Shrubland and garrigue vegetation in the "Gravine" gorges (Apulia region, south-eastern Italy)

In the present paper, a phytosociological study on the shrublands and garrigues of the "Murgia of Gravine" (SE-Italy) is presented The "gravine" are deep subvertical gorges cutting the karst topographic plateau of Murgia subregion As far as shrublands are concerned the following communities were identified Helictotrico convoluti-Pistacietum lentisci, Presto majoris-Pistacietum lentisci Phillyreo latifoliae-Calicotometum infestae, Juniperetum turbinato-macrocarpae and Cyclamino repandi-Paliuretum spinae-christi On the other hand, the garrigues vegetation includes the nanophanerophytic communities dominated by Cistus sp pl and the chamaephytic microgarrigues characterised by the constant occurrence of Thymus capitatus The new sub-alliance Coridothymo-Helianthemenion John belonging to Cisto-Ericion alliance is here proposed