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Lichens and ultramafic rocks: a review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 November 2004

Sergio E. FAVERO-LONGO
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Biologia Vegetale, Università di Torino, Viale P. A. Mattioli 25, 10125 Torino, Italy
Deborah ISOCRONO
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Biologia Vegetale, Università di Torino, Viale P. A. Mattioli 25, 10125 Torino, Italy
Rosanna PIERVITTORI
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Biologia Vegetale, Università di Torino, Viale P. A. Mattioli 25, 10125 Torino, Italy

Abstract

Floristic, vegetational and ecological features of lichens in ultramafic environments are reviewed using a wide range of literature dating from the beginning of the 20th century. Co-presence of acidophytic (silicicolous) and basiphytic (calcicolous) species and the occurrence of species characterized by particular (disjunct) distribution patterns are features of lichens in ultramafic environments. It is not possible to detect consistent trends in data on other broadly accepted features, such as paucity of species, low cover and the occurrence of particular ecotypes because of the influence of several environmental factors in addition to the substratum. Some recent data about physico-chemical interactions between saxicolous lichens and ultramafic rocks are also reported.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© British Lichen Society 2004

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