First bryosociological remarks from Puglia region

In the ambit of a large phytosociological survey on the vegetation of the Puglia region, for a more complete knowledge of the territory and comprehensive environmental characterization, the Authors have considered to extend the study to the bryophyte vegetation, reporting here the first results. They are some bryophyte associations, for the first time reported for the Puglia region for which to date no bryosociological data is known. The communities are referred to the phytosociological classes Pleurochaeto squarrosae-Abietinelletea abietinae Marstaller 2002, Barbuletea unguiculatae Mohan 1978 and Ctenietea mollusci v. Hübschmann ex Grgi? 1980. In particular, within the class Pleurochaeto squarrosae-Abietinelletea abietinae the association Pleurochaeto squarrosae-Cheilotheletum chloropi Privitera & Puglisi 1996 was detected. It is a terricolous, meso-xerophilous, photo-sciophilous association characterized by Cheilothela chloropus, an oceanic Mediterranean species occurring with a very high cover value, sometimes tending to form monophytic conenoses. The community was found in the Southern part of the Puglia region, in some areas of the so called "Alto-Salento" and precisely at Ostuni (Costone S. Biagio), Grottaglie (Taranto) and Ravines of Fantiano (Taranto), in correspondence of garrigues characterized by Thymbra capitata referable to the Helianthemo jonii-Thymetum capitati Biondi & Guerra 2008 of the class Cisto cretici-Micromerietea julianae Oberdorfer 1954 ex Horvati? 1958. To date the association Pleurochaeto squarrosae-Cheilotheletum chloropi is known only for Sicily; therefore, it is here reported for the first time from the Italian Peninsula. Weissietum controversae Marstaller 1988 is included in the alliance Grimaldion fragrantis ?marda et Hadàc 1944 of the class Barbuletea unguiculatae. It is a terricolous, photo-sciophilous association, found at Ravines of Riggio (Taranto) in correspondence of garrigues of the Helianthemo jonii-Thymetum capitati and in the coastal area next to island La Chianca (Gargano, Foggia) in correspondence of the halotolerant garrigues of the Agropyro-Helichrysetum italici Bartolo, Brullo & Signorello 1989 of the class Helichryso-Crucianelletea maritimae (Sissingh 1974) Géhu, Rivas-Martínez & Tüxen in Géhu 1975 em. Biondi & Géhu in Géhu & Biondi 1994. Known only for Sicily Weissietum controversae, as well as Pleurochaeto squarrosae-Cheilotheletum chloropi, is signaled for the first from the Italian Peninsula. Finally, Encalypto streptocarpae-Fissidentetum cristati Neumayr 1971, referred to the class Ctenidietea mollusci, is reported. It is a chasmophytic and exochomophytic, mesophytic, sciophytic association, found on Mt. S. Angelo (Gargano, Foggia) in correspondence of garrigues characterized by Thymbra capitata and Rosmarinus officinalis of the class Cisto cretici-Micromerietea julianae. Encalypto streptocarpae-Fissidentetum cristati is already known for Trentino Alto Adige and Sicily. This study is a little contribution to the knowledge of the bryophyte vegetation, unjustly neglected for a long time in Italy, as well as in many other European Countries, despite it provides useful, relevant environmental information.