Bogs and mires in mediterranean areas: the vegetation of the marshlands of the Lacìna Plain (Calabria, S. Italy)

The vegetation of wet meadows and marshy zones of the Lacìna Plain (Calabria, Southern Italy) was investigated. This biotope is characterized by the presence of a residual bog which is one of the most southern in Italy. The aims of this paper are: i) describing the plant communities of the studied area, ii) underlining the role of relict elements and to highlight their value for biodiversity conservation. 89 phytosociological relevés from herbaceous vegetation (75) and wet woodlands (14) were taken in the field. The numerical classification and the comparison with data from literature lead to the identification of herbaceous communites of Potametea, Phragmition, Magnocaricion and Calthion. Noteworthy are the new associations Caricetum echinatae GARGANO, PASSALACQUA & BERNARDO ass. n. and Carici demissae-Potametum polygonifolii GARGANO, PASSALACQUA & BERNARDO ass. n. included in the Euro-Siberian alliances Caricion fuscae and Eleocharition acicularis, respectively. The phytosociological analysis and the ecological characterization of the woody vegetation allow to include the riparian communities into the alliance Alno-Ulmion; while we assigned the marshy woods to the Alnion glutinosae. Its presence is a further aspect underlining the biogeographic value of the Lacìna plain vegetation.