Perennial rocky grassland of the Italian Peninsula
Description (English)
Unique to base-rich bedrocks in the Italian Peninsula and Sicily, best developed within the submediterranean bioclimatic zone, this grassland is variously dominated by perennial grasses and herbs, or mat formers and sub-shrubs on steeper, rockier ground. Generally species-rich, and sometimes with contingents of annuals and, in disturbed places, geophytes, the habitat sometimes hosts endemic plants. Developed through clearance of broadleaved and mixed forest it is maintained by traditional grazing in a distinctive cultural landscape.
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
| EUNIS habitat type | code R14 |
|---|---|
| Relation to | Annex I habitat types (EU Habitats Directive) |
Legal status
Relation to other habitat types mentioned in legal instruments
Vegetation types
Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)
Not availableIndicator species
Flowering Plants
Phleum ambiguum
Flowering Plants
Erysimum pseudorhaeticum
Flowering Plants
Festuca circummediterranea
Flowering Plants
Festuca inops
Flowering Plants
Koeleria lobata
Flowering Plants
Crepis lacera
Flowering Plants
Thymus longicaulis
Flowering Plants
Potentilla rigoana
Flowering Plants
Festuca robustifolia
Flowering Plants
Centaurea ambigua
Flowering Plants
Galium lucidum
Flowering Plants
Sedum rupestre
Flowering Plants
Brachypodium genuense
Flowering Plants
Petrorhagia saxifraga
Flowering Plants
Asperula purpurea
Diagnostic species occur concentrated in the habitat in question, but are absent or rare in other habitats. They are good positive indicators of the habitat, but they do not need to occur in every location of the habitat.
| Species scientific name | English common name | Species group |
|---|---|---|
| Phleum ambiguum | Flowering Plants | |
| Erysimum pseudorhaeticum | Flowering Plants | |
| Festuca circummediterranea | Flowering Plants | |
| Festuca inops | Flowering Plants | |
| Koeleria lobata | Flowering Plants | |
| Crepis lacera | Flowering Plants | |
| Thymus longicaulis | Flowering Plants | |
| Potentilla rigoana | Flowering Plants | |
| Festuca robustifolia | Flowering Plants | |
| Centaurea ambigua | Flowering Plants | |
| Galium lucidum | Flowering Plants | |
| Sedum rupestre | Flowering Plants | |
| Brachypodium genuense | Flowering Plants | |
| Petrorhagia saxifraga | Flowering Plants | |
| Asperula purpurea | Flowering Plants |
Flowering Plants
Thymus longicaulis
Flowering Plants
Anthyllis vulneraria
Flowering Plants
Festuca circummediterranea
Flowering Plants
Phleum ambiguum
Flowering Plants
Pilosella officinarum
Flowering Plants
Koeleria lobata
Flowering Plants
Galium lucidum
Flowering Plants
Sanguisorba minor
Flowering Plants
Teucrium chamaedrys
Flowering Plants
Sedum rupestre
Flowering Plants
Petrorhagia saxifraga
Flowering Plants
Dianthus sylvestris
Flowering Plants
Helichrysum italicum
Flowering Plants
Cerastium arvense
Flowering Plants
Erysimum pseudorhaeticum
Flowering Plants
Allium sphaerocephalon
Flowering Plants
Helianthemum nummularium
Constant species occur frequently in the habitat, but they may include generalist species that are also frequent in other habitats.
| Species scientific name | English common name | Species group |
|---|---|---|
| Thymus longicaulis | Flowering Plants | |
| Anthyllis vulneraria | Flowering Plants | |
| Festuca circummediterranea | Flowering Plants | |
| Phleum ambiguum | Flowering Plants | |
| Pilosella officinarum | Flowering Plants | |
| Koeleria lobata | Flowering Plants | |
| Galium lucidum | Flowering Plants | |
| Sanguisorba minor | Flowering Plants | |
| Teucrium chamaedrys | Flowering Plants | |
| Sedum rupestre | Flowering Plants | |
| Petrorhagia saxifraga | Flowering Plants | |
| Dianthus sylvestris | Flowering Plants | |
| Helichrysum italicum | Flowering Plants | |
| Cerastium arvense | Flowering Plants | |
| Erysimum pseudorhaeticum | Flowering Plants | |
| Allium sphaerocephalon | Flowering Plants | |
| Helianthemum nummularium | Flowering Plants |
Flowering Plants
Festuca circummediterranea
Flowering Plants
Brachypodium genuense
Dominant species are those that often reach high cover in the habitat, thus determining the habitat physiognomy.
| Species scientific name | English common name | Species group |
|---|---|---|
| Festuca circummediterranea | Flowering Plants | |
| Brachypodium genuense | Flowering Plants |
Other classifications
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) | E1.1 | Inland sand and rock with open vegetation | narrower |
| European Red List of Habitats | E1.1e | Perennial rocky grassland of the Italian Peninsula | same |
History
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | E1.1 | Inland sand and rock with open vegetation | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | E1.1 | Open thermophile pioneer vegetation of sandy or detritic ground | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | E1.1 | Open thermophile pioneer vegetation of sandy or detritic ground | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | E1.1 | Open thermophile pioneer vegetation of sandy or detritic ground | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 | E1.1 | Open thermophile grasslands of sandy or detritic ground | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | E1.3 | Open thermophile grasslands of sandy or detritic ground | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 | 34.1 | Middle European pioneer swards | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 | 34.1 | Middle European pioneer swards | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 | 34.1 | same | ||
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 | 34.1 | same | ||
| CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991 | 34.1 | same | ||
| CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989 | 34.1 | same |
