Ricerche sulla Vegetazione della Valsesia

Summary

The present work, forming a part of the research on the Valsesian vegetation, is an investigation of the botanical aspects of one of the tributary valleys of the Mastallone torrent, the Sabbiola valley.

The valley has steep flanks cut into compacted crystalline rock; this morphology is very different from other valleys cut through esasily erodible rock, and with gentle slopes, and has marked influence on the vegetation.

At the base of the valley a forest of Alnus incana and Fraxinus Ornus and, ascending, a stand of chestnut trees not very extensive was noted.

Betula pendula was noted as high as 1200 meters (above sea level). Beech trees, more or less heliophilus or acidophilus are extended lo higher elevations, up to 1500 m., and started at about 850–900 m. The hypsophylous conifers were missing and the “cacuminale” vegetation was neither very extensive or typical, because even the highest elevations of this valley are relatively low for this type of vegetation.

The study of the vegetation of this valley upon completion will be incorparated and inte preted together with the results of other research on the Valsesian region.