Abstract
The name Laurisilva was introduced by Humboldt to indicate mixed broadleaved evergreen forests, with a consistent presence of Lauraceae, widespread in the subtropical-humid zone of South America; similar vegetation was successively described for SE-Asia, China, Japan, SW-Pacific Islands and S. Africa; besides, remnants of laurophyllous forests occur in the Canary Islands and Madeira. In the Mediterranean basin only one species of Lauraceae occurs: the endemic Laurus nobilis. The discontinuous distribution of L. nobilis can be interpreted as the relict of an ancient continuous presence from the Iberian Peninsula to Caucasus, fragmented during the salinity crisis of Messinian and the cold phases of Pleistocene. Very few occurrences of L. nobilis in the natural vegetation are recorded along the Tyrrhenian coast of Italy and in Sicily. In the Castelporziano area near Rome L. nobilis is relatively frequent in mixed (evergreen-deciduous) stands: the Lauro-Carpinetum betuli a plant community with peculiar ecological requirements, well distinct from the surrounding oak forests (Quercus cerris, Q. frainetto, Q. ilex). The area of Valle Renaro, where the laurel forest occupies large areas of natural appearance is proposed as a wildlife sanctuary, to preserve a valuable record of this rare relic vegetation. The structure of the forest and the particular microclimatic and edaphic conditions are discussed. The population of L. nobilis in Valle Renaro is witnessing the palaeogeographic vicissitudes of an area that along a millenary history became, as well, an important cultural heritage.
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This peer-reviewed article is a result of the multidisciplinary project coordinated by the "Accademia Nazionale delle Scienze detta dei XL", Rome, Italy, in the area of the Presidential Estate of Castelporziano near Rome.
Appendices
Location of the relevés
Rel. no. 1—Mixed hornbeam-oak forest wth laurel, Renaro gorge, sometimes flooded after heavy rain: after Paolo M. Bianco and Paolo Tescarollo, publ. in Pignatti S. et al., Accad. Naz. Scienze XL, Scritti e Documenti 26: 605 (2001)-Tab. 42 rel. 9.
Rel. no. 2—Mixed hornbeam-oak forest with laurel, slope near Ponte Renaro: after Erika and Sandro Pignatti, 2 5 1995, publ. in Pignatti S. et al., Accad. Naz. Scienze XL, Scritti e Documenti 26: 605 (2001)-Tab. 42 rel. 1.
Rel. no. 3—Dense laurel woodland, Valle Renaro in the upper portion, UTM G50 285086 4626893, rel. by D’Angeli D., De Nicola C., Testi A. 15 3 2011 (unpubl.).
Rel. no. 4—Maple-laurel woodland,Valle Renaro, core area, UTM G50 285425 4626341, rel. by D’Angeli D., De Nicola C., Testi A. 14 12 2009–Tab. B App. Cluster IV, publ. in De Nicola et al., 2013.
Rel. no. 5—Maple-laurel woodland, Valle Renaro, core area, UTM G50 285434 4626419, rel. by D’Angeli D., De Nicola C., Testi A. 14 12 2009–Tab. B App. Cluster IV, publ. in De Nicola et al., 2013.
Rel. no. 6—Hornbeam-laurel forest, UTM G50 285069 4626913, rel. by D’Angeli D., De Nicola C., Testi A.-6 7 2010–Tab. B App. Cluster IV, publ. in De Nicola et al., 2013.
Rel. n. 7—Open woodland in the hilly landscape over Ponte Renaro, published in Lucchese & Pignatti, Accad. Naz. Lincei, Quad. 264: 5-48 (1990).
Species with sporadic presence
Rel. 1—none.
Rel. 2—Salix alba, Cytisus villosus.
Rel. 3—none.
Rel. 4—Cyclamen hederifolium, Populus canescens.
Rel. 5—Cornus sanguinea, Rubus caesius, Conyza albida, Melissa romana, Oenanthe pimpinelloides, Raphanus raphanistrum, Rumex crispus, Tanacetum parthenium, Asphodelus macrocarpus, Calamintha nepeta.
Rel. 6—Quercus cerris pl.,
Rel. 7—Quercus cerris pl., Q. frainetto, Coronilla emerus, Carpinus orientalis.
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Pignatti, E., Pignatti, S., D’Angeli, D. et al. The Laurisilva as a cultural heritage: proposal for the protection of the relict of laurel forest near Ponte Renaro. Rend. Fis. Acc. Lincei 26 (Suppl 3), 643–649 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12210-015-0389-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12210-015-0389-2