CONTRIBUTION TO THE STUDY OF THE GREEK FLORA - FLORA AND VEGETATION OF THE ENOUSSES (OINOUSSES) ISLANDS (EAST AEGEAN AREA)

Enousses is an islets group situated eastwards of Chios island (E. Aeg ean, Greece), which remained quite unexplored floristically. Based on our herborizations, 270 taxa belonging to 51 families and 204 genera o f spermatophytes are listed for the flora of this area. The flora of t he area is analysed and the plant species recognized are classified in to 9 chorological groups and 5 life form types. The results of this an alysis confirm the Mediterranean character of the flora since the Medi terranean elements and the therophytes are predominant in the area. Th e vegetation of all islets is characterized by the dominance of phryga nic communities, and the three ''vegetation zones'' distinguished (lit toral, sublittoral and interior ones) are described. Geological histor y, geography, microecological differences, random events and human act ivities seem to be the most important factors related to the diversity of the flora and vegetation observed in our area. Special attention h as been given to human interference, since in the bigger islets of the group -which are used for agriculture, grazing etc. - high percentage s of Therophytes and Leguminous species have been observed (indexes of disturbance). On the contrary, in the smaller ones. which are not aff ected by human activities (i.e. Vatopoula), these indexes show deviate values. For this reason, the importance of the small islets ecosystem s in floristic and ecological studies in the Aegean area is pointed ou t.