Coenological and syntaxonomical aspects of some rare and/or endangered species from Gargano (northern Apulia, Italy)

Many rare and/or endangered species from the Gargano promontory are chasmophytes on calcareous rocky slopes (Habitat 8210 according to Directive 92/43/EEC). The conservation strategies of these species depend on the knowledge and the protection of the entire community of which they are part. With this purpose in mind, the communities characterized by the presence of one of the following species are described: Campanula garganica, Lomelosia crenata subsp. dallaportae, Inula verbascifolia and Ephedra nebrodensis. Because of the presence of numerous endemic and biogeografically important species we propose to add the alliance Asperulion garganicae to the Interpretation Manual of European Union Habitats. © Società Italiana di Scienza della Vegetazione.