Cynosurion cristati grasslands in the central Apennines (Tyrrhenian sector): A phytosociological survey in the Lepini and Prenestini mountains

Cynosurion cristati grasslands are semi-natural habitats that have developed on mesotrophic soils with a good water supply and are found from the basal up to the mountain vegetation belts. Differences between the various communities of these grasslands in the European continent have not been fully investigated; in Italy, there is a lack of knowledge of the mesophilous pastures in the central and southern Apennines. In order to shed light on the Cynosurion hay meadows and grasslands in the central Apennines, we considered phytosociological data from the Lepini and Prenestini mountains (central Italy, Tyrrhenian sector): 58 original releves and a synoptic table containing similar associations throughout the Italian peninsula were analysed using multivariate methods (hierarchical classifications and principal coordinates analysis). Two new associations were distinguished: Hordeum bulbosum meadows, grazed after being mown (Trifolio molinerii-Hordeetum bulbosi), and heavily grazed, unmown pastures with several thorny species (Centaureo calcitrapae-Lolietum perennis). Both these associations have been assigned to Cynosurion cristati, though they differ from the European coenoses owing to the presence of Festuco-Brometea and Helianthemetea guttati species. Further investigations are warranted to clarify the overall syntaxonomical position of the Italian coenoses in relation to the ecological and phytogeographic variations of Cynosurion, which are considered to be related to traditional land use in mountain agricultural systems. Hay meadows, which are important elements of landscape and biodiversity conservation, particularly feel the negative effects of land abandonment and land use change.