THE VEGETATION ABOVE TIMBERLINE IN THE VETTE DI FELTRE MOUNTAINS.
These mountains (at the southern margin of the Dolomites) were not covered by ice during the cold phases of Pleistocene, and therefore their flora is particularily rich in relict or endemie elements. The phytosociological investigation shows that the vegetation is well diversified: 15 associations belonging to at least 4 classes are described in the alpine and subalpine belts ofthis territory. Most of the associations bave been already described from other parts of the Dolomites, but in this territory most of them present particular floristic and sociological features. Three associations are new: Alyssetum ovirensis, Adenostyli-Heracleetum polliniani and Cortusetum matthiolii. The phytogeographical, phytosociological and ecological problems of this vegetation are discussed.
