Diversity and ecology of <i>Salvia officinalis</i> communities in the Western Balkans

Vegetation diversity and ecology of grassland communities with Salvia officinalis were assessed in the natural range species Western Balkans, using Braun-Blanquet approach. With aim defining differences among identifying main environmental gradients, cluster analysis (Flexible Beta method) non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination applied. From a total 346 phytosociological relevés (259 used from literature, 87 new collected recently Montenegro Middle Dalmatian Islands Croatia), seventeen associations identified. Three (Brachypodio retusi-Salvietum officinalis, Salvietum brachyodonti-officinalis Salvio officinalis-Phlomidetum fruticosae) one subassociation (Stipo-Salvietum campanuletosum lingulatae) described for first time. Most belong to alliances Saturejion subspicatae Chrysopogono grylli-Koelerion splendentis, separated along an altitudinal thermal gradient. They classified order Koelerietalia splendentis class Helianthemo cani-Seslerietea nitidae, whose presence western Balkans is syntaxonomic novelty. three other vegetation classes, Festuco-Brometea erecti, Lygeo sparti-Stipetea tenacissimae Ononido-Rosmarinetea.