Syntaxonomical survey of Geranio-Cardaminetalia hirsutae: semi-natural therophytic vegetation of the Mediterranean Region

A syntaxonomical scheme, including geographical range and synonymies of all the associationsascribed to Geranio-Cardaminetalia hirsutae, is presented. This order, framed into the classStellarietea mediae, groups sciaphilo-subnitrophilous annual vegetation of natural and semi-naturalhabitats, commonly occurring on substrata rich in organic matter, accumulating on stone-walls,shaded rocks and initial soils, often under the canopy of shrubs and trees. Twelve new associationsfrom Sardinia, Sicily, Egean islands and Israel are here described for the fi rst time.