THE CLASS QUERCO-FAGETEA SYLVATICAE IN SICILY: AN EXAMPLE OF BOREO-TEMPERATE VEGETATION IN THE CENTRAL MEDITERRANEAN REGION

<p>A syntaxonomical revision of the class <em>Querco-Fagetea sylvaticae</em> in Sicily, based on literature data and unpublished relev&eacute;s, is presented. This class groups the mesophilous woods characterized by the dominance of deciduous trees (e.g. <em>Fagus sylvatica</em>, <em>Quercus</em> sp. pl., <em>Acer </em>sp. pl.), and more rarely by conifers (<em>Taxus baccata</em>, <em>Pinus nigra </em>subsp.<em> calabrica</em>), as well as by other broadleaved trees, such as <em>Betula aetnensis</em>, <em>Populus tremula</em>, <em>Castanea sativa</em>. In Sicily, these woody communities are widespread in the northern and north-eastern districts of the island, chiefly on the highest peaks (Madonie, Nebrodi, Peloritani, and Etna). This class is represented in Sicily by two, both floristically and ecologically well differentiated orders: <em>Fagetalia sylvaticae</em>, with the sole alliance <em>Geranio versicoloris-Fagion sylvaticae</em>, and <em>Quercetalia pubescenti-petraeae</em>, with the endemic alliance <em>Pino calabricae-Quercion congestae</em>. On the whole, 22 associations have been recognized within the class <em>Querco-Fagetea </em>and for each of them nomenclature, floristic assessment, ecology, syndinamic relationships, and chorology are examined.