Contribution to the phytosociological knowledge of the subalpine grasslands: the examples of Pieria and Βeles mountains

This paper studies the phytosociological units of the subalpine area of mountains Pieria and Beles (North Greece). The study area is mainly occupied by grasslands although the presence of the dwarf shrub Juniperus communis ssp. nana is also important. Wet grasslands also occur sporadically. Four vegetation units have been identified: 1) Juniperus communis ssp. nana–community, which occurs at both mountains and can be separated into two variances: with Vaccinium myrtillus and without Vaccinium myrtillus, 2) Nardus stricta–community, which occurs only to the Pieria mountains and occupies better sites compared to Juniperus communis ssp. nana–community, 3) Juncus effusus- Cardamine acris–community, and, 4) Geum coccineum-Deschampsia cespitosa–community. Juncus effusus-Cardamine acris and Geum coccineum-Deschampsia cespitosa communities are present at both mountains and occupy sites with permanent or seasonal flooding. The first two vegetation units are classified into Festuco-Brometea class and the last two into Molinio-Arrhenatheretea class. In terms of range management, Juniperus communis ssp. nana and Nardus stricta communities are of limited grazing value due to the dominance of unpalatable species, while Juncus effusus-Cardamine acris and Geum coccineum-Deschampsia cespitosa communities constitute valuable range resources during the summer dry period.