The edge communities of Asphodelus macrocarpus subsp. macrocarpus: the different ecological aspects and a new case study in the central Apennines

This article begins with an extended presentation of the logical process that led to the definition of the order Asphodeletalia macrocarpi Biondi & Allegrezza 2014, highlighting the various aspects that justified this. The new analysis conducted in other areas of the central Apennines that were analysed with the present study allows the more precise description of the syntaxonomy of the lower hierarchical levels. This describes the new alliance Thalictro aquilegiifolii-Asphodelion macrocarpi that groups the communities with Asphodelus macrocarpus in the lower supratemperate thermotype of the central Apennines, a vicariant of the alliance Cyano triumfettii-Asphodelion macrocarpi that is typical of the upper supratemperate thermotype. Three new associations of the new alliance are recognized, according to the geomorphological characteristics and the dynamic context and landscape: Leontodo cichoracei-Asphodeletum macrocarpi, Trifolio ochroleuci-Asphodeletum macrocarpi and Senecio apennini-Asphodeletum macrocarpi. The statistical comparison between the associations published, at European level in which A. macrocarpus or Asphodelus albus have been used in the epithet of the association, has provided a biogeographical overview at the European level and a critical syntaxonomic revision of the Apennine phytocoenoses, for some of which the correction of the nomenclature was necessary according to the most recent taxonomic acquisitions. Based on the analysis performed, the syntaxonomic scheme of the order Asphodeletalia macrocarpi for the central-southern Apennines is proposed, which is currently recognized in three alliances: Cyano triumfettii-Asphodelion macrocarpi, Thalictro aquilegiifolii-Asphodelion macrocarpi and Hyperico calabricae-Asphodelion macrocarpi. The indications of the environmental characteristics and preferential dynamic relationships of each of the syntaxa considered contribute to the present state of knowledge, with both the definition and clarification of the ecological range and landscape of the order Asphodeletalia macrocarpi, to complete the main landscape units described for the central-southern Apennines.