An unknown hotspot of plant diversity in the heart of the Central Apennine: flora and vegetation outline of Mt. Pozzoni-St. Rufo valley (Cittareale, Rieti)

Abstract

Surprisingly enough, Italy still has some botanically unexplored areas; among these there are some territories between Lazio, Umbria and Abruzzo not included in any protected area. The study area, ranging for 340 ha, includes the mountainous area of Mt. Pozzoni-Mt. Prato-St. Rufo valley, which forms the upper part of the river Velino basin, located in the territory of the municipality of Cittareale (Rieti, Lazio), at an elevation from 1150 to 1903 m a.s.l. The substrate is mainly made of marly limestone of the Meso-Cenozoic Umbria-Marche sedimentary succession. The climate is Temperate and comprises vegetation belts from the montane to sub-alpine. Land cover is dominated by pastures and deciduous forests, with only a few hay meadows. 794 entities have been detected: 16% are considered rare or very rare for the regional territory with several floristic novelties for the regional flora, 6% of the total was found to be endemic to Italy and only eight taxa were aliens. Four taxa are new for the regional flora of Lazio: Arum cylindraceum, Alopecurus pratensis subsp. pratensis, Hieracium bupleuroides and Trinia glauca subsp. glauca. Forest vegetation is represented by beech forests, while dry grasslands are the most widespread vegetation type. The greatest phytocoenotic diversity was found within the secondary pastures. Particularly interesting is the plant community with Iris marsica, which suggests that limestone mountain ledges can represent a primary habitat for this endemic species of the Central Apennine. The presence of several habitats listed in the EU Habitat Directive indicates how the lack of detailed territorial knowledge can lead to the non-designation of conservation sites in areas of high naturalistic value. These findings showed that botanical explorations in territories which are still not known could contribute significantly to the identification of areas of high interest in conserving plant diversity.

Introduction

The study of Central Apennine attracted the attention of several botanists in the past (e.g. Gravina 1812; Tenore 1830; Paolucci 1891; Crugnola 1900; Grande 1904; Zodda 1931, 1954; Anzalone 1951; Montelucci 1952, 1953) for the presence of the highest peaks of the Italian peninsula and of a rich flora, characterized by the presence of numerous endemics (Conti 2004). The floristic knowledge of this territory has since been progressively increased by numerous contributions (e.g. Conti 1998, 2004; Ballelli 2003; Tondi et al. 2003; Di Pietro et al. 2008; Iocchi et al. 2010; Gubellini et al. 2014; Falcinelli et al. 2016; Conti et al. 2018; Rosati et al. 2020) and some synopses have recently involved the National Parks of the Central Apennine (Conti and Bartolucci 2015, 2016; Conti et al. 2019). On a regional scale, the state of floristic knowledge of this territory has been synthesized in the recent checklist of Italian vascular flora by Conti et al. (2005) and Bartolucci et al. (2018) whilst, for Lazio, a detailed flora was published by Anzalone et al. (2010). Despite this, as already highlighted in previous publications (Scoppola and Blasi 2005; Bartolucci et al. 2012, 2019), floristic exploration of several areas of the Central Apennine cannot be considered exhaustive and homogeneous throughout the territory; consequently, particularly interesting species, of high phytogeographic interest, are still being discovered (e.g. Cancellieri et al. 2017; Filibeck et al. 2020)

As for interior areas of the Central Apennine, the attention of botanists has always been directed towards the main mountain ranges (e.g. Terminillo, Sibillini, Laga), thus large portions of the surrounding territory have been neglected, both by floristic and vegetational studies. This is the case with the area constituting the upland drainage basin of Velino River, located between Lazio, Umbria and Abruzzo administrative regions where only wet meadows were studied (Venanzoni 1992). Some studies on a national scale had already highlighted that this area lacked specific floristic knowledge; in particular the Map of the Important Plant Areas in Italy (Blasi et al. 2009, 2011) indicated how this part of the Central Apennine is surrounded by areas of high interest for plant conservation, suggesting that covering such a gap of knowledge (Hortal et al. 2015) could lead to interesting results for its flora and vegetation.

In this study we present the results of the flora and vegetation surveys conducted by the authors during the period 2008–2010 in the mountainous area of Mt. Pozzoni-Mt. Prato-St. Rufo valley, which represents the upland drainage basin of the Velino River.

Data and methods

Study area

The study area is included within the municipality of Cittareale (province of Rieti), belonging to the Lazio administrative region. It extends for 343 ha, at altitudes ranging between 1150 and 1903 m a.s.l. (Fig. 1). The study area includes the peak of Mt. Pozzoni (1903 m), extends to southeast including the mountain ridge of Mt. Laghetto-Mt. Prato (1834 m), ending in the south almost in correspondence of the provincial road Cittareale-Norcia. To the west the limit runs along the watershed that delimits the valley of St. Rufo-Pozzoni (Fig. 1).

Figure 1.

Study area location (a) and its landscape (c–e) b the limits of study area drawn on I.G.M.I-1:25,000 topographic map c high mountain pastures of Mt. Pozzoni dominated by Brachypodium genuense (DC.) Roem. et Schult. with Trifolium alpestre L. eFritillaria montana Hoppe ex W.D.J.Koch, a rare species considered “Near Threatened” for extinction risk. Photos: R. Tranquilli and E. Del Vico.

The substrate is mainly made up of Meso-Cenozoic marly limestone (“Scaglia” formation) belonging to the Umbria-Marche succession; these sedimentary layers are heavily fractured and faulted, due to the proximity of a regional overthrust overlapping the Sibillini unit on the Gran Sasso-Cittareale unit (Calamita et al. 1995). The head of the valley is modeled by an evident glacial cirque, with a threshold placed at an altitude of 1660 m; the valley bottom is largely covered with slope debris, mixed with sediments of fluvio-glacial origin partly terraced and dissected by the upper course of Velino River. Along St. Rufo valley, an important karst cavity, 3 km long and over 400 m deep, opens at about 1440 m set in the marly limestones of Scaglia rossa formation (Gatti and Uffreduzzi 1989); the cavity has returned interesting fossil remains of bats, testifying to a cold period fauna dated to the end of the Pleistocene (Argenti et al. 2008).

Following the bioclimatic classification of Rivas-Martínez et al. (2011), the climate is Temperate oceanic/semi-continental, with the presence of two phytoclimatic belts along the altitudinal gradient, from the lower supratemperate to the lower orotemperate of the cacuminal areas; ombrotypes are comprised between humid and hyperhumid (Pesaresi et al. 2017).

The land cover is dominated by secondary grasslands, deciduous woodlands and small patches of artificial coniferous forest. Meadows and fallows are very limited and arable lands are nowadays completely missing in the study area. In the past they must have been quite common in the lower part of the valley, as evidenced by the presence of several still visible terraced parcels. Forests are used regularly as coppices and summer grazing of cattle and sheep is still widespread in this sector, together with horse grazing, which is conversely continuously present almost all year round.

The study area does not comprise any protected area, even if some Natura 2000 sites, defined according to European Union Habitat Directive (European Union 1992), are present in the neighboring territory of the Umbria region.

Flora and vegetation survey

The flora of the studied area was investigated in depth by carrying out numerous herborizations and field excursions, both in spring, summer and autumn, during three consecutive years from 2008 to 2010. Identification of vascular plants was mostly based on Pignatti (1982) and Flora Europaea (Tutin et al. 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1993). Taxa delimitation was based on Anzalone et al. (2010) and nomenclature accords to Bartolucci et al. (2018), Galasso et al. (2018) and the subsequent updates summarized in the “Portal to the Flora of Italy” (http://dryades.units.it/floritaly/). Families of vascular plants correspond to APG IV (2016), whereas life forms and chorotypes were retrieved from Pignatti (1982). Exsiccata are preserved in Herbarium Lucanum (HLUC), Herbarium Del Vico (Roma) and Herbarium Lattanzi (Roma), the latter is now moving to Herbarium Sapienza (RO). In the floristic list we reported the rarity level in the regional flora of Lazio for each taxon according to Anzalone et al. (2010), adopting three levels: rare, medium rare and very rare (coded as R, MR, RR). New taxa for the regional flora were marked with an asterisk. Italian endemics were retrieved from Bartolucci et al. (2018). As for alien taxa, we also reported the status of naturalization in the study area following the same codes used by Galasso et al. (2018). For each taxon the status of threatened species was derived by the published Italian Red lists (Conti et al. 1992, 1997) and updated, when new assessments were available, according to the most recent ones (Rossi et al. 2013; Orsenigo et al. 2020). Vegetation was analyzed using the phytosociological method (Braun-Blanquet 1965) by carrying out 30 surveys of the main vegetation types in the territory located in the field with a GPS unit with ± 5 m accuracy. The syntaxonomic nomenclature, at the level of alliance, order and class, follows the ‘Prodrome of the Italian Vegetation’ (Biondi et al. 2014).

Main vegetation types were identified through multivariate methods, Hierarchical Cluster Analysis and NMDS ordination. For each vegetation type a floristic-ecological description and the syntaxonomic framework were provided.

Results

Flora

794 taxa of vascular plants were identified, belonging to 331 genera and 69 families (Appendix 1). The families with more than 40 taxa (Fig. 2a) were: Asteraceae (107), Poaceae (71), Fabaceae (67), Caryophyllaceae (46) and Rosaceae (42). The most diverse genera were Trifolium (19), Carex (16), Ranunculus (14), Hieracium (13) and Silene (12) (Fig. 2b). Hemicryptophytes were the dominant life form (52%), followed by therophytes (21%) and geophytes (13%) (Fig. 2c). As for chorology, (Fig. 2d) species with Eurasian-Paleotemperate distribution prevailed (39%), slightly exceeding the Mediterranean element (29%). The Mediterranean group was mainly composed of Eurimediterranean (15%) and Mediterranean-Mountain species (6%). A significant contingent of Circumboreal species was also present (6%) while only a few species displayed eastern chorotypes (e.g. SE-European and Pontic).

Figure 2.

a number of taxa per family; only the families with more than 10 taxa are shown b number of taxa per genus; genera containing more than 7 taxa are shown c life form percentages d chorological spectrum of the detected flora in the study area.

Forty-seven taxa, approximately 6% of the total, were found to be endemic to Italy (Table 1). Only eight taxa were found to be aliens, among these Malus domestica (Suckow) Borkh., Matricaria discoidea DC., Medicago sativa L. and Veronica persica Poir. can be considered naturalized, whereas Abies alba Mill., Abies cephalonica Loudon, Picea abies (L.) H. Karst. and Pinus nigra J.F. Arnold subsp. nigra have been observed only as planted in reforested areas.

Table 1.

List of endemic taxa recorded in the study area.

Taxon
Armeria canescens (Host) Ebel
Astragalus sirinicus Ten.
Betonica alopecuros L. subsp. divulsa (Ten.) Bartolucci & Peruzzi
Brachypodium genuense (DC.) Roem. et Schult.
Campanula tanfanii Podlech
Carduus nutans L. subsp. perspinosus (Fiori) Arènes
Centaurea ambigua Guss. subsp. ambigua
Centaurea ambigua Guss. subsp. nigra (Fiori) Pignatti
Cerastium tomentosum L.
Corydalis densiflora C.Presl subsp. apennina F.Conti, Bartolucci & Uzunov
Crepis lacera Ten.
Cynoglossum apenninus L.
Cynoglossum magellense Ten.
Digitalis micrantha Roth ex Schweigg.
Epipactis meridionalis H. Baumann et R. Lorenz
Erysimum majellense Polatschek
Erysimum pseudorhaeticum Polatschek
Galium magellense Ten.
Gentianella columnae (Ten.) Holub
Helictochloa praetutiana (Parl. ex Arcang.) Bartolucci, F.Conti, Peruzzi & Banfi subsp. praetutiana
Iris marsica I. Ricci et Colas.
Klasea flavescens (L.) Holub subsp. cichoracea (L.) Greuter et Wagenitz
Koeleria splendens C. Presl
Linaria purpurea (L.) Mill.
Myosotis decumbens Host subsp. florentina Grau
Myosotis graui Selvi
Ornithogalum etruscum Parl.
Oxytropis pilosa (L.) DC. subsp. caputoi (Moraldo et La Valva) Brilli-Catt., Di Massimo et Gubellini
Pedicularis elegans Ten.
Potentilla rigoana Th.Wolf
Pulmonaria vallarsae A.Kern. subsp. apennina (Cristof. & Puppi) L.Cecchi & Selvi
Ranunculus apenninus (Chiov.) Pignatti
Ranunculus thomasii Ten.
Rhinanthus wettsteinii (Sterneck) Soó
Saxifraga exarata Vill. subsp. ampullacea (Ten.) D.A.Webb
Saxifraga porophylla Bertol. subsp. porophylla
Sempervivum riccii Iberite et Anzal.
Senecio apenninus Tausch
Sesleria nitida Ten
Silene notarisii Ces.
Siler montanum Crantz subsp. siculum (Spreng.) Iamonico, Bartolucci & F.Conti
Stipa dasyvaginata Martinovský subsp. apenninicola Martinovský et Moraldo
Trifolium pratense L. subsp. semipurpureum (Strobl) Pignatti
Trisetaria villosa (Bertol.) Banfi et Soldano
Viola eugeniae Parl. subsp. eugeniae

Two taxa, Arum cylindraceum Gasp. and Corydalis densiflora C.Presl subsp. apennina F.Conti, Bartolucci & Uzunov have been recorded for the first time for Lazio during this research, whereas four taxa whose presence was considered doubtful for Lazio have been confirmed (Alopecurus pratensis L. subsp. pratensis, Hieracium bupleuroides C.C.Gmel., Scandix macrorhyncha C.A.Mey and Trisetaria flavescens (L.) Baumg. subsp. flavescens). These floristic records at regional level have been anticipated by Del Vico et al. (2014). However, probably due to oversight, Alopecurus pratensis subsp. pratensis is still considered to be confirmed for Lazio in the continuously updated database of the Portal to the Flora of Italy (Available at http:/dryades.units.it/floritaly, accessed: 16/11/2020). Additionally, we herein confirm the presence of Trinia glauca (L.) Dumort. subsp. glauca, previously considered recorded erroneously for Lazio (Bartolucci et al. 2018).

Thirty-four taxa (Table 2) are considered very rare at the regional level (2010). Considering all the rare species (R, MR and RR), these taxa represent altogether approximately 20% of the studied flora.

Table 2.

List of taxa found in the study area considered very rare (RR) at regional level including those that are new records for Lazio with respect to Anzalone et al. (2010).

Taxon
Achillea tomentosa L.
Alchemilla cinerea Buser
Arabis auriculata Lam.
Arum cylindraceum Gasp.
Avenella flexuosa (L.) Drejer subsp. flexuosa
Carex liparocarpos Gaudin subsp. liparocarpos
Carex panicea L.
Centaurea arachnoidea subsp. adonidifolia (Rchb.) F. Conti, Moraldo & Ricceri
Conringia austriaca (Jacq.) Sweet
Corydalis densiflora C.Presl subsp. apennina F.Conti, Bartolucci & Uzunov
Epipactis meridionalis H. Baumann et R. Lorenz
Erysimum majellense Polatschek
Gagea minima (L.) Ker Gawl.
Genista sagittalis L.
Herniaria glabra L. subsp. nebrodensis Nyman
Hieracium tomentosum L.
Hypericum hyssopifolium Chaix
Iris marsica I. Ricci et Colas.
Juncus striatus Schousb. ex E. Mey.
Mcneillia graminifolia (Ard.) Dillenb. & Kadereit subsp. clandestina (Port.) Dillenb. & Kadereit
Medicago prostrata Jacq. subsp. prostrata
Onobrychis arenaria (Kit.) DC. subsp. arenaria
Oxytropis pilosa (L.) DC. subsp. caputoi (Moraldo et La Valva) Brilli-Catt., Di Massimo et Gubellini
Parnassia palustris L. subsp. palustris
Pilosella cymosa (L.) F.W.Schultz & Sch.Bip.
Pilosella hoppeana (Schult.) F.W.Schultz & Sch.Bip.
Pilosella piloselloides (Vill.) Soják subsp. praealta (Vill. ex Gochnat) S.Bräut. & Greuter
Scorzonera laciniata L.
Scorzonera purpurea L. subsp. purpurea
Thymus oenipontanus Heinr.Braun ex Borbás
Trifolium phleoides Willd.
Trinia glauca (L.) Dumort. subsp. glauca
Trisetaria villosa (Bertol.) Banfi et Soldano
Tulipa pumila Moench

The following 15 species have been identified as being at risk of extinction in the first published Italian red lists (Conti et al. 1992, 1997): Iris marsica I. Ricci et Colas., Achillea tomentosa L., Carex panicea L., Fritillaria montana Hoppe ex Koch, Gentiana lutea L. subsp. lutea, Gentiana utriculosa L., Klasea nudicaulis (L.) Fourr., Lathyrus nissolia L., Lilium bulbiferum L. subsp. croceum (Chaix) Jan, Narcissus poëticus L., Onobrychis arenaria (Kit.) DC. subsp. arenaria, Ornithogalum comosum L., Scorzonera purpurea L., Trifolium phleoides Willd. and Trisetaria villosa (Bertol.) Banfi et Soldano. Meanwhile, in the most recent ones (Rossi et al. 2013; Orsenigo et al. 2020), excluding the species classified as “Least Concern”, Viola kitaibeliana Schult. was listed as “Endangered”, Epipactis meridionalis H. Baumann et R. Lorenz as “Vulnerable” and Fritillaria montana, Gentiana lutea, Iris marsica and Senecio scopolii Hoppe et Hornsch. ex Bluff et Fingerh. as “Near Threatened”.

Plant community descriptions

Hierarchical cluster analysis and NMDS ordination (the latter not shown) enabled the detection of 10 clusters that were clearly interpretable, floristically and ecologically, as shown in Fig. 3. A further inspection of the ordered table led to the identification of 12 plant communities (some of these represented by only one relevè); the greatest phytocoenotic diversity was found within the secondary pastures. The relevès of these communities are presented in Suppl. material 1: Table S1 and described in detail below.

Figure 3.

Hierarchical clustering resulting from Modified TWINSPAN analysis. Cluster 1) Fagus sylvatica woodlands; 2) Amelanchier ovalis forest edges; 3) Saxifraga callosa chasmophytic vegetation; 4) Cynosurus cristatus hay meadows; 5) Bromopsis erecta montane grasslands; 6) Iris marsica community; 7) Rumex scutatus screes vegetation; 8) Paronychia kapela rocky outcrops vegetation; 9) upper-montane grasslands, including also the Brachypodium genuense community and the Astragalus sempervirens community; 10) chamaephytes-rich dry grasslands.

Forests and shrublands

Forest vegetation in the Mt. Pozzoni valley is represented almost exclusively by beech forests (cluster 1). Quercus cerris woodlands are present only on the edges of the investigated area on southern exposures, but they are widespread at lower altitudes where flyschoid substrates emerge. Small patches of coniferous plantation, planted for reforestation purposes (e.g. Pinus nigra, Abies spp.) are also present. Fagus sylvatica forests cover approx. 60 ha, forming a more or less continuous belt between 1350 and 1700 m a.s.l.; they are managed as coppices with stands, meanwhile mixed aged and old-growth formations are absent. Tree layer is always dominated by Fagus sylvatica, frequently accompanied by Acer pseudoplatanus and Acer opalus subsp. obtusatum. In relevè no. 1, surveyed at 1500 m, in the tree layer we also found Tilia plathyphyllos and Prunus avium, while in rel. no. 2, placed at 1360 m, the presence of Quercus cerris and Acer campestre can be noted. In the herb layer, nemoral species commonly found in mesic and beech forests are present, such as Cardamine bulbifera, Pulmonaria vallarsae subsp. apennina, Moehringia trinervia, Rabelera holostea (= Stellaria holostea); from a phytosociological point of view most of these species are typical of Fagetalia sylvaticae order. Related to the altitude, the second relevè in table S1 hosts a larger contingent of species having a relatively thermophilic character, such as Lathyrus venetus, Cyclamen hederifolium, Cephalanthera damasonium, Sesleria autumnalis, Viola odorata, which also characterize the lower altitudinal vegetation belt dominated by oak forests. These relevès can be classified in the alliance Aremonio agrimonioidis-Fagion sylvaticae (Querco roboris-Fagetea sylvaticae, Fagetalia sylvaticae) describing the beech forests of E-Europe, Balkans and extending to Central-Northern Apennine (Biondi et al. 2014). The beech woods at lower altitudes, as evidenced by the relevè no. 2, show a floristic composition referable to Lathyro veneti-Fagetum sylvaticae, a widespread association which frames beech forests of lower supratemperate belt of the Central Apennines mainly on limestones (Blasi et al. 2010). At higher altitudes, generally above 1500 m, it is possible to observe a clear decrease in the number of species of Quecetalia pubescenti-petraeae, indicating a shift towards the association Cardamino kitaibelii-Fagetum sylvaticae Ubaldi ex Ubaldi 1995. The latter represents the potential vegetation of the upper supratemperate belt, which in the St. Rufo valley is almost completely substituted by the secondary grasslands belonging to Festuco-Brometea class.

The edge of the beech forest (cluster 2), in some cases, presents characteristic pre-forest shrub formations, as evidenced by relevè no. 3, physiognomically dominated by Amelanchier ovalis, Atadinus fallax (=Rhamnus alpina subsp. fallax) and Sorbus aria, accompanied by smaller shrubs of Rosa montana, Crataegus laevigata and Cytisophyllum sessilifolium. These formations can be attributed to the association Rhamno alpinae-Amelanchieretum ovalis (Berberidion vulgaris, Prunetalia spinosae, Rhamno-Prunetea), described for Sibillini mountains by Pedrotti (1994) and revised by Cutini et al. (2002), even if the herb layer appeared strongly impoverished.

Along the river incisions, especially in the middle and lower part of the investigated area, there are other shrub and pre-forest formations of difficult syntaxonomic classification at association level, dominated by Corylus avellana and Acer spp., which are not represented in our surveys.

Sparse vegetation of outcrops

Limestone rocky walls, from 1400 m up to the highest peak of Mt. Pozzoni, are colonized by a characteristic chasmophytic vegetation dominated by Saxifraga callosa (rel. 4–6) with the presence of Saxifraga paniculata, Campanula tanfanii and Saxifraga exarata subsp. ampullacea (cluster 3). Even if Trisetum villosum was not found within the relevès, this species is present in such habitats of the study area (see floristic list). The overall floristic composition of these coenoses allows us to refer them to Saxifrago australis-Trisetetum bertolonii (Saxifragion lingulatae, Potentilletalia caulescentis, Asplenietea trichomanis), a widespread association in the Umbria-Marche Apennine and Central Italy (Giancola and Stanisci 2002).

On sub-vertical calcareous rocky outcrops, large boulders and ledges, we found some peculiar communities characterized by the abundance and dominance of Sedum album. At higher altitudes, above 1650 m (rel. no. 7–9) these coenoses are characterized by Paronychia kapela, Anthemis cretica subsp. columnae, Sempervivum arachnoideum and Poa molinerii (cluster 8). The floristic composition is dominated by species belonging to Sedo albi-Scleranthetea biennis such as Sedum album, Sempervivum arachnoideum and Petrosedum rupestre together with several transgressive species from dry grasslands of Festuco-Brometea. These coenoses developed on a calcareous substrate have to be attributed to the alliance Alysso alyssoidis-Sedion albi. At the alliance level, the same attribution is valid for the relevès no.10–12 (cluster 6), carried out on large rocky ledges at lower altitudes (ca 1500 m) which are physiognomically characterized by the endemic Iris marsica and by Petrosedum rupestre, with the presence of several thermophilous species such as Crupina vulgaris, Lactuca perennis subsp. perennis and Centaurea deusta. The survey no. 13, characterized also by the presence of Iris marsica but with the dominance of Bromopsis erecta, represents the ecotone between the vegetation of the Alysso-Sedion on ledges and the contiguous dry grasslands of Festuco-Brometea, which are developed where the soils are more evolved and deeper. Our current state of knowledge about Alysso-Sedion vegetation in the studied area does not make it possible to find a clear reference to any already described association; therefore these two coenoses are provisionally indicated as Sedum album-Paronychia kapela community and Sedum album-Iris marsica community.

Calcareous screes and mobile debris have only small surfaces in the study area; they are represented by the relevè no. 14 (cluster 7), carried out at medium altitude (1480 m), on the scree fed by the characteristic rocky spike present on the right side of the St. Rufo valley, known as Peschio dell’Aquila. This plant community has sparse cover and is characterized by Rumex scutatus, Galium magellense and Scrophularia canina. The scree vegetation of the alpine and subalpine belt in the Central Apennine is quite well known, while at lower altitudes it has rarely been investigated (see Ciaschetti et al. 2020 and references therein). Also in this case, it was not possible to identify a reference at the association level for the Petrosedum rupestre-Rumex scutatus community of the study area. The presence of Galium magellense suggests a probable framework within the alliance Linario-Festucion dimorphae, describing Apennine glareicolous communities of calcareous screes, from the supratemperate to orotemperate thermotypes, even if most of the diagnostic species are lacking. The floristic impoverishment could be justified by the fact that in the study area the most important screes are located at rather low altitudes, at the lower ecological limit of Linario-Festucion dimorphae. In fact, at higher altitude we observed in this habitat also the presence of Drypis spinosa. Although the abundance of Petrosedum rupestre would seem to indicate an affinity with the association Linario purpureae-Petrosedetum rupestris recently described for several localities of the Abruzzo territory (Ciaschetti et al. 2020), the overall floristic composition of the community herein reported is rather different from the one described for Abruzzo and the diagnostic species are absent. In addition, this thermophilic association was referred to a different order and alliance (Scrophulario bicoloris-Helicrhysetalia italici Brullo, 1984, Linarion purpureae Brullo, 1984) within the class Thlaspietea rotundifolii.

Meadows and grasslands

In the lower part of the study area, at an altitude below 1200 m, small patches of regularly mowed grasslands are still present (cluster 4; rel. no. 15–17), developed on deep, partially terraced, well drained alluvial soil. They are species rich, with 54 species per plot on average. Floristically, the dominant species (Trifolium incarnatum, T. repens, T. pratense, Poa trivialis, Dactylis glomerata, Phleum nodosum, Cynosurus cristatus) are indicators of the class Molinio-Arrhenatheretea, accompanied by several nitrophilous and ruderal species such as Bromus hordeaceus and Dasypyrum villosum. The perennial meso and supratemperate Apennine grasslands, usually grazed and mowed once a year, which develop on mesotrophic soils with good water availability and rich in nutrients, have been commonly attributed to the Cynosurion cristati alliance, (see the Italian review of the alliance in Blasi et al. 2012 and references therein). The classification of Cynosurion grasslands has often been considered to be somewhat problematic (Blasi et al. 2012) due to the fact that exclusive species are lacking and most of the diagnostic species range widely from both a geographical and ecological point of view. Although the surveys carried out in the study area can be referred to Cerastio arvensis-Cynosurenion cristati sub-alliance, the attribution to an already described association remains unresolved, also because the Apennine’s associations have not yet been the subject of a critical review which clarifies delimitation and differential species. Probably the closest association could be identified in the Colchico lusitani-Cynosuretum, repeatedly reported on the Umbria-Marche Apennines (e.g. Allegrezza 2003; Biondi et al. 2004; Catorci et al. 2007).

The most widespread vegetation in the study area is represented by the dry grasslands of the Festuco-Brometea class (cluster 5; rel. no. 18–30), mainly used for horse and cattle grazing, which replaced the beech forest vegetation on the mountain slopes. In particular, they can be classified in Phleo ambigui-Brometalia order including xerophilous and semi-mesophilous secondary grasslands of the Central-southern Apennines, that occur from the supramediterranean to the upper supratemperate thermotype. These plant communities have a high physiognomic and floristic diversification in relation to local characteristics of the site (exposure, rockiness, soil depth and pH) and to the degree of grazing. The relevès no. 18–22 (cluster 10) are particularly species rich (mean 52 species per releve) and were found at lower altitude (max 1300 m), frequently on moraine deposits. They are characterized by a high incidence of chamaephytes (e.g. Helianthemum apenninum, H. oelandicum subsp. incanum, H. nummularium subsp. obscurum, Thymus longicaulis, T. oenipontanus) and by the presence of several therophytes (e.g. Trifolium campestre, T. scabrum, Euphrasia liburnica). However, they are physiognomically dominated by hemicryptophytes such as Bromopsis erecta, Festuca circummediterranea, Phleum hirsutum subsp. ambiguum. From a phytosociological point of view, the ecology and floristic analysis led to the inclusion of this community in the association Asperulo purpureae-Brometum erecti, frequently reported for the Umbria-Marche Apennine (e.g. Catorci et al. 2007) and described with several variants and subassociations. The releve no. 23 represents a particular stand on strongly inclined slopes at higher altitude (1500 m) dominated by Bromopsis erecta but with a high cover of Securigera varia and Petrosedum rupestre, which cannot be easily classified at the level of association.

At higher altitude (cluster 9) and on more inclined slopes, in the dry grasslands can be noted the presence of Sesleria nitida and a floristic composition close to the association Seslerio nitidae-Brometum erecti. Near the summit area of the mountain slopes or in eroding areas, the floristic composition becomes impoverished and the spiny chamaephyte Astragalus sempervirens was found as co-dominant with Sesleria nitida. The reference for this community is the Astragalo sempervirenti-Seslerietum nitidae, an association described for the grasslands of the summit sectors of Coscerno and Civitella Mountains in Umbria (Biondi and Ballelli 1995). The parts at higher altitudes of the mountain slopes, relying on calcareous-marly substrata, are occupied by grasslands dominated by Brachypodium genuense. The presence of some acidophilic species (e.g. Luzula campestris, Genista sagittalis, Campanula micrantha) which are frequently found in the vegetation of Nardetea strictae (see Di Pietro et al. 2017 for a review of these communities in the Italian Peninsula), indicates the presence of decarbonated soils with a lower pH. Despite this, the floristic composition is clearly dominated by Festuco-Brometea species; therefore, the reference for these coenoses, is the order Phleo ambigui-Brometalia erecti and the alliance Phleo-Bromion erecti, but unlike the previous ones, in this case the arid high-montane grasslands are to be referred to the sub-alliance Brachypodienion genuensis. At the association level, the floristic analysis led to referring this community to the Potentillo rigoanae-Brachypodietum genuensis, an association quite widespread in the Central Apennine, in particular in Lazio and Abruzzo regions (Lucchese et al. 1995).

We did not survey other relevant coenoses that are present with significant extensions but only outside the surveyed area: the mountain acidophilic grasslands of the Nardetea strictae class, present on the northern slopes of Mt. Pozzoni and in the concave morphologies in the high-mountain orotemperate belt and the discontinuous prairies of the steep slopes dominated by Sesleria juncifolia; the latter can be observed on the steep and inaccessible mountain slope surrounding the cliff of Peschio dell’Aquila.

Discussions and conclusions

The floristic composition of the study area, at the family level, does not significantly differ from the neighboring regional floras (Anzalone et al. 2010; Conti 1998). The percentage of endemics (6%) was quite similar to the flora of the nearby Terminillo massif (5.1%) studied by Montelucci (1952, 1953), slightly lower than the flora of Gran Sasso National Park (8.7%) (Conti and Bartolucci 2016), but perfectly aligned, for example, with the value of Abruzzo National Park (6.5%) (Conti and Bartolucci 2015). This difference can be due to the fact that the higher elevation of Gran Sasso National Park allows the presence of a large alpine vegetation belt, known to host several endemic taxa. On the contrary, in the study area, Terminillo massif and Abruzzo National Park, the alpine belt is completely absent. In fact, only considering the ipsophilous flora (above 1900 m a.s.l.), Conti (2004) calculated a rate of 13.2% of endemics for Central Apennine.

Similarly, from the chorogical point of view, no particular differences were observed with the flora of Terminillo, except for the contingent of Illirian, SE-European and Pontic species, which are slightly more represented in the flora of the Terminillo, probably because the flora of the latter also includes the lower vegetation belts of thermophilous oak forests and mixed deciduous woods, known to be characterized by the presence of numerous eastern species (Blasi et al. 2004).

Based on overall floristic results, the area of the St. Rufo Valley-Mt. Pozzoni can be considered of particular floristic interest, due to the high number of endemic and rare species detected, as recognized also by Lucchese (2018) who incorporated our preliminary data (Del Vico et al. 2014) in his recent, but not yet completed, atlas of the flora of Lazio.

The studied area is also undoubtedly characterized by a high floristic diversity if we consider that the 794 taxa recorded in this study have been found in an area of only 3,4 km². The relevance of these data can be easily understood by comparing the number of taxa detected in local floras that have a comparable extension. For example, considering the data reported in Pierini et al. (2009), regarding numerous floras from Tuscany, and limiting to those having extension between 2 and 8 km², only in the flora of Mt. Ferrato a similar number of taxa (800) was found, but within a study area almost double the size (6 km²) (Biagioli et al. 2002).

Moreover, we have to keep in mind that the studied area has a modest altitude range, relatively few types of lithologies and thus, a limited number of habitats. Despite this, the vegetation analysis revealed the presence of varied and species rich plant communities, with 311 taxa detected in only 30 relevès. As expected, the higher number of vegetation types was found within the secondary habitats of mountain pastures and dry grasslands. Particularly interesting is the plant community with Iris marsica (referred to the Alysso-Sedion alliance), which indicates, probably for the first time, as limestone mountain ledges can represent a primary habitat for this species endemic of the Central Apennine.

Almost all the plant communities identified here are referable to habitats listed by the Habitat Directive (habitat codes: 6110, 6210, 6520, 8120, 8210, 9210), some of them with priority status (6110, 6210, 9210), thus their presence would have required the proposal of a Natura 2000 site according to the Habitat Directive (European Union 1992).

The intriguing aspects of this territory combined with, until recently, the complete lack of detailed botanical knowledge, led, in 2016, the Italian Botanical Society to carry out, in the Cittareale municipality, an annual field trip of the working group for Floristics, Systematics and Evolution. During the field trip, with the participation of some of the authors, several other additional localities (e.g. Mt. Boragine 1824 m a.s.l.), surrounding those herein investigated, were explored floristically (Bartolucci et al. 2019).

The very limited number of alien species identified, none of which is considered invasive, can be considered an indicator of the fairly good state of conservation of the territory in which a completely traditional land use still persists. However, reforested areas, planted with several non- native conifers, are now composed of mature trees able to produce seeds. Recruitment from these could involve a process of spontaneization of non-native coniferous as frequently observed in other territories of Central Apennine, involving, for example, the spread of Pinus nigra. Moreover, the presence of Abies cephalonica and Picea abies in reforested areas could also lead to spontaneization of these species in Lazio, as already observed in the neighboring Abruzzo region (Galasso et al. 2018).

Taking into account how important updating distribution data is, for example for the Red List assessment (Orsenigo et al. 2020), it is certainly possible to affirm that this study constitutes a valid contribution towards filling the gap in our botanical knowledge of a sector of the Central Apennines of high conservation interest.

Syntaxonomic scheme

ASPLENIETEA TRICHOMANIS (Br.-Bl. in Meier & Br.-Bl., 1934) Oberdorfer, 1977

POTENTILLETALIA CAULESCENTIS Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl. & Jenny, 1926

Saxifragion australis Biondi & Ballelli ex Brullo 1984

Saxifrago-Trisetetum villosi Biondi & Ballelli, 1982

THLASPIETEA ROTUNDIFOLII Br.-Bl., 1948

THLASPIETALIA STYLOSI Avena & Bruno, 1975

Linarion purpureae Brullo, 1984

Petrosedum rupestre-Rumex scutatus community

SEDO ALBI-SCLERANTHETEA BIENNIS Br.-Bl,. 1955

ALYSSO ALYSSOIDIS-SEDETALIA ALBI Moravec, 1967

Alysso alyssoidis-Sedion albi Oberdorfer & Müller in Müller 1961

Sedum album-Paronychia kapela community

Sedum album-Iris marsica community

FESTUCO VALESIACAE-BROMETEA ERECTI Br.-Bl. & Tüxen ex Br.-Bl. 1949

PHLEO AMBIGUI-BROMETALIA ERECTI Biondi, Allegrezza, Blasi & Galdenzi in Biondi, Allegrezza, Casavecchia, Galdenzi, Gasparri, Pesaresi, Vagge and Blasi 2014

Phleo ambigui-Bromion erecti Biondi, Ballelli, Allegrezza & Zuccarello ex Biondi and Galdenzi 2012

Phleo ambigui-Bromenion erecti Biondi, Allegrezza & Zuccarello ex Di Pietro 2011

Asperulo purpureae-Brometum erecti Biondi & Ballelli ex Di Pietro 2011

Seslerio nitidae-Brometum erecti Bruno & Covarelli, 1968

Astragalo sempervirentis-Seslerietum nitidae Biondi & Ballelli, 1995

Brachypodienion genuensis Biondi, Ballelli, Allegrezza & Zuccarello ex Biondi and Galdenzi 2012

Potentillo rigoanae-Brachypodietum genuensis Lucchese et al., 1995

MOLINIO-ARRHENATHERETEA Tüxen, 1937

TRIFOLIO REPENTIS-PHLEETALIA PRATENSIS Passarge, 1969

Cynosurion cristati Tüxen, 1947

Cerastio arvensis-Cynosurenion cristati Blasi et al., 2012

Trifolium incarnatum-Cynosurus cristatus community

RHAMNO CATHARTICAE-PRUNETEA SPINOSAE Rivas Goday & Borja ex Tüxen 1962

PRUNETALIA SPINOSAE Tüxen, 1952

Berberidion vulgaris Br.-Bl., 1950

Rhamno alpinae-Amelanchieretum ovalis Pedrotti, 1994

QUERCO ROBORIS-FAGETEA SYLVATICAE Br.-Bl. & Vlieger in Vlieger 1937

FAGETALIA SYLVATICAE Pawłowski in Pawłowski, Sokołowski and Wallisch 1928

Aremonio agrimonioidis-Fagion sylvaticae (Horvat) Borhidi in Török, Podani and Borhidi 1989

Lathyro veneti-Fagetum sylvaticae Biondi et al. ex Biondi, Casavecchia, Pinzi, Allegrezza and Baldoni in Biondi, Allegrezza, Casavecchia, Galdenzi, Gigante and Pesaresi 2013

Appendix 1

Floristic list of detected taxa in the study area. E = endemic taxon of Italian territory; R, MR, RR = increasing level of rarity, form rare to very rare in the regional flora of Lazio coded as in Anzalone et al. (2010). Floristic novelties for the regional flora are marked with asterisk. CULT = taxon detected only as cultivated. NAT = alien taxon naturalized in the study area.

Taxon
Ferns and ferns allies
Selaginellaceae
	Selaginella denticulata (L.) Spring
Equisetaceae
	Equisetum palustre L.
	Equisetum ramosissimum Desf.
	Equisetum telmateja Ehrh.
Ophioglossaceae
R	Botrychium lunaria (L.) Sw.
Cystopteridaceae
	Cystopteris fragilis (L.) Bernh.
Aspleniaceae
	Asplenium ceterach L. subsp. bivalens (D.E.Mey.) Greuter & Burdet
	Asplenium onopteris L.
	Asplenium ruta-muraria L. subsp. ruta-muraria
	Asplenium trichomanes L. subsp. quadrivalens D.E. Mey.
Gymnosperms
Pinaceae
CULT	Abies alba Mill.
CULT	Abies cephalonica Loudon
CULT	Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.
CULT	Pinus nigra J.F. Arnold subsp. nigra
Cupressaceae
	Juniperus communis L. subsp. alpina (Suter) Celak
	– taxon delimitation according to Anzalone et al. (2010)
	Juniperus communis L. subsp. communis
	– taxon delimitation according to Anzalone et al. (2010)
	Juniperus oxycedrus L. subsp. oxycedrus
	– taxon delimitation according to Anzalone et al. (2010)
Angiosperms
Araceae
*RR	Arum cylindraceum Gasp. ex Guss.
	Arum italicum Mill. subsp. italicum var. italicum
	Arum maculatum L.
Colchicaceae
	Colchicum lusitanum Brot.
Liliaceae
R	Fritillaria montana Hoppe ex W.D.J.Koch
	Gagea lutea (L.) Ker Gawl.
RR	Gagea minima (L.) Ker Gawl.
	Gagea villosa (M. Bieb.) Sweet
	Lilium bulbiferum L. subsp. croceum (Chaix) Jan
RR	Tulipa pumila Moench
Orchidaceae
	Anacamptis morio (L.) R.M.Bateman, Pridgeon & M.W.Chase
	Anacamptis pyramidalis (L.) Rich.
	Cephalanthera damasonium (Mill.) Druce
	Cephalanthera longifolia (L.) Fritsch
	Cephalanthera rubra (L.) Rich.
	Coeloglossum viride (L.) Hartm.
	Dactylorhiza maculata (L.) Soó subsp. saccifera (Brongn.) Diklić
	Dactylorhiza sambucina (L.) Soó
	Epipactis atrorubens (Hoffm.) Besser
E – RR	Epipactis meridionalis H. Baumann & R. Lorenz
	Epipactis microphylla (Ehrh.) Sw.
	Epipactis muelleri Godfery
	Gymnadenia conopsea (L.) R. Br.
	Himantoglossum adriaticum H. Baumann
	Neotinea tridentata (Scop.) R.M.Bateman, Pridgeon & M.W.Chase
	Neotinea ustulata (L.) R.M.Bateman, Pridgeon & M.W.Chase
	Neottia nidus-avis (L.) Rich.
	Neottia ovata (L.) Bluff & Fingerh.
	Ophrys apifera Huds.
	Ophrys holosericea (Burnm.f.) Greuter subsp. holosericea
	Ophrys sphegodes Mill. subsp. sphegodes
	Orchis anthropophora (L.) All.
	Orchis mascula (L.) L. subsp. mascula
MR	Orchis pallens L.
	Orchis pauciflora Ten.
	Orchis purpurea Huds.
	Orchis simia Lam.
	Platanthera bifolia (L.) Rich.
Iridaceae
	Crocus vernus (L.) Hill
E – RR	Iris marsica I. Ricci & Colas.
Asphodelaceae
	Asphodeline lutea (L.) Rchb.
Amaryllidaceae
	Allium dentiferum Webb et Berthel.
R	Allium flavum L. subsp. flavum
R	Allium horvatii Lovrić
R	Allium lusitanicum Lam.
	Allium sphaerocephalon L.
	Allium tenuiflorum Ten.
	Allium vineale L.
	Galanthus nivalis L.
	Narcissus poëticus L.
Asparagaceae
	Loncomelos brevistylus (Wolfner) Dostál
	Loncomelos pyrenaicum (L.) Hrouda ex J. Holub subsp. pyrenaicum
	Muscari neglectum Guss. ex Ten.
MR	Ornithogalum comosum L.
E	Ornithogalum etruscum Parl.
	Ornithogalum umbellatum L.
	Polygonatum multiflorum (L.) All.
	Scilla bifolia L
Juncaceae
	Juncus articulatus L. subsp. articulatus
	Juncus bufonius L.
	Juncus inflexus L. subsp. inflexus
RR	Juncus striatus Schousb. ex E. Mey.
	Luzula campestris (L.) DC. subsp. campestris
	Luzula sylvatica (Huds.) Gaudin subsp. sylvatica
Cyperaceae
	Carex caryophyllea Latourr.
	Carex distans L.
	Carex divulsa Stokes
	Carex flacca Schreb. subsp. flacca
	Carex halleriana Asso
	Carex hirta L.
	Carex kitaibeliana Degen ex Bech.
R	Carex leporina L.
RR	Carex liparocarpos Gaudin subsp. liparocarpos
	Carex macrolepis DC.
	Carex otrubae Podp.
R	Carex pairae F.W. Schultz
RR	Carex panicea L.
	Carex pendula Huds.
	Carex sylvatica Huds.
R	Carex viridula Michx.
	Schoenoplectus lacustris (L.) Palla
	Scirpoides holoschoenus (L.) Soják
Poaceae
R	Agrostis canina L.
	Agrostis stolonifera L.
	Aira caryophyllea L. subsp. caryophyllea
	Aira elegantissima Schur subsp. elegantissima
	Alopecurus aequalis Sobol.
*	Alopecurus pratensis L. subsp. pratensis
	Anisantha sterilis (L.) Nevski
	Anisantha tectorum (L.) Nevski
	Anthoxanthum odoratum L. subsp. odoratum
	Arrhenatherum elatius (L.) P. Beauv. ex J. Presl & C. Presl subsp. elatius
RR	Avenella flexuosa (L.) Drejer subsp. flexuosa
R	Bellardiochloa variegata (Lam.) Kerguélen subsp. variegata
E – R	Brachypodium genuense (DC.) Roem. et Schult.
	Brachypodium rupestre (Host) Roem. et Schult.
	Brachypodium sylvaticum (Huds.) P.Beauv. subsp. sylvaticum
	Briza media L.
	Bromopsis erecta (Huds.) Fourr.
	Bromopsis ramosa (Huds.) Holub subsp. ramosa
	Bromus commutatus Schrad.
	Bromus hordeaceus L. subsp. hordeaceus
R	Bromus lanceolatus Roth
	Bromus racemosus L. subsp. racemosus
	Bromus squarrosus L. subsp. squarrosus
	Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.
	Cynosurus cristatus L.
	Cynosurus echinatus L.
	Dactylis glomerata L. subsp. glomerata
	Dasypyrum villosum (L.) P. Candargy
	Elymus caninus (L.) L.
	Elymus repens (L.) Gould. subsp. repens
	Festuca circummediterranea Patzke
	Festuca heterophylla Lam.
R	Festuca inops De Not.
	Festuca laevigata Gaudin
	Festuca stricta Host subsp. trachyphylla (Hack.) Patzke ex Pils
	Glyceria notata Chevall.
E	Helictochloa praetutiana (Parl. ex Arcang.) Bartolucci, F.Conti, Peruzzi & Banfi subsp. praetutiana
	Holcus lanatus L. subsp. lanatus
R	Hordelymus europaeus (L.) Harz
	Koeleria australis A. Kern.
	Koeleria callierii (Domin) Ujhelyi
E	Koeleria splendens C. Presl
	Koeleria subcaudata (Asch. & Graebn.) Ujhelyi
	Leucopoa dimorpha (Guss.) H.Scholz & Foggi
	Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) Darbysh. subsp. arundinaceum
	Lolium multiflorum Lam.
	Lolium perenne L.
	Lolium pratense (Huds.) Darbysh.
	Melica ciliata L. subsp. ciliata
	Melica uniflora Retz.
	Nardus stricta L.
	Phleum alpinum L.
	Phleum nodosum L.
	Phleum hirsutum Honck. subsp. ambiguum (Ten.) Cif. & Giacom.
	Phleum pratense L. subsp. pratense
	Poa alpina L. subsp. alpina
	Poa annua L.
	Poa bulbosa L.
	Poa compressa L.
	Poa infirma Kunth
MR	Poa molinerii Balb.
	Poa nemoralis L. subsp. nemoralis
	Poa pratensis L. subsp. pratensis
	Poa sylvicola Guss.
	Poa trivialis L.
	Sesleria autumnalis (Scop.) F.W. Schultz
	Sesleria juncifolia Suffren subsp. juncifolia
E	Sesleria nitida Ten. subsp. nitida
E	Stipa dasyvaginata Martinovský subsp. apenninicola Martinovský et Moraldo
	Trisetaria flavescens (L.) Baumg. subsp. flavescens
E – RR	Trisetaria villosa (Bertol.) Banfi et Soldano
Ranunculaceae
	Actaea spicata L.
	Anemone ranunculoides (L.) Holub
	Clematis vitalba L.
	Delphinium ajacis L.
	Delphinium consolida L. subsp. consolida
	Delphinium fissum Waldst. et Kit. subsp. fissum
	Eranthis hyemalis (L.) Salisb.
	Ficaria verna Huds. subsp. verna
	Hepatica nobilis Schreb.
R	Ranunculus acris L. subsp. acris
E – R	Ranunculus apenninus (Chiov.) Pignatti
MR	Ranunculus bulbosus L. subsp. bulbosus
R	Ranunculus gramineus L.
	Ranunculus illyricus L.
	Ranunculus lanuginosus L.
	Ranunculus millefoliatus Vahl
	Ranunculus monspeliacus L. subsp. monspeliacus
	Ranunculus repens L.
	Ranunculus sardous Crantz
	Ranunculus sceleratus L.
E – MR	Ranunculus thomasii Ten.
MR	Ranunculus tuberosus Lapeyr.
Papaveraceae
	Corydalis cava (L.) Schweigg. et Körte subsp. cava
	Corydalis pumila (Host) Rchb.
E – RR	Corydalis densiflora C.Presl subsp. apennina F.Conti, Bartolucci & Uzunov
	Papaver dubium L. subsp. dubium
	Papaver rhoeas L. subsp. rhoeas
Crassulaceae
	Petrosedum rupestre (L.) P.V.Heath
	Sedum acre L.
	Sedum album L.
R	Sedum atratum L. subsp. atratum
	Sedum dasyphyllum L.
	Sedum hispanicum L.
	Sedum rubens L.
	Sedum sexangulare L.
R	Sempervivum arachnoideum L.
E	Sempervivum riccii Iberite et Anzal.
Grossulariaceae
R	Ribes alpinum L.
MR	Ribes multiflorum Kit. ex Roem. et Schult. subsp. multiflorum
R	Ribes uva-crispa L. subsp. uva-crispa
Saxifragaceae
	Saxifraga adscendens L. subsp. adscendens
	Saxifraga bulbifera L.
R	Saxifraga callosa Sm. subsp. callosa
E – R	Saxifraga exarata Vill. subsp. ampullacea (Ten.) D.A.Webb
	Saxifraga granulata L. subsp. granulata
	Saxifraga paniculata Mill.
E	Saxifraga porophylla Bertol. subsp. porophylla
	Saxifraga rotundifolia L. subsp. rotundifolia
	Saxifraga tridactylites L.
Fabaceae
	Anthyllis montana L. subsp. jacquinii (Rchb.f.) Rohlena
R	Anthyllis vulneraria L. subsp. pulchella (Vis.) Bornm.
	Anthyllis vulneraria L. subsp. rubriflora (DC.) Arcang.
	Astragalus depressus L. subsp. depressus
	Astragalus glycyphyllos L.
R	Astragalus sempervirens Lam.
E – MR	Astragalus sirinicus Ten.
	Colutea arborescens L.
	Coronilla minima L. subsp. minima
	Coronilla scorpioides (L.) W.D.J. Koch
	Cytisophyllum sessilifolium (L.) O. Lang
	Cytisus hirsutus L.
	Lotus herbaceus (Vill.) Jauzein
RR	Genista sagittalis L.
	Genista tinctoria L.
	Hippocrepis comosa L. subsp. comosa
MR	Hippocrepis glauca Ten.
	Lathyrus cicera L.
	Lathyrus latifolius L.
	Lathyrus nissolia L.
	Lathyrus pratensis L. subsp. pratensis
	Lathyrus sphaericus Retz.
	Lathyrus sylvestris L. subsp. sylvestris
	Lathyrus venetus (Mill.) Wohlf.
	Lathyrus vernus (L.) Bernh.
MR	Lotus corniculatus L. subsp. alpinus (DC.) Rothm.
	Lotus corniculatus L. subsp. corniculatus
	Medicago falcata L. subsp. falcata
	Medicago lupulina L.
	Medicago minima (L.) L.
RR	Medicago prostrata Jacq. subsp. prostrata
NAT	Medicago sativa L.
RR	Onobrychis arenaria (Kit.) DC. subsp. arenaria
	Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.
	Ononis pusilla L. subsp. pusilla
	Ononis reclinata L.
	Ononis spinosa L. subsp. spinosa
E – RR	Oxytropis pilosa (L.) DC. subsp. caputoi (Moraldo et La Valva) Brilli-Catt., Di Massimo et Gubellini
	Securigera varia (L.) Lassen
	Spartium junceum L.
	Trifolium alpestre L.
	Trifolium angustifolium L. subsp. angustifolium
	Trifolium arvense L.
	Trifolium campestre Schreb.
	Trifolium dubium Sibth.
	Trifolium fragiferum L. subsp. fragiferum
	Trifolium incarnatum L. subsp. molinerii (Balb. ex Hornem.) Ces.
	Trifolium micranthum Viv.
R	Trifolium montanum L. subsp. rupestre (Ten.) Nyman
	Trifolium nigrescens Viv. subsp. nigrescens
	Trifolium ochroleucum Huds.
	Trifolium pallidum Waldst. et Kit.
RR	Trifolium phleoides Willd.
	Trifolium pratense L. subsp. pratense
E	Trifolium pratense L. subsp. semipurpureum (Strobl) Pignatti
	Trifolium repens L.
	Trifolium scabrum L.
	Trifolium squarrosum L.
R	Trifolium thalii Vill.
	Trigonella gladiata M. Bieb.
	Trigonella officinalis (L.) Coulot & Rabaute
	Vicia angustifolia L.
	Vicia cracca L.
	Vicia dasycarpa Ten.
	Vicia incana Gouan
MR	Vicia onobrychioides L.
	Vicia sepium L.
Polygalaceae
R	Polygala alpestris Rchb. subsp. alpestris
	Polygala major Jacq.
MR	Polygala nicaeensis W.D.J. Koch subsp. mediterranea Chodat
Rosaceae
	Agrimonia eupatoria L. subsp. eupatoria
RR	Alchemilla cinerea Buser
MR	Alchemilla glaucescens Wallr.
R	Alchemilla monticola Opiz
MR	Alchemilla strigosula Buser
	Amelanchier ovalis Medik. subsp. ovalis
	Aremonia agrimonoides (L.) DC. subsp. agrimonoides
MR	Cotoneaster integerrimus Medik.
	Crataegus laevigata (Poir.) DC.
	Crataegus monogyna Jacq.
	Filipendula vulgaris Moench
	Fragaria vesca L. subsp. Vesca
MR	Geum molle Vis. et Pancic
	Geum urbanum L.
NAT	Malus domestica (Suckow.) Borkh.
	Malus sylvestris (L.) Mill.
R	Potentilla detommasii Ten.
	Potentilla micrantha Ramond ex DC.
R	Potentilla pedata Willd ex Hornem.
	Potentilla recta L.subsp. recta
	Potentilla reptans L.
E	Potentilla rigoana Th.Wolf
	Poterium sanguisorba subsp. balearicum (Bourg. ex Nyman) Stace
	Prunus avium (L.) L.
	Prunus mahaleb L.
	Prunus spinosa L. subsp. spinosa
	Pyrus communis L. subsp. pyraster (L.) Ehrh.
	Rosa arvensis Huds.
	Rosa balsamica Besser
	Rosa canina L. s.s.
	Rosa corymbifera Borkh.
MR	Rosa montana Chaix
	Rosa pouzinii Tratt.
	Rosa spinosissima L.
	Rosa squarrosa (A. Rau) Boreau
MR	Rosa villosa L.
	Rubus caesius L.
	Rubus canescens DC.
	Rubus hirtus Waldst. et Kit.
	Rubus idaeus L. subsp. idaeus
	Rubus ulmifolius Schott
	Sorbus aria (L.) Crantz
Rhamnaceae
R	Atadinus alpinus (L.) Raf.
R	Atadinus fallax (Boiss.) Hauenschild
R	Atadinus pumilus (Turra) Hauenschild subsp. pumilus
R	Rhamnus saxatilis Jacq.
Urticaceae
	Urtica dioica L. subsp. dioica
Fagaceae
	Fagus sylvatica L. subsp. sylvatica
	Quercus cerris L.
	Quercus pubescens Willd. subsp. pubescens
Betulaceae
	Corylus avellana L.
	Ostrya carpinifolia Scop.
Cucurbitaceae
	Bryonia dioica Jacq.
Celastraceae
	Euonymus europaeus L.
	Euonymus latifolius (L.) Mill.
RR	Parnassia palustris L. subsp. palustris
Violaceae
	Viola alba Besser subsp. dehnhardtii (Ten.) W.Becker
	Viola arvensis Murray
E	Viola eugeniae Parl. subsp. eugeniae
MR	Viola kitaibeliana Schult.
	Viola odorata L.
	Viola reichenbachiana Jord. ex Boreau
Salicaceae
	Populus tremula L.
	Salix apennina A.K. Skortsov
	Salix caprea L.
	Salix eleagnos Scop.
MR	Salix purpurea L. subsp. purpurea
Linaceae
	Linum catharticum L. subsp. catharticum
	Linum corymbulosum Rchb.
	Linum strictum L.
	Linum tenuifolium L.
MR	Linum tommasinii (Rchb.) Nyman
	Linum trigynum L.
	Linum usitatissimum L. subsp. angustifolium (Huds.) Thell.
R	Linum viscosum L.
Hypericaceae
RR	Hypericum hyssopifolium Chaix
	Hypericum perforatum L. subsp. veronense (Schrank) Ces.
	Hypericum tetrapterum Fr.
Euphorbiaceae
	Euphorbia amygdaloides L.
	Euphorbia cyparissias L.
	Euphorbia falcata L. subsp. falcata
R	Euphorbia myrsinites L. subsp. myrsinites
Geraniaceae
	Erodium ciconium (L.) L’Hér.
	Erodium cicutarium (L.) L’Hér. subsp. cicutarium
	Geranium columbinum L.
	Geranium dissectum L.
	Geranium lucidum L.
	Geranium molle L.
MR	Geranium nodosum L.
	Geranium purpureum Vill.
	Geranium pyrenaicum Burm. fil. subsp. pyrenaicum
	Geranium robertianum L.
	Geranium rotundifolium L.
	Geranium sanguineum L.
Onagraceae
	Chamaenerion angustifolium (L.) Scop.
	Chamaenerion dodonaei (Vill.) Schur ex Fuss
	Epilobium montanum L.
	Epilobium parviflorum Schreb.
Lythraceae
	Lythrum hyssopifolia L.
Sapindaceae
	Acer campestre L.
	Acer opalus Mill. subsp. obtusatum (Waldst. & Kit. ex Willd.) Gams
	Acer pseudoplatanus L.
Thymelaeaceae
	Daphne laureola L.
	Daphne oleoides Schreb. subsp. oleoides
Cistaceae
	Helianthemum apenninum (L.) Mill. subsp. apenninum
MR	Helianthemum nummularium (L.) Mill. subsp. grandiflorum (Scop.) Schinz et Thell.
	Helianthemum nummularium (L.) Mill. subsp. obscurum (Celak.) Holub
	Helianthemum oelandicum (L.) Dum. Cours. subsp. incanum (Willk.) G. López
	Helianthemum salicifolium (L.) Mill.
Malvaceae
	Malva alcea L.
	Malva sylvestris L.
	Tilia platyphyllos Scop. subsp. platyphyllos
Resedaceae
	Reseda luteola L.
Brassicaceae
	Aethionema saxatile (L.) R.Br.
	Alliaria petiolata (M. Bieb.) Cavara et Grande
	Alyssum alyssoides (L.) L.
	Alyssum simplex Rudolphi
	Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh.
	Arabis alpina L. subsp. caucasica (Willd.) Briq.
RR	Arabis auriculata Lam.
	Arabis collina Ten. subsp. collina
	Arabis hirsuta (L.) Scop.
	Arabis sagittata (Bertol.) DC.
	Barbarea bracteosa Guss.
	Barbarea vulgaris R. Br.
	Biscutella laevigata L. subsp. laevigata var. laevigata
	Bunias erucago L.
	Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik. subsp. bursa-pastoris
	Capsella rubella Reut.
	Cardamine bulbifera (L.) Crantz
	Cardamine impatiens L. subsp. impatiens
RR	Conringia austriaca (Jacq.) Sweet
	Draba aizoides L. subsp. aizoides
	Draba verna L. subsp. verna
E – RR	Erysimum majellense Polatschek – after Iocchi et al. (2010) this is the second record for Lazio, thus representing a confirmation of its presence in the region.
E	Erysimum pseudorhaeticum Polatschek
R	Hesperis laciniata All. subsp. laciniata
	Hesperis matronalis L. subsp. matronalis
	Hornungia petraea (L.) Rchb. subsp. petraea
	Isatis tinctoria L. subsp. tinctoria
	Microthlaspi perfoliatum (L.) F.K.Mey.
	Mummenhoffia alliacea (L.) Esmailbegi & Al-Shehbaz
	Pseudoturritis turrita (L.) Al-Shehbaz
	Rapistrum rugosum (L.) All.
	Sinapis arvensis L. subsp. arvensis
MR	Turritis glabra L.
Loranthaceae
	Loranthus europaeus Jacq.
Santalaceae
	Thesium humifusum DC.
R	Thesium linophyllon L.
R	Viscum album L.
Plumbaginaceae
E	Armeria canescens (Host) Ebel
Polygonaceae
R	Bistorta officinalis Delarbre
	Fallopia convolvulus (L.) A. Löve
	Polygonum arenastrum Boreau subsp. arenastrum
	Polygonum aviculare L. subsp. aviculare
	Rumex acetosa L. subsp. acetosa
	Rumex acetosella L. subsp. pyrenaicus (Pourr. ex Lapeyr.) Akeroyd
R	Rumex alpinus L.
R	Rumex arifolius All.
	Rumex crispus L.
	Rumex scutatus L. subsp. scutatus
Caryophyllaceae
	Agrostemma githago L. subsp. githago
	Arenaria leptoclados (Rchb.) Guss. subsp. leptoclados
	Arenaria serpyllifolia L. subsp. serpyllifolia
	Cerastium arvense L. subsp. arvense
	Cerastium brachypetalum Desp. ex Pers. subsp. brachypetalum
	Cerastium brachypetalum Desp. ex Pers. subsp. roeseri (Boiss. et Heldr.) Nyman
	Cerastium brachypetalum Desp. ex Pers. subsp. tenoreanum (Ser.) Soó
	Cerastium ligusticum Viv.
E	Cerastium tomentosum L.
	Dianthus carthusianorum L. subsp. carthusianorum
	Dianthus deltoides L. subsp. deltoides
R	Dianthus hyssopyfolius L.
	Dianthus longicaulis Ten.
R	Drypis spinosa L. subsp. spinosa
RR	Herniaria glabra L. subsp. nebrodensis Nyman
	Herniaria hirsuta L. subsp. hirsuta
	Herniaria incana Lam.
RR	Mcneillia graminifolia (Ard.) Dillenb. & Kadereit subsp. clandestina (Port.) Dillenb. & Kadereit
	Moehringia trinervia (L.) Clairv.
	Paronychia kapela (Hacq.) A. Kern. subsp. kapela
	Petrorhagia dubia (Raf.) G. López et Romo
	Petrorhagia prolifera (L.) P. W. Ball. et Heywood
	Petrorhagia saxifraga (L.) Link subsp. saxifraga
	Rabelera holostea (L.) M.T.Sharples & E.A.Tripp
	Sabulina glaucina (Dvořáková) Dillenb. & Kadereit
	Sabulina tenuifolia (L.) Rchb. subsp. tenuifolia
R	Sabulina verna (L.) Rchb. subsp. verna
	Sagina alexandrae Iamonico
	Saponaria ocymoides L.
	Scleranthus annuus L.
	Scleranthus polycarpos L.
MR	Silene ciliata Pourr. subsp. graefferi (Guss.) Nyman
	Silene conica L.
	Silene dioica (L.) Clairv.
	Silene italica (L.) Pers. subsp. italica
	Silene latifolia Poir.
R	Silene multicaulis Guss. subsp. multicaulis
	Silene nemoralis Waldst. et Kit.
E – MR	Silene notarisii Ces.
MR	Silene nutans L. subsp. nutans
	Silene otites (L.) Wibel
MR	Silene saxifraga L.
	Silene vulgaris (Moench) Garcke subsp. vulgaris
	Stellaria media (L.) Vill. subsp. media
	Stellaria nemorun L. subsp. montana (Pierrat) Berher
	Stellaria pallida (Dumort.) Crép.
Chenopodiaceae
	Blitum bonus-henricus (L.) Rchb.
	Chenopodium album L.
	Chenopodium opulifolium Schrad. ex W.D.J. Koch et Ziz
	Chenopodium vulvaria L.
Primulaceae
	Cyclamen hederifolium Aiton subsp. hederifolium
	Lysimachia arvensis (L.) U.Manns & Anderb. subsp. arvensis
R	Primula veris L. subsp. columnae (Ten.) Maire & Petitm.
	Primula vulgaris Huds. subsp. vulgaris
Ericaceae
	Monotropa hypopitys L.
	Orthilia secunda (L.) House
R	Vaccinium myrtillus L.
Rubiaceae
R	Asperula aristata L.f. subsp. scabra Nyman
	Asperula cynanchica L.
	Asperula purpurea (L.) Ehrend.
	Cruciata glabra (L.) C.Bauhin ex Opiz
	Cruciata laevipes Opiz
MR	Cruciata pedemontana (Bellardi) Ehrend.
	Galium album Mill. subsp. album
	Galium aparine L.
	Galium corrudifolium Vill.
	Galium lucidum All.
E – MR	Galium magellense Ten.
	Galium mollugo L.
	Galium odoratum (L.) Scop.
	Galium verum L. subsp. verum
	Sherardia arvensis L.
Gentianaceae
	Centaurium pulchellum (Sw.) Druce subsp. pulchellum
	Gentiana cruciata L. subsp. cruciata
	Gentiana lutea L. subsp. lutea
MR	Gentiana utriculosa L.
	Gentiana verna L. subsp. verna
E	Gentianella columnae (Ten.) Holub
Apocynaceae
	Vincetoxicum hirundinaria Medik. subsp. hirundinaria
Boraginaceae
	Aegonychon purpurocaeruleum (L.) Holub
	Anchusa azurea Mill.
	Buglossoides arvensis (L.) I.M. Johnst.
MR	Buglossoides incrassata (Guss.) I.M. Johnst. subsp. incrassata
E	Cynoglossum apenninum L.
E – R	Cynoglossum magellense Ten.
	Cynoglossum montanum L.
	Cynoglossum officinale L.
	Cynoglottis barrelieri (All.) Vural et Kit Tan subsp. barrelieri
	Echium italicum L. subsp. italicum
	Echium vulgare L.
R	Myosotis alpestris F.W.Schmidt
	Myosotis arvensis (L.) Hill subsp. arvensis
E	Myosotis decumbens Host subsp. florentina Grau
MR	Myosotis graui Selvi
	Onosma echioides (L.) L.
E	Pulmonaria vallarsae A.Kern. subsp. apennina (Cristof. & Puppi) L.Cecchi & Selvi
Convolvulaceae
	Convolvulus arvensis L.
	Cuscuta epithymum (L.) L. subsp. epithymum
	Cuscuta planiflora Ten.
Plantaginaceae
	Chaenorhinum minus (L.) Lange subsp. minus
	Digitalis ferruginea L.
E	Digitalis micrantha Roth ex Schweigg.
	Globularia bisnagarica L.
	Globularia meridionalis (Podp.) O.Schwarz
E	Linaria purpurea (L.) Mill.
	Plantago argentea Chaix
	Plantago atrata Hoppe subsp. atrata
	Plantago lanceolata L.
	Plantago lanceolata L. var. sphaerostachya Mert. et W.D.J. Koch
	Plantago major L. subsp. major
	Plantago media L. subsp. media
	Plantago sempervirens Crantz
	Plantago subulata L.
	Veronica anagallis-aquatica L. subsp. anagallis-aquatica
	Veronica arvensis L.
MR	Veronica barrelieri H.Schott ex Roem. & Schult. subsp. barrelieri
	Veronica beccabunga L. subsp. beccabunga
	Veronica chamaedrys L. subsp. chamaedrys
	Veronica cymbalaria Bodard subsp. cymbalaria
	Veronica hederifolia L. subsp. hederifolia
R	Veronica orsiniana Ten. subsp. orsiniana
NAT	Veronica persica Poir.
	Veronica polita Fr.
MR	Veronica prostrata L.
	Veronica serpyllifolia L.
Scrophulariaceae
	Scrophularia auriculata L. subsp. auriculata
	Scrophularia canina L.
R	Scrophularia juratensis Schleich.
	Scrophularia nodosa L.
	Scrophularia scopolii Hoppe ex Pers.
	Scrophularia vernalis L.
	Verbascum longifolium Ten.
	Verbascum mallophorum Boiss. et Heldr.
	Verbascum pulverulentum Vill.
Lamiaceae
	Ajuga chamaepitys (L.) Schreb. subsp. chamaepitys
	Ajuga reptans L.
E – MR	Betonica alopecuros L. subsp. divulsa (Ten.) Bartolucci & Peruzzi
	Clinopodium menthifolium (Host) Merino subsp. menthifolium
	Clinopodium vulgare L. subsp. vulgare
	Galeopsis angustifolia Hoffm. subsp. angustifolia
	Lamium bifidum Cirillo subsp. bifidum
	Lamium garganicum L. subsp. laevigatum Arcang.
	Lamium maculatum L.
	Lamium purpureum L.
	Marrubium incanum Desr.
	Melittis melissophyllum L. subsp. melissophyllum
	Mentha longifolia (L.) L.
MR	Mentha microphylla C. Koch
	Origanum vulgare L. subsp. vulgare
	Prunella laciniata (L.) L.
	Prunella vulgaris L. subsp. vulgaris
	Salvia glutinosa L.
	Salvia pratensis L.
	Salvia verbenaca L.
	Salvia virgata Jacq.
	Stachys heraclea All.
	Stachys recta L. subsp. recta
R	Stachys recta L. subsp. subcrenata (Vis.) Briq.
	Stachys tymphaea Hausskn.
	Teucrium chamaedrys L. subsp. chamaedrys
	Teucrium montanum L.
	Thymus longicaulis C.Presl subsp. longicaulis
RR	Thymus oenipontanus Heinr.Braun ex Borbás
R	Thymus praecox Opiz subsp. polytrichus (Borbás) Jalas
	Thymus striatus Vahl
	Ziziphora acinos (L.) Melnikov
	Ziziphora granatensis (Boiss. & Reut.) Melnikov subsp. alpina (L.) Bräuchler & Gutermann
Orobanchaceae
MR	Euphrasia liburnica Wettst.
	Euphrasia stricta D. Wolff ex J.F. Lehm.
	Orobanche artemisiae-campestris Gaudin
	Orobanche caryophyllacea Sm.
	Orobanche gracilis Sm.
	Orobanche minor Sm.
MR	Orobanche reticulata Wallr. subsp. reticulata
R	Orobanche teucrii Holandre
R	Orobanche variegata Wallr.
	Parentucellia latifolia (L.) Caruel
	Pedicularis comosa L. subsp. comosa
E	Pedicularis elegans Ten.
MR	Pedicularis tuberosa L.
	Rhinanthus alectorolophus (Scop.) Pollich
	Rhinanthus minor L.
E	Rhinanthus wettsteinii (Sterneck) Soó
Campanulaceae
	Campanula glomerata L. subsp. glomerata
E – MR	Campanula micrantha Bertol.
	Campanula rapunculus L.
	Campanula scheuchzeri Vill. subsp. scheuchzeri
E	Campanula tanfanii Podlech
	Campanula trachelium L. subsp. trachelium
	Edraianthus graminifolius (L.) A. DC. subsp. graminifolius
	Legousia hybrida (L.) Delarbre
	Legousia speculum-veneris (L.) Chaix subsp. speculum-veneris
R	Phyteuma orbiculare L.
Asteraceae
	Achillea setacea Waldst. et Kit. subsp. setacea
RR	Achillea tomentosa L.
	Adenostyles alpina (L.) Bluff & Fingerh. subsp. alpina
	Anthemis arvensis L. subsp. arvensis
R	Anthemis cretica L. subsp. columnae (Ten.) Franzén
	Arctium lappa L.
	Arctium minus (Hill) Bernh.
	Bellis perennis L.
	Bellis sylvestris Cirillo
	Bombycilaena erecta (L.) Smoljan
	Carduus defloratus L. subsp. carlinifolius (Lam.) Ces.
	Carduus nutans L. subsp. nutans
E	Carduus nutans L. subsp. perspinosus (Fiori) Arènes
	Carlina acanthifolia All. subsp. acanthifolia
	Carlina acaulis L. subsp. caulescens (Lam.) Schübl. et G. Martens
	Carlina corymbosa L.
	Carlina vulgaris L. subsp. vulgaris
	Carthamus lanatus L. subsp. lanatus
E – MR	Centaurea ambigua Guss. subsp. ambigua
E	Centaurea ambigua Guss. subsp. nigra (Fiori) Pignatti
RR	Centaurea arachnoidea subsp. adonidifolia (Rchb.) F. Conti, Moraldo & Ricceri
	Centaurea deusta Ten.
	Centaurea jacea L. subsp. gaudini (Boiss. et Reut.) Gremli
R	Centaurea scabiosa L.
	Centaurea triumfettii All.
	Chondrilla juncea L.
	Cichorium intybus L. subsp. intybus
	Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.
	Cirsium creticum (Lam.) d’Urv. subsp. triumfetti (Lacaita) Werner
	Cirsium eriophorum (L.) Scop.
R	Cirsium palustre (L.) Scop.
	Cota segetalis (Ten.) Holub
	Cota tinctoria (L.) J. Gay subsp. australis (R. Fern.) Oberprieler et Greuter
	Cota tinctoria (L.) J. Gay subsp. tinctoria
MR	Crepis biennis L.
	Crepis foetida L.
E	Crepis lacera Ten.
	Crepis neglecta L.
	Crepis vesicaria L. subsp. vesicaria
	Crupina vulgaris Cass.
	Doronicum columnae Ten.
	Echinops sphaerocephalus L. subsp. sphaerocephalus
	Erigeron acris L. subsp. acris
	Erigeron epiroticus (Vierh.) Halácsy
	Eupatorium cannabinum L. subsp. cannabinum
	Helminthotheca echioides (L.) Holub
R	Hieracium bifidum Kit. ex Hornem.
*	Hieracium bupleuroides C.C. Gmel.
RR	Hieracium cymosum L. subsp. cymosum
E – RR	Hieracium hoppeanum Schult.
R	Hieracium lachenalii C.C.Gmel.
	Hieracium murorum L.
MR	Hieracium prenanthoides Vill.
	Hieracium racemosum Waldst. et Kit. ex Willd.
RR	Hieracium tomentosum (L.) L.
MR	Hieracium villosum Jacq.
	Jacobaea erucifolia (L.) G.Gaertn., B.Mey. & Scherb. subsp. erucifolia
E – R	Klasea flavescens (L.) Holub subsp. cichoracea (L.) Greuter et Wagenitz
	Klasea nudicaulis (L.) Fourr.
	Lactuca perennis L. subsp. perennis
	Lactuca sativa L. subsp. serriola (L.) Galasso, Banfi, Bartolucci & Ardenghi
	Lactuca viminea (L.) J. Presl et C. Presl subsp. chondrilliflora (Boreau) St.-Lag.
	Lapsana communis L. subsp. communis
	Leontodon crispus Vill.
	Leontodon hispidus L.
	Leontodon rosanoi (Ten.) DC.
	Leontodon tuberosus L.
	Leucanthemum vulgare Lam. subsp. vulgare
NAT	Matricaria discoidea DC.
	Mycelis muralis (L.) Dumort. subsp. muralis
	Onopordum acanthium L. subsp. acanthium
	Onopordum illyricum L. subsp. illyricum
	Pentanema montanum (L.) D.Gut.Larr., Santos-Vicente, Anderb., E.Rico & M.M.Mart.Ort.
	Pentanema squarrosum (L.) D.Gut.Larr., Santos- Vicente, Anderb., E.Rico & M.M.Mart.Ort.
	Petasites hybridus (L.) P. Gaertn., B. Mey. et Scherb. subsp. hybridus
	Picris hieracioides L. subsp. hieracioides
	Pilosella officinarum Vaill.
	Pilosella piloselloides (Vill.) Soják
RR	Pilosella piloselloides (Vill.) Soják subsp. praealta (Vill. ex Gochnat) S.Bräut. & Greuter
	Prenanthes purpurea L.
	Pseudopodospermum hispanicum (L.) Zaika, Sukhor. & N.Kilian
	Ptilostemon strictus (Ten.) Greuter
	Pulicaria dysenterica (L.) Bernh.
	Scorzonera cana (C.A.Mey.) Griseb.
RR	Scorzonera laciniata L.
RR	Scorzonera purpurea L. subsp. purpurea
	Scorzoneroides cichoriacea (Ten.) Greuter
MR	Senecio apenninus Tausch
	Senecio scopolii Hoppe et Hornsch. ex Bluff et Fingerh.
R	Serratula tinctoria L. subsp. tinctoria var. tinctoria
	Solidago virgaurea L. subsp. virgaurea
	Sonchus asper (L.) Hill subsp. asper
R	Sonchus asper (L.) Hill subsp. glaucescens (Jord.) Ball
R	Tanacetum corymbosum (L.) Sch. Bip. var. corymbosum
	Tanacetum corymbosum (L.) Sch. Bip. var. tenuifolium (Willd.) Briq. et Cavill.
	Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Sch. Bip.
	Taraxacum fulvum gr.
	Taraxacum minimum (V.Brig.) N.Terracc.
	Taraxacum officinale Weber
R	Tragopogon crocifolius L.
R	Tragopogon dubius Scop.
	Tragopogon porrifolius L.
	Tragopogon pratensis L.
	Tragopogon samaritani Heldr. et Sartori ex Boiss.
	Tussilago farfara L.
	Xeranthemum cylindraceum Sm.
	Xeranthemum inapertum (L.) Mill.
Viburnaceae
	Adoxa moschatellina L. subsp. moschatellina
	Sambucus ebulus L.
	Sambucus nigra L.
Dipsacaceae
	Dipsacus fullonum L.
	Knautia purpurea (Vill.) Borbás
	Scabiosa columbaria L.
Caprifoliaceae
	Lonicera alpigena L. subsp. alpigena
	Lonicera etrusca Santi
Valerianaceae
	Centranthus ruber (L.) DC. subsp. ruber
	Valeriana officinalis L.
	Valeriana tuberosa L.
	Valerianella carinata Loisel.
	Valerianella eriocarpa Desv.
	Valerianella locusta (L.) Laterr.
Araliaceae
	Hedera helix L. subsp. helix
Apiaceae
	Aegopodium podagraria L.
	Angelica sylvestris L. subsp. sylvestris
	Anthriscus sylvestris (L.) Hoffm. subsp. sylvestris
	Bunium bulbocastanum L.
	Bupleurum baldense Turra
	Bupleurum falcatum L. subsp. cernuum (Ten.) Arcang.
	Chaerophyllum aureum L.
MR	Chaerophyllum hirsutum L.
	Chaerophyllum temulum L.
	Daucus carota L. subsp. carota
	Eryngium amethystinum L.
R	Heracleum sibiricum L. subsp. sibiricum
R	Heracleum sibiricum L. subsp. ternatum (Velen.) Briq.
	Katapsuxis silaifolia (Jacq.) Reduron, Charpin & Pimenov
	Oenanthe pimpinelloides L.
	Opopanax chironium (L.) W.D.J. Koch
	Orlaya grandiflora (L.) Hoffm.
R	Pimpinella major (L.) Huds.
	Pimpinella saxifraga L.
	Pimpinella tragium Vill.
	Sanicula europaea L.
	Scandix macrorhyncha C.A.Mey.
	Scandix pecten-veneris L. subsp. pecten-veneris
	Seseli montanum L. subsp. montanum
E	Siler montanum Crantz subsp. siculum (Spreng.) Iamonico, Bartolucci & F.Conti
	Tordylium maximum L.
	Torilis arvensis (Huds.) Link subsp. arvensis
	Trinia dalechampii (Ten.) Janch.
*RR	Trinia glauca (L.) Dumort. subsp. glauca

Citation

Lattanzi E, Del Vico E, Tranquilli R, Farris E, Marignani M, Rosati L (2021) An unknown hotspot of plant diversity in the heart of the Central Apennine: flora and vegetation outline of Mt. Pozzoni-St. Rufo valley (Cittareale, Rieti). PhytoKeys 178: 111–146. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.178.62947

Supplementary materials

Supplementary material 1

Phytosociological releves surveyed in the study area and their syntaxonomical classification

This dataset is made available under the Open Database License (http://opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/1.0/). The Open Database License (ODbL) is a license agreement intended to allow users to freely share, modify, and use this Dataset while maintaining this same freedom for others, provided that the original source and author(s) are credited.

Edda Lattanzi, Eva Del Vico, Roberto Tranquilli, Emmanuele Farris, Michela Marignani, Leonardo Rosati

Data type

Table

Explanation note

Table with the phytosociological releves surveyed in the study area and their syntaxonomical classification.