Summer roadside vegetation dominated by Sorghum halepense in peninsular Italy: survey and classification

• DOI: 10.1007/s12210-022-01050-3
• Publication Date: 2022-02-03T01:03:06Z
• Authors: Emanuele Fanfarillo; Giulio Zangari; Filip Küzmič; Tiberio Fiaschi; Gianmaria Bonari; Claudia Angiolini
• Keywords: Ruderal species

Abstract Sorghum halepense is a synanthropic tall grass distributed worldwide from tropical to temperate zones, and it often considered an invasive alien. It perennial, rhizomatous plant that tends form dense stands derived vegetative sexual propagation. Despite roadside communities dominated by are very common in southern Europe, their phytosociological aspects scarcely studied. In this work, we present the results of vegetation survey peninsular Italy, carried out means method. total, 73 relevés Liguria, Tuscany, Latium, Campania, Basilicata, Apulia. We statistically compared our those Balkans classified Cynodonto-Sorghetum halepensis , association agricultural annual weed class Stellarietea mediae s.l. used past as reference for Italian S. -dominated communities. Our show different Cynodonto–Sorghetum communities, since latter rich species, while former perennial species. From syntaxonomic point view, better Artemisietea vulgaris . describe new (sub-)ruderal Potentillo reptantis–Sorghetum including meso-hygrophilous variant with Urtica dioica Elymus repens have evidence Potentillo–Sorghetum occurs Kosovo Slovenia, but its distribution possibly wider due conspicuous presence cosmopolitan species characterizing association. work provides baseline knowledge alien-dominated community can invade habitats high conservation value.