Taxonomy and ecology of plant communities of Quercus frainetto Ten. (Q-conferta Kit.) forests in Greece

摘要

Quercus frainetto Ten. (Q. conferta Kit.) is the most important Oak species in Greece with a wide distribution from north to south and east to west. It also has a high ecological and economic value. Forests of Q. frainetto grow in the Quercion frainetto alliance. Plant communities of Q. frainetto in Greece are presented in this paper. Two associations (Quercetum frainetto and Huetio-Quercetum frainetto) and one community (Quercus dalechampii-comm.) have been distinguished and described using the Braun-Blanquet method, in seven main sites distributed all over the country. Within Quercetum frainetto ass., three sub-associations have been distinguished: Quercetum frainetto stachyetosum arvensis (including two variants, Campanula rotundifolia and Clinopodium vulgare), Quercetum frainetto castanetosum sativa, and Quercetum frainetto coridothymetosum capitatus. According to the data analyzed, Q. frainetto plant communities have a close correlation to the Mediterranean sub-humid bioclimatic zone, which can be found at elevations between 450 to 900 m and mean annual rainfall of 600-800 mm. The Q. frainetto forests grow in a wide range of soil and geological conditions. They depend on the precipitation, the orientation, and the mean temperature of the coldest month, which results in further taxonomic differentiation.