
%0 Journal Article
%A Arianoutsou, M 
%A Thanos, CA 
%T Legumes in the Fire-Prone Mediterranean Regions: an Example From Greece
%J International Journal of Wildland Fire
%D 1996/06/01
%V 6
%N 2
%P 77-82
%K Mediterranean ecosystems; Greece; Legurninosae;Ecological success
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/WF9960077
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/WF9960077 
%X Mediterranean climate ecosystems of the Mediterranean rim are rich in legumes, both as woody shrubs of the late successional stages and as short-lived, pioneer herbaceous plants. In a survey of the floras of numerous geographic regions of Greece, legumes in Mediterranean parts are found to contribute considerably more (11-16% of the total number of species) than in non-Mediterranean regions (6-8%). Legume presence is also notable in other Mediterranean-type ecosystems of the world; nevertheless most leguminous taxa of the Mediterranean basin are herbs in contrast to a significant contribution of shrubs in California and Chile. Due to their long-lived soil banks of hard coated seeds herbaceous legumes are usually among the early post-fire colonizers in the Mediterranean and may play a significant role in the succession of fire-prone communities. 
