Division of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb
Abstract
We present plant communities in which two endemic taxa of the Apennine mountain chain, Adonis distorta Ten. and Trifolium noricum Wulfen subsp. praetutianum (Savi) Arcang are distributed. Although these taxa occur sporadically in some other Apennine massifs, it is only in the Majella mountain range where these species are physiognomically dominant. Trifolium noricum subsp praetutianum behaves as a differential element in Helianthemo-Festucetum italicae, where it characterizes a new edapho-mesophilous subassociation named Helianthemo alpestris-Festucetum italicae trifolietosum praetutiani. Adonis distorta is linked to specific geo-morphotypes characterised by an alternation of strips of detritus and fine soil particles as well as to distinguishable communities described in this paper as a new association named Ranunculo seguierii-Adonidetum
distortae
