywords
gozdna vegetacija, ICPN, Apeninski polotok, fitocenologija, sintaksonomija