Maurizio Maniscalco & Francesco M. Raimondo

Ecology and optimal and heterotopical distribution of Ilex aquifolium (Aquifoliaceae) in

Abstract

Mani scalco, M. & Raimondo, F. M.: Ecology and opti mal and heterotopical distribution of I1ex aquifolium (Aqllifoliaceae) in Sicil y. - Bocconea. 16(2): 905-9 17. 2003. - ISSN 1120-4060.

In Sicity thc prcscncc of lIex aquifo/ium L.. a Tertiary rclict. is nowadays limited IO moumainous areas under oceanic climalie conditions. hs occurrence is alsa subjecl la the substratum. In thc region, ho ll y is usually found in bcech-woods and in the adjaccnt dccidous mesophilous woods; someti mes il QCc urs in yew or holm- formalians, or in ripariao monla inous phytocoenoscs. The ecology of this in thc main Siciliao forma tions has comparativcly been surveyed under the phylosoeiological, bioclimalologieal and lilhologieal aspccls. This sludy has allowed IO di stinguish some hClcrolopieal ho ll y biotopcs rrom the typieal ones. Furthermore, Ihe dislribulion or the spccies in Ihe Sicilian terrilory has been updated. Finall y, thc woody vcgctation including has been arranged within the rclcvant known syntaxa and, besides, the mesophilous aspects with Querc /l.~ ilex havc been rererred IO a new association within the Pino-Quercion conges/ae (Quercefalia p ubescentis. Qllerco-Fagetea) alliance, ~amcd Geranio versicoloris-Q/lercel/lm ilicis.

lntroduction

lIex aquifolium is a lauriphyll ous species of tertiary origin and presently distributed in part of Mediterranean and Atlantic Europe till the Black Sea (Webb 1968; Greuter & al. 1984; Ehrendorfer 1992). In the Mediterranean area it is confined to areas under favourable climatic and edaphic conditions. I. aquifolium. together with other species such as Taxus baccala, is considered as a member of late-Tertiary evergreen montane forests of Miocenic type, defined as vegetation ofcoJchic type (Pignatti 1978, 1979). Residual patches of such type of vegetation are today included in decidu ous wood, the best adapted to the Quaternary cli matic conditions. It is defined as a strongly atlanti c species (Bernetti 1985) and requires a hi gh rate of atmospheric humidity, which may partly be replaced by edaphic humidity. Owing to ils autoecology, in Sicily holly mainly occurs on mountains of middle altitude and under both high rainfall rate and misI. Within the Mediterranean region, it is considered a riparial species (Rameau & al. 1989). In Sicily, indeed, some aspects of riparial montane vegetation, partly syntaxonomically defined, can be observed. For the British, Isles Peterken & L10yd (1967) reports l. aquifolium in "New Forest", in combination with Sphagnum sp. and Carex pendula. From the thermic point ofview, Inverson (1944) reports its absence in the areas where the mean temperature of the coldest month is lesser than 906 Maniscalco & Raimondo: Ecology and opti mal and heterotopical. ..

• • • • ~ •

Fig . I . Typical ( ) and heterotopic ( .) distribution of l/ex aquifolium L. in Sicily.

-0,5 cc. In Gennany, far instance, this species, being scarcely cold-resistant, is widespread in the western part and progressively rarefies, till disappearing, in the continental ane, to the east. The fossils found in the former URSS may be referred to more temperate geological periods. In Sicily liex aquifolium has been recorded on the Etna Mount as well as in many other mountains, from the Peloritani Mountains to the mounts surrounding , by Gussane (1827), Virga (1878), Nicotra (1878, 1893), Tornabene (1887, 1890), Lojacono (1891), Strobl ( 1880, 1903) and Zodda ( 1900, 1904). Several contributions in the phytosociologi­ cal field deal with wood formations with I. aquifolium (Hofmann 1960; Pirola & Vecchio 1960; Gentile 1960, 1968, 1969a, b; Ronsisvalle & Signorello 1977; Raimondo 1977, 1980; Poli & al. 1978; Brullo 1984; Di Benedetto & al. 1983; Brullo & Marcenò 1985; Poli & Lo Giudice 1988; Marcenò & Ottone Ilo 1991; Brullo & al. 1996, 1999,200 I; Gianguzzi & al. 1998, 1999; Poli & Puzzola 200 l ; Maniscalco & Cavarretta 2003; Maniscalco 2003). Through palinologic researches carri ed aut 011 the Madonie Mountains its accurrence in the course ofthe last millennia has been ascertained (Bertolani & al. 1984). Although nowadays such species is found on the main mountains in northern Sicily and on the Etna Mount, mainly the Nebrodi and Madonie Mountains are under the opti mal climatic and edaphic conditions to its occurrence (Fig. I). Notably on the Madonie Mountains, hol[y, besides being present in monospecific groups, rises to such monumental sizes (Di Martino 1974) as in few other localities in Europe. In this study further ecologie (namely bioclimatic and edaphic), syntaxonomic and distributive data on holly biotopes in Sicily are provided. Bocconea 16(2) - 2003 907

Materials and methods

With the aim of studying ecology of IIex aq/lijà/ium in Sicily, holly biotopes have co mparatively been surveyed. Besides the releva nt environrnental parameters, a150 the syntaxonomic corre lations concerning different wood types have been surveyed. Aecordingly, a synoptic table with the Sicilian mountains and th e correspondent f. aquifa/ium lo ca li ti es has been provided (Table I). The locality toponyms have been mentioned when the biotopes are circumscribed. The occurrence ofnumerous loca lities in the same mountainous area is nated by "various localities", The relevant vegctation types as well as the lithologic. syntaxonomic and bioclimatic aspects are shown in the same tablc. The originai sy ntaxonomic interpretation s are mark ed by an asterisk. The riparia l formations, already menzioned in Sicil y, are not included in the table but reported in the syntaxonomical scheme. As for the syntaxonomic arrangement, reference is made to the association or the syntaxon of hi gher rank. In clusion in the various syntaxonomic typolog ies has been made on the basis of ph ytosociologic relevès, fo llowing Braun-Blanquet (1964) Olethod. The rel evant classis has also been included marked with "Q- F" for Querco-Fagetea and "Q i" for Quercetea ilicis. Regardin g the formations on the Etna Mt. , phytosociologic relevès have been carri ed out on the eastern slape, being moister th an th e western one. A 5ynta­ xonomical scheme of the various holly wood formati ons in the Isle has been enclosed. The nomenelature of the listed taxa is referred lo Flora d' halia by Pi gnatti ( 1982), excluding the ones afterwards described. Under the edaphic aspect, the geo-Iithologic matrix, from whi ch the substratum of each biotope evolved (Abate & al. 1978, 1988; Bigi & al. 1991; Catalano & al. 1979; Giunta & al. 1992; Lentini & Mezzani 1974; Liguori 1983), has been taken into account together with other edaphic features ascertained in the field. Bioclimatic data have been arranged following Ri vas-Martinez ( 1996) and Rivas­ Martinez & Loidi Arregui (1999), on the basis ofthe th erm o-pluvi ometric dala by Duro & al. ( 1996) and the pluviometric data rrom the weather stations in operation from 1985. The capitai letters "S" and "M" are respectively referred to "supra" and "meso" indicating th e thermotype5 both in the mediterranea n and te mperate bioclimate (e.g. supramediterranean or supratemperate). The "\ow" and "up" terrns refer to the "Iower" and "upper" hori zons. Some bi otopes, included in hi gh alti tude boundaries, are under several bioclimates.

Results

In th e fie\d researches has been confirmed the species occurrence on the Mounts, besides a new biotope recorded in the S. Giorgio wood near (Giammarusa MI., 1064 m a.s. I.), which is at the lowest al titude among the Sicilian biotopes (740 m a.s.I.). Th ese two biotopes, where 1Ie.x aquifolium is respectively included in pubescent-oak and holm-oak woods, have n surveyed and included in known syntaxa (Tab le I). Besides these formations, some mesophilous pubescent-oak woods with holl y on the Madonie and Peloritani Mountains have been surveyed as well as mesophilous sweet chestnut woods with holl y on the Etna MI. As làr as holm-oak woods with 1/ex aquifolium are concerned, a strongly mesophilous '.() o 00

Table l. Synoptic table of Sicilian holly biotopes.

Mour;lAI" O US S\'lnAXONO~n' LocALlTV VI::GI::TA'rtm.: LITIIOLOGY I BIOCLIMATE RELu;r CL\ SSIS S'I'ST,\XA or lowcr arder

A - Punte di CUli *holm·oak wood c laycy-arcnaccolls Qi Teucrio-Quercetum ilicis po/yslichelosum M c S mcdil - low humid Palermo Mountains ~ B - (vudous localitics) holm-oak wood caroonaceous Qi Aceri campestris-Qu('rcetum i/içis helle/)arefOsw/l M c S rncdit - low/up humid '"2 Roc ca Busambra C - Tramontana ho lm--oak wood carbonaccous Qi Aceri (~a",peslris - QuercelU/11 ilicis S mcdii - low humid ~ n Trabia Mounlains D - V. Malafortuna pulx,'sccnt-oak wood claycy-arcnaCCOlls Qi Quercenion dalechampii M mcdit - low sub-hurnid '" O E - (various localilics) bccch-wood carbonaceoU5 Q-F Luzulo siculae-Fagelum S temp - up humi d "Ro F - (various localilies) bcech-wood claycy-a~naccous Q-F Anemono apenniane-FagelUm S Icmp - up humid ~ G - (vanous localilics) !>essile-wk wood cJaycy-arcnaccous Q-F lfici-Querce/um pelraeoe S mcditllcmp - lowfup humid §'" Maduoie I H - Bo;;co, Vican:Uo *holm-Qak wood ç]ilycy-arçnilcco u ~ Q-F Geranio n:r5iW{(Jris-Quercetum ifids S mcdiI - Iow humid O O- *pubcsccnt-Qak wood cJaycY-3rcnaccous Q-F Pino-Quercion cOl/gl's/ile S mcdii - low humid " I - Vicareno ~ L - (v3rious localilics) holm-Qak wood carbonaceous Qi Aceri cumpellris-Querct'lum ilicis M c S mcdii - low/up humid nm O l't1 - S. G iorgio *holm-Qal: wood c layey-arenaceous Qi Teucrio-Querct'llIm ilici$ po{~'slidl('IV$lml M mcdiI - up sub-humid O" {]Q N - (various localilies) b<:ech-wood clayey-arenaccous Q-F "A nentono apennial/e-FagelUm S Icmp - up humid '< 0 - (vari ous localilics) ycw-wood c laycy-arcnaccous Q-F Ilici-Ttnefllnt bacca/a l.' S tcmp - up humid "'"O- Nebrodi ! P - T_Galati yew-wood earbonaceous Q-F Ifià- Taxetruuooccatae mscelOSllln M e S medil - low humid O -O Q - tossa del Lupo MI. *holm-oa!: wood claycy-arcnaccous Q-F Geral/io \'er~'icaluris - Qllerce/llm ilicis S mcdiI - Jowfup hllmid -§ R - (variou, loca1ilics) Illl'key-oak wood claycy-arcnaecous Q-P Arrltellolhem-Quf'r"celam cerridis S meditllemp - low/up humid !'è S - (variou5 Jocalities) b<:ech-wood cJayey-arenaceous Q-F AJlcmono-FugewtII mciiI/elUsI/m S mcditJtclllp - 10w/up humid '"O-" Pelorita ni I T-P. Acqua Bianca *holm-03!: wood melamorphic Q-P Geranio rersk%ris-Querffilllm i1icis S mcdii - up humid :T U - P. Croce. P. Acqua Bianca pub<:sçent-oak wood mcramorphic Q-F Pino-QuercjOIl cOJlges/ae S mcdii - up humid 1t ~ O V - (various loelililics) b<:ech-wood vo1canic Q-F Rubo-Page/um; tpipaClidQ-Fagetum S lemp - IIp hllmid <5 [Ina -O Z - (various localities) " sweel chestnui wood vo1canic Q-F Pino-Quereioll cOl/ges/tlc S mcdii - up hllmid o" ~ Bocconea 16(2) - 2003 909

Fig. 2. Wood with sessi le oak and holly be longing to the Ilici.Quercelum pelraeae, al "Sempri a" . al 12 10 m a.s.l. on the Madonie mountains. In the foreground the dense shrubby layer of Ilex aquifolium, wh ich is in opti mal light, edaphic and microclimat ic conditions under the lree layer.

fonnation (Table 2, annex in the volume) has been recorded on lh e northern slopes of the Madonie, Nebrodi and Peloritani Mountains, where holl y is widespread reaching generally a covering between 5 and 50%. Such fo rmations are found on surface substrata in the alt i­ tude belt between ca 1000 and 1200 m a. s. i. , with local transgressions, in the mosl suilable areas, up to nearly 900 m a.s.l. In th ese formations the Quercetalia pubescentis group is strongly present with species such as POCI ~y{vico la, Viola a/ba subsp. dehnhardrii, Quercus congesfa, Teucrium sieu/lIm, Asperula laevigata, Fraxinus ornus, Limodorum aborlivum, Clinopodium vulgare subsp. anmdanum, Luzulaforsteri. Tamus communis and Crepis leontodontoides. There is a large number of species Iypical of Querco-Fagetea and namel y of Geranio-Fagion and Fagetaha such as Potentilla micrantha, Daphne laureo la, Aremonia agrimonoides, Galium rotundifolillm, Geranium versicolor, Luzula sieberi subsp. sicula, as well as the same !lex aqllifolillm. Such fonnations also include scattered members of Quercetea ilicis, among th e others Ruscus aculeo/lIs , Asplenium onopteris, Rubia peregrina and Thalictrum calabricum. As for pH , Ihe recorded values in Ihe acidophilous holm-oak and deciduous oak woods are belween 5,4 and 5,6 in the holm-oak wood ofPunte di Cuti (Palermo Mounts); between 5,8 and 6,3 in the pubéscent-oak wood near Pizzo Trigna (Trabia Mounls) ; belween 5,6 and 6 in the holm-oak wood ofGiammarusa MI. ; between 5,6 e 6,1 in the holm-oak wood of Bosco countryside near ; between 5,3 and 5,9 in lhe holm-oak wood of M. Fossa del Lupo (Nebrod i). Besides, 5,9 and between 5,4 and 5,7, respectively in Ihe holm-oak and Querells congesla oak woods al Pizzo Acqua Bianca (Peloritani). The pH ofthe calcico lous 910 Maniscalco & Raimondo: Ecology .nd opti mal .nd heterotopic.1...

Fig. 3. A particolar feature of the holm-oak wood belonging to the Geranio-Querc:ewl1I i1icis association allhe "Fossa del Lupo ML" (Nebrodi mountains), al 1140 m a.s.l. Note thal holl y individuals are c10sely grouped with in the holm-oak formati on. These planls owin g lo the lowlight are typi call y spinning, as shown by thcir thin trunks and upwords developing crowns.

-wood in the M. Mufara area, where the population afthe Madonie Mountains reach­ es the upper bound.ry, is between 7,2 .nd 7,6.

Synecology .nd synt.xonomy

Most wood formations mixed with !/ex aqu {(olium have been referred lo syntaxa already known for Sicily (T.ble I), while some others, which were no! included in th e known associations, have gcnerally beell referred to syntaxa ofhighcr rank. The oak woods mixed with pubescent oak and holly are being defined from the synta­ xonomic point ofview. Notably, the more tennophilous ones on th e Trabia Mountains ha ve been referred to Querceniol1 dalechampii (Erico-QlIercion ilicis, Quercetalia and Querce/ea ilicis), while the more mesophilous ones on the Peloritani and Madonie Mountains to Pino-Quercion congestae (Querce/olia pubescen1is, Querco-Fagetea) (Maniscalco & Cavarretta 2003; Maniscalco 2003). The markedly mesophilous sweet chestnu! woods with holl y on the Etna MI., owing to the flori stic grouping, have been arranged in Pino-QlIercion congestae. The beech-woods with holly surveyed on the Etna Mt., with a poor occurrence of species, have not been included in the two associations known for th e Etna area (Rubo aetnici-FagelUm and Epipactido meridionalis-Fagetum). Bocconea 16(2) - 2003 911

Therefore, the two syntaxa have been reported in Tab le I and in the syntaxonomical scheme (A ppendix B). As far as the bi otope is concerned, the dotted spread holly (Gianguzzi & a l. 1995) is only found in vegetation-of-replacement aspects referable to ca lcicolou s holm-oak woods in cluded in Aceri campestris-Quercetum ilicis. The acidophilous holrn-oak wood with holly at Punte di Cuti (mountains surrounding Palermo), included among the Aceri campeslris-Quercetum ilicis helleboretosum forma­ tions (Marcenò & Ottonello 199 1), is referred, taking into account the group of species as well as the occurrence ofacidophilous elements, to Tcucrio-Quercelum ilicis po/ystichetosum described by Bartolo & al. (1990). The acidophilous holrn-oak wood with holly within S. Giorgio wood (Giammarusa Mt.) has been includ ed in the sa me syntaxon . There is no correspondence between the orophilous and acidophilous holm-oak woods with holly on the Tyrrhenic slope (Fig. 3) and the syntaxa known frorn literature. In comparison with th e ac id ophilous holm-oak woods belonging to Teucrio-Quercetum ilicis described by Gentile (1969) and ernended by (Brullo & Marcenò 1985) and Teucrio­ Quercetum i/icis po/ystichetoswn (Bartol o & al. 1990), sue h holtn-oak formations are markedly I11csophilous, takin g into account both the floristic gro upin g and the bioclimate (Table s 1, 2). Furthermore, flex aqlli(olium plays an important role within these formations. Owing to the ecology and the flori sti c organisation, such holm-oak woods are arranged in a new Pino-Quercion congestae associati on named Geranio versicoloris-Quercelum i/ids asso nav. (Holotype: ril. lO, Tab le 2, annex in the volume). This association, spread along the Si cilian northern mountain chains, can be extended to so uthern ltaly. It is in contact (to the upper boundary) with the sessile-oak wood of the Ilici-Quercetum petraeae on th e Madonie Mountains and with the beech-woods of the Anemono-Fagetum on the Nebrod i Mountains. The Geranio-Quercetwn ilicis can be cons idered as a geographi c vicarious of the orophilous and acidophilous helrn-oak woods with holly ol' the llici-Quercetum ilicis of Corsica by Garnisans ( 1977) arranged in Querco-Fagetea class. They share the bio­ c1imate type as well as a part of mesophilous species (Garn isans 1977, 1999; AA. Vv. 1999). Nevertheless, holm-oak woods with holly in Sicil y are well characteri sed Irom the geographi c point of view, eo mpri sin g a gro up of endemie speeies or with a di stributi on in eluding, besides Sieily, the central-southern Apennine. Among th em th ere are: Melillis albida, Si/ene sicula, Tha/iclrum calabricum, Euphorbia amygdaloides subsp. arbuscu­ la, Symphylum gllssonei, Arrhenatherum nebrodense, Doronicum orientale as well as Geranium versicolor. This last speeies, being markedly mesophilous, is found in the holm-oak woods in the Mado ni e, Nebrodi and Peloritani Mountains ; it is also vicarious of Geranium nodosum in the Corsican holm-oak woods.

Discussion and conclusions

On the basis of th e data compared in Tab le I, the loca liti es on the Madonie Mountains CE , F, Ci, H, l), the Nebrodi Mountains (N, O, Q, R) and the Peloritani Mountains (S, T, U) can be considered as opti mal localities for i1ex aqui(olium. They are under a humid supra­ Med iterranea n or supra-temperate bioclimate and the eorresponding wood formations are referred to the Querco-Fagetea classis. In the Peloritanian lecalities (T, U) such formations are generally deteriorated and reduced. lt has to be noted that the occurrence of 1. aquifolium 912 Mani scalco & Raimondo: Ecology and optimal and heterotopical...

in the calcicolous beech-woods on the Madonie Mountains (E), except when the morphology of the locality is favourable, is generally reduced. Although the biotopes on the Etna MI. (V, Z) are under the sa me bioclimates and re fe rred 10 Querco-Fagelea, they are nol lo be considered optimal owing to the high penneability ofthe soil , not favourab le to the occurrence of holl y. The loca lities on the Palenno Mounts (A, B), Rocca Busambra (C), the Trabia Mounts (D) and one on the Madonie MOllntains (M) can be considered heterotopic. They are to be referrcd to the Querce/ea ilicis classis, even ifsubject lo different bi oclimates. The one on the Trabia Mounts (D) and one of the localities on th e Palermo MOllnts (A) are slIbjeet to edaphic conditions linked to the lithology and morphology of the mountain which locally fàvour the occllrrence and growth of th e holl y individuals. Finall y, the holm -oak woods (L) on the Madonie included in the Quercetea ilicis and th e yew-wood on the Nebrodi Mountains (P) included in the Querco-Fagetea, both on carbonaceous matrix, can be considered of intermediate ecologie conditions. In fact, within the two formation s holly is more abundant in the co lder areas, in the watershed and in th e sectors at the hi ghest altitude. Taking into account altitude, on the northem slopes the species occurs between ca 700 and 1500-1 600 m a.s. 1. In the acidophilous beech-woods on the northern slopes of th e Nebrodi Mountains, between S. Fratello and P.ll a Femmina-M orta , it is widespread between 1200 and 1400 m a.s. l. , while, above this alti tu de, owing to the decrease in the mean temperatures, it gradually becomes scattered tilltotally di sappearing around 1500 m a.s.1. At this altitude, the mean temperature in the coldest month is locall y about O dc. On th e south-fac ing slopes this species can be found at higher altitude. Raimondo (1980) reports the dotted occurrence of I. aqui[olium on th e south-facing Madonie Mountains at ·1830 m a.s. 1. At lower altitude, under more termophilous conditions partly balanced by high rainfall, mi st as well as edaphic and atmospheric humidity, holly is in cluded in phytocoenosis arranged in Quercetea ilicis. Among these fonnations, th e biotope on the Trabia Mounts is noteworth y. In fact, between 9 10 and 970 m a.s.l. , in spite ofthe low rainfall rate (600-700 mm), it includes monospecific groups of ho ll ies which are some hundred square metres wide and comprise individuals rising to 8 m altitude. In such a case, a puli of factors (edaphic humidity subject to the type ofsubstratum evolved from siliceous shale, frequent mi st on the highest part of the mountains and hi gh rate of atmospheric humidity) plays a decisive role for the surviving of the species under extreme climatic conditions. The biotope on Giammarusa MI. (Madonie) shows the highest mean temperature (14,5 0C). The relict formations on the Trabia Mounts and Giammarusa MI., located at about 7 km di stance from the sea, are of great importance not only from the ecologie point ofview but also from the chorologic one, pointing out a di stributive continuity of the species in the north-western portion of the Isle (Fig. I). While ali the other biotopes with are subject to the humid ombro-type, only the two recorded localities are ex posed to the upper meso-Mediterranean termo-type with sub-humid ombro-type (Table I). Morphology, as already mentioned, can strongly affect the growth ofholly which, under favourable microclimatic and edaphic conditions, in the watershed and small valleys, may have habit reaching about 10m altitude. Under these conditions, this can ri se to monumental size or can be found in monospecifi c formations (surel y fa voured by the Bocconea 16(2) - 2003 913

forestry management) extending in hundred square metres or even more. The 1110St note­ worthy example is the already mentioned locality of Piano Pomo (Madonic Mts) but there are also recent records on the Peloritani Mountains (Crisafulli & al. 2002) and Nebrodi Mountains (Schicchi 2003) and also new localities are on the Nebrodi Mountains at Pizzo di Luminaria at 1200 m a.s.1. and on the Madonie MOllntains al P.no Di Farina - v'ne Canna, about 1350 m a.s.l. , and at Gorgo Nero between 1200 and 1400 m. Under the edaphic aspect, this species occurs on humid substrata and its being more subject to acid substrata in Sicily may depend on the edaphic humidily (generally higher in substrata evolved on fiysch than on earbonaceous lithology) rather than on the pH. [n the calcicolous beech-wood al Canna countryside (Madonie Mts), holly, scaltered on the more or less steep slope, becomes abundant in the lower small valleys. As for pH, there are no strong differences within the holm-oak woods and the acidophilous deciduous oak-woods surveyed. As regards distribution, the map in Figure 1 shows that it is all110st consistent and, apart from small gaps depending on orography, stretches from the Madonie to thc Pcloritani Mountains. lIex aqu!/òlium is more or less localised on the Palermo Mounts, Trabia Mounts, Rocca Busambra, Giammarusa ML, and Etna Me where, depending on geological and edaphic reasons (Pignatti 1978), the species occurs scattered. lt is reported exclusively on the eastem slope by Nicotra (1893), in the Vallone S. Giacomo by Poli & al. (1978) who generically consider it as rare in the Etna area. Althollgh holly is otìen evaluated as a specie typical of beech-woods, the greatest phytocoenosis aspects in the Isle are included - on the northern slopes and Illostly under acidophilous conditions - between the lower horizon in the vegetation bclt characterised by beech and in some formations with mesophilous deciduous species (Quercus petraea s.l. and Q. cerri5). [n such formations, to be considered "zonal", l. aquifolium is occasionaJ[y found in large shrubby cover (Fig. 2) and can be part of the wood marginai vegetation dynamically linked to thelll. In Great Britain the sessile-oak forlllations are reported as the ones to whom thc spccies mostly expresses coslancy and is particulary abundant (Peterken & Lloyd 1967).

Acknowledgemcnts This study has been dane within a research project funded by Università degli Studi di Palermo (ex 60%) and with the tinancial support of Assessorato Agricoltura e Foreste of Sicilian Region (LR. 25/93). The Autors are very grateful to Praf. R. Schicchi, Dr. V. \lardi, G. Certa, A. Gambino and Mr. E. Schimmenti of Dipartimento di Scienze Botaniche di Palermo, for the precious help.

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Addresses of the authors: Maurizio Maniscalco* & Francesco Maria Raimondo·"', Università degli Studi di Palermo, Dipart imento di Scienze Botaniche , vi a Archirafi 28, 90123 Palenno, Ita ly. (*)Email: maur.maniscalco@libero. il (**)Email : [email protected]

Appendix A - Related dates ofTable 2 (annex in th c volume).

Locality and date of relevés: reI. 1,2,3, 4,6, Bosco counlryside (Madoni e), 12-6-200l. reI. 5, Bosco countryside (Madonie), 30-3-200 1. reI. 8, 12, 13, Fossa del Lupo MI. (Nebrodi), 27-5-200 l . reI. 9, lO, Fossa del Lupo MI. (Nebrodi), 11-5-2001. reI. Il , Fossa del Lupo MI. (Nebrodi), 29-4-200 l. reI. 14, 15, 16, P. Acqua Bianca (Pelori.ani), 23-6-2001.

Accidental taxa: Aristolochia siclila Tineo + (11, 15); Cardamine hirslIta L. + (4, 6); Dacly/is glomerata L. + (5, 7); Geraniul1I lue/dum L. + ( 11 , 14); Helianthell1/1l11 numll1ulariulII CL.) Mill er + (5 ,13); Paeonia mascli/a (L.) Miller + (7, 12); Pnmel/a vlIlgaris L. + (3, 5); Prunus spinosa L. + (3 , 4); SCllte/laria l'lIbiclll1da Hornem. + ( 1,5); Sedum tenutfo/ium (S. et S.) Strobl + (5, 12); Stellaria gr. media (L.) Vi iI. + (8, 14); A c ino .~· a/pil/lIs (L. ) Moench + (5 ); Agrostis sto/ani/era L. + (7 ); Anthemis arvensi.\' L. subsp. incrassata (Loisel) Nyman + (8); Anthtf.mis trillm!effi AlI. + (7); Arabi.~· collina Ten. + (IO); Aristolochia elusii Lojac. + (15); Asp/enil/m IricilOmanes L. + (15); Calabrosa acquahca (L.) Beauv. + (9); CislllS salvi/o/ius L. + (2); Cralaegus cfr. laciniala Ucria + (6); Cymbalaria muralis Gaenn. Mey et Sch. + (7); Daucus carola L. s.1. + (8); Festuca anmdinacea Schreber + (7); Festuca pratensis Hudson + (2); Ga/ium aparil1e L. + {I 5); Genisla eupani Guss. + (5); Lo/il/m perenne L. + (14); O/'igal1l1l/1 herac/eoticufII L. + (2); OmithogalulII g llssanei Ten. + ( IO); Pieris hieraciodes L. + (7); Po/ypodium cambricum L. + (3); Ranunculus velutinus Ten. + (7); Romu/ea bu/bocodium (L.) Seb. et Mauri + (5); Si/ene laltiolia Poiret + (7); Si/ene vulgaris (Moench) Garcke + (7); Trifolium bivonae Guss. + (13); Vicia vii/osa Roth subsp. varia (Host) Corb. + (3); Viola fl irta L. + (7). Bocconea 16(2) - 2003 9 17

Appendix B - Syntaxonomical scheme ofSicili an woods in cl uding hol1y.

Qllerco roboris-Fagetea sy/vlIficae 8 r.-BI. & Vlieger in V lieger 1937 • Fugetalia ~}' '' '(ltica e Pawlowski in Pawlowski, Sokolowski & Walli sch 1928 •• Geranio versicolort'ì-Fagiol1 syLva ficae Gentile 1969 Ancmono apenninae-Fagetul11 Brullo 1984 Anemuno apenninae-Fagetllll1 melittetosum albidae (Ubaldi 1995) Brullo, Guarino, Minissale, S iracusa & Spampinato 2001 I/ici-Taxel/lln bacca/C/e Brullo, M in issale, Signorello & Spampinato 1996 !/ici-Taxelllll1 baccatae r/{scelosum aCII/eati Gianguzzi & La Mantia 1999 Ilici-Quercetlllll pelraeae Bru ll o & Marcellò in Bru llo 1984 Arrhenathero nebrodensis-QlIercetum cerridis Brullo, Minissale, Signorcl lo & Spampinato 1996 Lllzulo sic/llae-Fagelul11 Brullo, Guarino, Minissale, Si racusa & Spampin ato 200 1 Rubo aelnici-Fagetllll1 Brullo, Guarino, M inissale, Siracusa & Spampinato 2001 Epipm:lido l1I eridionafis-Fagetlllll Brullo, Guarino, Minissale, Siracusa & Spampinato 2001

• Populetalia a/bae Br.- Bl. ex Tehou 1948 .. POPlllion a/bae Be- BL ex Tehou 1948 Agropyro panormilani-Saficelllm pedicellatae Brullo & Spampinato 1990

•• OSlIllll1do-AII1;OIl g/ufillosae (8r.-8 1. , P. Sil va & Rozeira 1956) Dicrschke & Ri vas­ Martinez 1975 Osmul1do-Salicet/lm pediceflalae Brullo & Spampinato 1990

• Quercetalia pubescelltis Kl ika 1933 •• Pillo-QlIercion congestae Bndlo, Scelsi, Si racusa & Spampinato 1999 Geranio versicoforis-Quercetum ificis ass. nov. community with Querells congesla and Ifex aqutfo/iwl1 (mesophilous and acidophilous forrllalions fac in g thc Tyrrhenian sea) community with Caslanea saliva and lIex aquijofillf/1 (mesophilous formations on thc castcrn slope of Etna Me)

Querl.:etea ilicis Br. -B1. ex A. & O . Bolòs 1950 • Querceta/ia ilicis Br.-Bl. 1936 em. Rivas-Martinez 1975 •• Quercion ilicis Br.-B l. 1936 em. Brullo , Di Martino & Marcenò 1977 Aceri campeslris-Quercetum ifici.~' Brullo 1984 Aceri campesfris-QlIercetuJ11 ilicis helleborelOSl/Il1 siclili Marcenò & O ttone Ilo 199 1

•• Erico-QuercioIJ ilicis Bru llo, Di Martino & Marcenò 1977 ••• Quercenioll dalechampii Brullo 1984 Teuerio siclIli-Quercetum ilicis Gentile 1969 cm. Bmllo & Marcenò 1985 pofyslichetoswl1 acu/eali Bartol0, Brullo, M in issale & Spampinato 1990 community with Quereli.\' eongesla and Ifex aqu!folillfll (termophilous and acidophilous formations on the Trabia Mounts)

Annex: Table 2. Geranio versicoforis-QlIercelllf11 ificis ass. nov.