CRU - Helichryso-Crucianelletea maritimae Géhu et al. in Sissingh 1974

Classification phytosociologique européenne (Eurovegchecklist, 2016)

Diagnose

Atlantic, Mediterranean and Euxinian dwarf scrub and grasslands on stabilised coastal grey hind dunes

Remarques

cru01 : While it is floristically and ecologically well justified to separate the vegetation of the stabilized grey dunes from that of mobile embyonic dunes and white dunes (Ammophiletea) at the class level, there are no convincing floristic and/or ecological reasons to place some of the temperate grey dune communities in the Koelerio-Corynephoretea while others are grouped in a separate class, the Helichryso-Crucianelletea maritimae. Following Dengler (2001, 2003), the majority of units presently listed under the latter class should be included in the Koelerio-Corynephoretea. (JD) Some other authors (e.g. (Julve 1993; Rivas-Martínez et al. 2001: 195) also share this opinion. Interestingly, in a vegetation survey in 1999, J.-M. Géhu gave up his own concept of the Helichryso-Crucianelletea by incorporating the Crucianelletalia maritimae Sissingh 1974 into the Ammophiletea (see also Sýkora et al. 2003; Tzonev et al. 2005). Yet we argue (supported by Italian and Spanish studies, e.g. Esposito & Filesi 2007; Rivas-Martínez et al. 2011) that the ecotone linking the mobile dunes on one side and coastal sandy grasslands on the other creates a unique habitat supporting an exclusive species pool rich in herbs and dwarf shrubs (including many regional and pan-mediterranean endemics) that shapes unique vegetation classified as a class in its own right, the Helichryso-Crucianelletea. (LM).

Bibliographie

 Mucina L., Bültmann H., Dierßen K., Theurillat J.-P., Raus Th., Čarni A., Šumberová K., Willner W., Dengler J., Gavilán García R., Chytrý M., Hájek M., Di Pietro R., Iakushenko D., Pallas J., Daniëls F.J.A., Bergmeier E., Santos Guerra A., Ermakov N., Valachovič M., Schaminée J.H.J., Lysenko T., Didukh Y.P., Pignatti S., Rodwell J.S., Capelo J., Weber H.E., Solomeshch A., Dimopoulos P., Aguiar C., Hennekens S.M. & Tichý L., 2016. Vegetation of Europe: hierarchical floristic classification system of vascular plant, bryophyte, lichen, and algal communities. Applied Vegetation Science, 19 (Suppl. 1) : 3-264. (Source)