Italian sclerophyllous and semi-deciduous forests

The term Italian Sclerophyllous and deciduous forests ecoregion, in the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub Biome, is in Italy. The region extends from the Po Basin to the Apennine Mountains of Basilicata and Calabria. Rock types are limestone, dolomite, marl, schist-marl, and sandstone.

Three forest zones

Since there is a wide altitudinal range there are three forest zones.

Low elevations forest zone

Characteristic low elevations forest zone species are:

• sclerophyllous evergreen oaks:

• Quercus ilex,
• Quercus suber

• deciduous trees such as:

• Quercus pubescens,
• Fraxinus ornus,
• Ostrya carpinifolia,
• Celtis australis,
• Acer monspessulanum,
• Carpinus orientalis
• Crataegus monogyna.

Medium elevations forest zone

The medium elevations forest zone predominant species are:

• Quercus cerris,
• Quercus pubescens,
• Quercus frainetto,
• Castanea sativa
• Ostrya carpinifolia

High elevation forest zone

The high elevation forest zone has very diverse and extensive mixed deciduous forests species are:

• The dominant species of the tree canopy

• Fagus sylvatica

• Other trees are:

• Acer pseudoplatanus,
• Acer opalus ssp. obtusatum,
• Acer lobelii (endemic),
• Sorbus aria,
• Sorbus aucuparia,
• Sorbus torminalis,
• Ulmus glabra,
• Tilia platyphyllos,
• Populus tremula,
• Ilex aquifolium,
• Taxus baccata.