Vegetation samples at the permanent plots of LTER site "Appennino Centrale: Velino-Duchessa" (1993-2023)

The present dataset comprises observations spanning from 1993 to 2023, focusing on biotic parameters collected from six permanent plots included into the LTER site “Appennino Centrale: Velino-Duchessa” (https://deims.org/12c79ecb-7890-4b75-9655-0883dacd8a29), located in Central Italy above the timberline (2125-2225 m a.s.l.). Specifically, it includes a synthesis of phytosociological relevés collected, according the Braun-Blanquet approach (coverage scale as modified by Pignatti) in 6 permanent plots of 10x10 m (https://deims.org/dataset/0c540fe8-1984-11e5-a766-005056ab003f), representative of two high-elevation plant communities (alpine tundra, Saxifrago speciosae-Silenetum ceniasiae, and snow-bed grassland, Trifolio thalii-Festucetum microphyllae). Species are named according to Flora d'Italia (Pignatti, 1982). The site, managed by Carabinieri, Forest and Environmental Protection Department, is part of the site “IT01- Apennines - High elevation Ecosystems – Italy” (https://deims.org/70b5c2bd-b0c3-4132-8988-f527893bfa42) which belongs to the Long Term Ecological Research national and international networks (LTER-Italy, LTER-Europe and ILTER). The data collection started in 1993 and it is continuously updated every year.