An ecological and syntaxonomical overview of Castanea sativa and a new association in Turkey.

Castanea sativa Mill. is thought to be originated from Turkey. It is an important deciduous angiosperm with edible fruits and valuable wood. It has a wide distribution from east Black sea to Marmara and Aegean Regions. Because of its wide distribution, C. sativa grows on different ecological, geological, climatic and edaphic condition and these results in different associations with different companion species evaluated in different upper units. In this paper, the status of Turkish C. sativa forests, their ecological and syntaxonomical characteristics were overviewed. The C. sativa associations described so far and a new one from Black Sea region were grouped in various alliances of two distinct classes, Querco-Fagetea and Quercetea pubescentis.