The syntaxonomic position of Santolina etrusca: multivariate analysis

The results of multivariate analysis of the syntaxonomic role of Santolina etrusca (Lacaita) Marchi et D'Amato, a species endemic to Tyrrhenian central Italy, are reported. Classification was performed by polythetic divisive analysis using two-way indicator species (TWINSPAN). Ordination analysis was performed by correspondence analysis (CA). Classification and ordination showed that although Santolina etrusca grows prevalently in communities of Rosmarinetalia Br.-Bl, ex Molinier 1934, it is ecologically correlated and associated with entities of unstable nitrophilous communities subject to frequent disturbance belonging to an order, Helichryso-Santolinetalia Peinado and Martinez-Parras 1984, with western eumediterranean distribution. However it does not have a well defined sociological role, as it is constant in all community groups.