On a new Molinia caerulea grassland association in the central Apennines (Italy)

Molinia caerulea meadows represent a well-known Natura 2000 Habitat with a large potential distribution area in Europe. As for Italy, at present they were recognized only in its Northern and Southern part. The present study analyzes for the first time a new Molinia caerulea plant community found in a karst montane plateau of Central Italy. Its floristic-sociological characteristics allow the authors to propose the new association Centaureo jaceae-Molinietum caeruleae, with two subassociation (-typicum and -caricetosum hostianae), along with one variant. Despite of these Purple moorgrass meadows show some affinities with some Western Balkan plant associations belonging to Trifolio-Hordeetalia, the study suggests that the new association should be better referred to the Molinietalia caeruleae order.