Article

The present work focuses on germination requirements of four pioneer plant species from Mediterranean mountains, mainly occurring on more or less consolidated limestone screes and debris. The study species are Aethionema saxatile subsp. saxatile, Arenaria grandiflora subsp. grandiflora, Iberis violacea, and Odontarrhena nebrodensis subsp. nebrodensis. Seeds were collected at the time of natural dispersal, on the Madonie Massif, within an altitudinal range of 1300-1500 m a.s.l. Different germination conditions were tested and the best germination protocols for each species are provided.