Fagus sylvatica forest vegetation in Greece: Syntaxonomy and gradient analysis

This is the first comprehensive study on Fagus sylvatica s.l. forest commun ities in Greece. It is based on the multivariate analysis of more than 1100 releves throughout the distribution area of Fagus in Greece, 60 % of which have been sampled within the last 15 years. The data were compiled from al l relevant literature and from unpublished field studies. Prior to data ana lysis, taxonomic and floristic inaccuracies in older literature have been c orrected, and some taxa aggregated. Status and distribution of Fagus in Gre ece, as well as historical and silvicultural aspects, are outlined. Classif ication resulted in 16 vegetation types defined by species composition, of which 10 units are ranked as association (of which two were described as ne w) or community, with sis subcommunities included. Synonyms from the litera ture are given to all types. The floristic structure of the data set is dis played by a synoptic table and by DCA ordination. Community differentiation follows a complex edaphic-climatic-phytogeographic pattern. Apart from Fag us sylvatica ssp. orientalis forests of warm and dry habitats and low to me dium altitudes which are related to deciduous Quercus forests, four Fagion community groups are distinguished which represent different habitat types: (1) cool, humid, mesotrophic; (2) cool, acidic. (3) high altitude, calcare ous; (4) medium altitude, moderately warm and dry. The communities may be a ssigned to three regional sub-alliances, viz. (a) Doronico orientalis-Fagen ion at medium altitudes of North-Central and East-Central Greece; (b) Doron ico columnae-Fagenion in the far north and at high altitudes southward to E ast-Central Greece; (c) Geranio striati-Fagenion in the Northwest. Various types of thermophilous beech forest are assigned to (a) and (c), acidic for est to (b), and mesic Fagus forest to (b) and (c).