Apennine deciduous montane forests
The Apennine deciduous montane forests are a temperate broadleaf and mixed forests ecoregion in the Apennine Mountains of Italy. The development of these forests is ensured by the high rainfall in the Apennines (from 1000 mm in the southern mountains to 2500 mm in the north), combined with a temperate-cool climate. Because of climate change, the presence of silver fir (Abies alba), although still widespread, has been dramatically reduced in favour of beech. Flora The ecoregion has two major vegetation zones, montane forests and mountain meadows. The beech forests are characterized by European beech Fagus sylvatica. Beech often grows with deciduous oaks (Quercus spp.) maples (Acer pseudoplatanus, Acer opalus ssp. obtusatum, and A. lobelii), Sorbus aria, S. aucuparia, S. torminalis, Ulmus glabra, Tilia platyphyllos, Populus tremula, Ilex aquifolium, and the evergreen conifer yew (Taxus baccata). There are also mixed stands of beech and silver fir (Abies alba), along with relict stands of Italian black pine (Pinus nigra var. italica) and relict stands of Picea abies and Pinus sylvestris in the northern Apennines. The mountain summits are covered with alpine meadows and woody cushion shrublands. Cushion shrubs include alpine juniper (Juniperus communis subsp. nana), Sorbus chamaemespilus, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, and