Sabulicolous therophytic plant communities in the Mediterranean Region:: a proposal of phytosociological synthesis

Therophytic non nitrophilous communities growing on deep inland sandy soils and coastal dunes of the Mediterranean Region have been studied. We have summarised the current status of this type of vegetation, analysing the variability of described syntaxa, based on their floristic composition and geographic distribution. All available releves were arranged in a synthetic table and subjected to a correspondence analysis (DCA). Two orders (Malcolmietalia and Cutandietalia maritimae), 8 alliances and 52 associations were distinguished. A typological classification of these communities with ecological and biogeographical diagnoses is given.