Distribution of Leguminosae taxa in habitat types of northern Greece

The plant family of Leguminosae includes many taxa of high economical and ecological value. The present paper aims at the investigation of Leguminosae taxa distribution in habitat types of northern Greece. Published data from floristic and vegetation works, as well as, unpublished field data were used to explore their habitat preferences. Results revealed that Leguminosae taxa found in salt meadows and dunes are few; most of them occur in (sub-) continental forests and grasslands: a) a group including taxa growing at lowland grasslands (e.g. Trifolium cherleri), b) another group comprised of taxa occurring at higher altitudes and mainly at subalpine grasslands (e.g. Anthyllis montana ssp. jacquinii, Onobrychis montana ssp. scabrica), c) a third group representing taxa found mainly in thermophilous scrubs (e.g. Calicotome villosa, Anthyllis hermanniae), d) a fourth group concerning taxa occurring in azonal forests (e.g. Gleditsia triacanthos, Robinia pseudoacacia), and e) a fifth group of taxa found in submediterranean and subcontinental forests (e.g. Vicia grandiflora, Trifolium alpestre, Lathyrus vernus,). Some species have a broad niche breadth, such as Trifolium fragiferum, T. campestre and Lotus corniculatus, occurring in a high variety of habitats.