BRYOPHYTE VEGETATION OF ALICANTE PROVINCE (SE SPAIN)

The bryophyte vegetation of the Alicante Province (SE Spain) has been studied according to the Braun-Blanquet (1964) method. Twenty-four com munities have been recognized, of which 2 are epiphytic (class Frullan io-Leucodontetea sciuroidis Mohan 1978 emend. Marstaller 1985), 6 are saxicolous (classes Grimmietea anodontis Hadac & Vondracek in Jezek & Vondracek 1962, Ctenidietea mollusci Hubschmann ex Grgic 1980 and Neck eretea complanatae MarstaIler 1986), 12 terricolous (class Barbuletea unguiculatae Mohan 1978) and 4 aquatic (classes Montio-Cardaminetea Br aun-Blanquet & Tuxen 1943 and Platyhypnidio-Fontinalietea antipyretica e Philippi 1956). Two associations have been described as new: the Sel aginello denticulatae-Timmielletum barbuloidis ass. nova, which grows on scree, slightly humiferous and humid soils, which are sometimes rat her acidic, and the Pottio pallidae-Riccietum crustatae ass. nova, of saline soils with clayey texture in clearings of halophytic cormophyti c vegetation. Studies of the dynamics of the communities were undertak en.