The Stipa dasyvaginata subsp. apenninicola mountain grasslands of the Velino Massif (central Italy)

The central Italian Stipa mountain grasslands are a fascinating vegetation type of notable biogeographic interest, having remained along the Apennine chain since the last Pleistocene glacial phases. The present study focuses on the phytosociological description of grasslands dominated by Stipa dasyvaginata subsp. apenninicola, an endemic Apennine species. We sampled twenty-five plots in the Velino Massif and surrounding areas facing the northwestern side of the Fucino Basin and performed a cluster analysis combining our dataset with all published relevés of Stipa dasyvaginata subsp. apenninicola dominated communities in the Italian peninsula. The floristic and environmental differences between our dataset and the other communities led us to describe the new association Saponario bellidifoliae-Stipetum apenninicolae (class Helianthemo cani-Seslerietea nitidae), showing a xerophilous ecology. We further analyzed the variance in environmental data within our dataset, as well as its biological and chorological spectra. The peculiar floristic and ecological characteristics of these steppic grasslands highlight the need of preserving this type of vegetation, which may represent a valuable example contributing to the understanding of the formation of the contemporary vegetation landscape.