South Apennine mixed montane forests


The South Apennine mixed montane forests is an ecoregion in the southern Apennine Mountains of southern Italy and Sicily. It has a Mediterranean climate, and is in the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome.
This ecoregion is restricted to the high mountain massifs of the regions of Basilicata, Calabria and the island of Sicily.

Flora

The ecoregion's wide altitudinal range results in several forest zones.

Lowest elevations

At lowest elevations the forests are characterized by the sclerophyllous evergreen holm oak and cork oak, coniferous stone pine, and the decidous trees Quercus pubescens, Fraxinus ornus, and Ostrya carpinifolia.

Medium elevations

At medium elevations the mixed deciduous forests of Quercus cerris, Quercus pubescens, Quercus frainetto, sweet chestnut, and Ostrya carpinifolia predominate.

High elevations

At high elevation altitudes there is a north-south slopes gradient of plant communities: