New plant communities discovered in Italian national park, impacting conservation efforts.
This study explored different types of grasslands in the Monti Sibillini National Park in central Italy. Researchers identified nine plant communities in four classes based on soil type and elevation. They found that certain plants prefer acidic soils at higher elevations, while others thrive on steeper slopes or flat lands with high nutrient levels. In total, they discovered 410 plant species, including some rare ones like Calluna vulgaris and Genista sagittalis. Additionally, eight species were newly identified in the park.