01299nas a2200145 4500008004100000245009800041210006900139300001000208490000600218520077500224653006300999100002001062700002101082856005001103 1994 eng d00aCentrolepidi-Hydrocotyletea alatae, a new class of ephemeral communities in Western Australia0 aCentrolepidiHydrocotyletea alatae a new class of ephemeral commu a55-620 v53 aIn Western Australia - a relatively arid portion of the continent - wet environments are only occasionally vegetated, but well-developed communities occur in winter-wet habitats in sandplain depressions, along water courses and on rock (mostly) granite outcrops. These communities are composed of small-sized annuals, mostly belonging to the Centrolepidaceae, Asteraceae, Cyperaceae, Juncaginaceae, and Stylidiaceae. Multivariate analysis was carried out on 46 phytosociological relevés; four associations are recognized with a distinct floristic composition and ecology. Species occurring in this vegetation are mostly therophytes (66%) and many are endemics; a new vegetation class Centrolepidi-Hydrocotyletea alatae, endemic for Australia, is proposed and described.10aendemism, rock outcrop, Sandplain, syntaxonomy, therophyte1 aPignatti, Erika1 aPignatti, Sandro uhttps://juncaginaceae.myspecies.info/node/27602564nas a2200145 4500008004100000245005400041210005400095300001200149490000700161520205600168653010302224100002002327700002102347856005002368 2005 eng d00aEphemeral wetland vegetation of Western Australia0 aEphemeral wetland vegetation of Western Australia a201-2180 v353 a

Vegetation with small short-lived species was first described from the SW corner of Western Australia (WA). This vegetation occurs on inselberg and temporarily flooded areas in spring, after the rainy season. Several vegetation units have been described and on this basis in 1994 the Centrolepidi-Hydrocotyletea alatae vegetation class was proposed. Botanical investigation in desert areas of WA have been carried out during winter 2001 and 2002 in several localities of the Great Victoria, Gibson, Little and Great Sandy Desert. In all of them the presence of similar ephemeral vegetation in wet habitats has been observed. These communities also consist of short-lived species: germination occurs only after rarae events of abundant, mostly erratic, rain and is followed in rapid life-cycles by flowering and dissemination; apparently the development of this vegetation is not concentrated in a particular season, because rainfall is unreliable and mostly linked to unpredictable La Niña events. Several communities can be recognized. They are rare and may occur around claypans, ephemeral ponds, natural and artificial pools. All of them are characterized by species of Centrolepidaceae, together with Cyperus, Marsilea, Triglochin, Stylidium, Scrophulariaceae tribus Gratioleae and insectivorous plants. A synoptic table gives the floristic composition of all the communities of the class Centrolepidi-Hydrocotyletea alatae, which is compared with ephemeral wetland associations of Italy as to vegetative adaptations and phytogeographical components. Data of intensity of PAR radiation, air and soil humidity and leaf temperature show that these vegetation types are adapted to very extreme microclimatic conditions, having the roots in the humid and relatively cool substrate, whereas leaves and flowers develop under dry atmospheric conditions, with elevated temperatures (over 30°C in winter) at noon and frost during night. Most of the species occurring in these communities are endemic.

10adesert vegetation, Western Australia, Centrolepidaceae, ephemeral plants, temporarily wet habitats1 aPignatti, Erika1 aPignatti, Sandro uhttps://juncaginaceae.myspecies.info/node/27701110nas a2200157 4500008004100000245007800041210006900119300001200188490000800200520053400208653010800742100002000850700002100870700002000891856004100911 2002 eng d00aComparison of ecosystems in the Mediterranean Basin and Western Australia0 aComparison of ecosystems in the Mediterranean Basin and Western  a177-1860 v1633 a

A comparison between fire-prone ecosystems in the Mediterranean basin and Western Australia shows convergent adaptations in structure, life forms and flora evolution. Both areas have in common summer drought and winter rainfall. Reproductive biology is mainly correlated with fire ecology; the different length of human impact and history seem to be responsible for floristic divergency in both areas. The ecological significance of pollination by insects, birds and mammals and problems of the seed banks are discussed.

10aMediterranean type ecosystems, Western Australia, pollination biology, fire-prone ecosystems, seed bank1 aPignatti, Erika1 aPignatti, Sandro1 aLadd, Philip, G uhttp://www.jstor.org/stable/2005132100442nas a2200157 4500008004100000245001800041210001800059260002400077300001200101490000600113653001000119653001800129653006600147100002100213856005000234 1982 eng d00aJuncaginaceae0 aJuncaginaceae aBolognabEdagricole a327-3280 v310aItaly10aJuncaginaceae10aTriglochin maritimum, T. palustre, T. bulbosum, T. laxiflorum1 aPignatti, Sandro uhttps://juncaginaceae.myspecies.info/node/279