Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Saxifraga depressa and Saxifragetum depressae: an endemic species and association of the western Dolomites (Italy)

Distribution, habitat and syntaxonomy

  • Published:
Vegetatio Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Saxifraga depressa grows only on the summits of eleven siliceous massives in the western Dolomites. It is restricted to the habitat of steep N-faced screes lying above 2000 m. Syntaxonomically, Saxifraga depressa characterizes the association Saxifragetum depressae which is here described for the first time with two subassociations. With respect to the closely allied Oxyrietum digynae, the Saxifragetum depressae colonizes debris richer in fine material. The soil pH in the habitats of the Saxifragetum depressae varies from acid to slightly basic, mainly as a result of lithological differences in the parent rocks. The habitats having a subneutral or basic soil are colonized by a well-defined subassociation of the Saxifragetum depressae, which is differentiated by some basiphilous species.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bertoloni, A. 1839. Flora Italica. Vol. IV. Florence.

  • Braun-Blanquet, J. 1964. Pflanzensoziologie. Springer, Vienna, 865 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dalla Torre, K. W. & Sarnthein, L. G. 1909. Die Farn- und Blütenpflanzen von Tirol, Vorarlberg und Liechtenstein. Vol. VI, p. II. Innsbruck.

  • Facchini, F. 1855. Flora Tiroliae Cisalpinae. Innsbruck.

  • Handel-Mazzetti, H. 1904. Zweiter Beitrag zur Gefäßpflanzenflora von Tirol. Österr. Bot. Zeitschr. 54: 216–217, 237–239.

    Google Scholar 

  • Handel-Mazzetti, H. 1905. Dritter Beitrag zur Gefäßpflanzenflora von Tirol. Österr. Bot. Zeitschr. 55: 69–72.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leonardi, P. 1967. Le Dolomiti. Geologia dei Monti tra Isarco e Piave. Rovereto, 2 vols, 1019 pp.

  • Melchior, H. 1935. Zur Ökologie und Verbreitungsgeschichte der Saxifraga depressa. Feddes Rep. Beih. 81: 172–195.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oberdorfer, E. 1983. Pflanzensoziologische Exkursionsflora. Ulmer, Stuttgart, 1051 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Orlóci, L. 1978. Multivariate analysis in vegetation research. Junk, The Hague, 451 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pignatti, S. 1982. Flora d'Italia. Edagricole, Bologna. 3 vols, 2302 pp.

  • Pitschmann, H. & Reisigl, H., 1957. Endemische Blütenpflanzen der Südtiroler Dolomiten. Veröff. Museum Ferdinandeum Innsbruck 37: 5–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sternberg, K. 1810. Revisio Saxifragarum iconibus illustrata. Wien.

  • van der Maarel, E. 1979. Transformation of cover-abundance values in phytosociology and its effects on community similarity. Vegetatio 39: 97–144.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vierhapper, F. & Handel-Mazzetti H. 1905. Exkursion in die Ostalpen. Führer zu wissenschaftlichen Exkursionen des II intern. Kongresses Wien. Wien.

  • Wallossek, nC. 1990. Vegetationskundlich-ökologische Untersuchungen in der alpinen Stufe am SW-Rand der Dolomiten (Prov. Bozen und Trient). Diss. Bot. 154. Cramer, Berlin-Stuttgart.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Padua, Via Gradenigo 6, I 35131, Padua, Italy

    R. Gerdol

Authors
  1. R. Gerdol
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gerdol, R. Saxifraga depressa and Saxifragetum depressae: an endemic species and association of the western Dolomites (Italy). Vegetatio 98, 33–41 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00031635

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00031635

Keywords

Search

Navigation