Biogeographical, Synecological And Syntaxonomical Outlines Of Lombardy And Piedmont Lowland Heathlands (NW Italy).

Calluna vulgaris communities of Lombardy and Piedmont upper Po Plain, developing on different Quaternary deposits, can be considered one of the most southern example of lowland heathlands in Europe. First outcomes of the vegetation surveys carried out with phytosociological methods, are reported. Vegetation types have been characterised and their relationships with different deposits have been sought. On older deposits major community types belong to Genistion Boch. 1943, while Sarothamnion Tx. in Prsg. 1949 thickets are quite rare. Comparisons with literature emphasized such floristic differences that could lead to their arrangement in a proper sintaxon. Field observations about dominant species behaviour allowed some insight about competitive strategies and autosuccessional patterns, which suggest the partial revision of their ecological meaning.