Legumes in the fire-prone Mediterranean regions: An example from Greece
Arianoutsou M, Thanos CA
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF WILDLAND FIRE

6 (2): 77-82 JUN 1996

 

Document type: Article   

Language: English   

 

 


Abstract:
Mediterranean climate ecosystems of the Mediterranean rim are rich in legumes, both as woody shrubs of the late successional stages and as short-lived, pioneer herbaceous plants. In a survey of the floras of numerous geographic regions of Greece, legumes in Mediterranean parts are found to contribute considerably more (11-16% of the total number of species) than in non-Mediterranean regions (6-8%). Legume presence is also notable in other Mediterranean-type ecosystems of the world; nevertheless most leguminous taxa of the Mediterranean basin are herbs in contrast to a significant contribution of shrubs in California and Chile. Due to their long-lived soil banks of hard coated seeds herbaceous legumes are usually among the early post-fire colonizers in the Mediterranean and may play a significant role in the succession of fire-prone communities.

Author Keywords:
Mediterranean ecosystems, Greece, leguminosae, ecological success

KeyWords Plus:
VEGETATION, FLORA, AREA

Addresses:
Arianoutsou M, UNIV ATHENS,FAC SCI,SCH BIOL,DEPT SYSTEMAT & ECOL,ATHENS 15784,GREECE

Publisher:
INT ASSOC WILDLAND FIRE, FAIRFIELD

IDS Number:
VG988

ISSN:
1049-8001

 


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