C18: Sycamore-beech forest (Fagus sylvatica, Acer pseudoplatanus), mountain ash woodland (Sorbus aria, Sorbus aucuparia, Sorbus mougeotii), tall grass communities (Calamagrostis arundinacea), dwarf shrub communities (Vaccinium uliginosum, Vaccinium myrtillus, Calluna vulgaris, Genista pilosa) and grasslands (Nardus stricta) of the Massif Central and Cevennes

Title

Sycamore-beech forest (Fagus sylvatica, Acer pseudoplatanus), mountain ash woodland (Sorbus aria, Sorbus aucuparia, Sorbus mougeotii), tall grass communities (Calamagrostis arundinacea), dwarf shrub communities (Vaccinium uliginosum, Vaccinium myrtillus, Calluna vulgaris, Genista pilosa) and grasslands (Nardus stricta) of the Massif Central and Cevennes

Geographical distribution

Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)

Aceri-Fagetum J. Bartsch & M. Bartsch 1940, Calamagrostion arundinaceae (Luquet 1926) Oberdorfer 1957, Vaccinieto-Gentianetum lutei Braun-Blanquet 1939 emend. Quézel & Rioux 1950, Cicerbito-Adenostyletum (Berger 1922) Braun-Blanquet 1950, Nardion strictae Braun-Blanquet & Jenny 1926, Festucion eskiae Braun-Blanquet 1948, Genisteto-Pulsatiletum vernae Quézel & Rioux 1950, Empetro hermaphroditi-Vaccinietum uliginosi Braun-Blanquet & Jenny 1926, Doroniceto-Campanuletum Quézel & Rioux 1953.

Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)

Multi-layered sycamore-beech forest with tall-herb-rich undergrowth in altimontane locations which is replaced by mountain ash stands in the subalpine belt as well as by various dwarf shrub heaths and grasslands at peak locations. The tall grass communitiess are dominated by Calamagrostis arundinacea, on skeletal-rich dry sites Juniperus scrub is scattered. In the heaths, Vaccinium uliginosum, Vaccinium myrtillus, Calluna vulgaris and Genista pilosa are stand forming, while in basins tall herbs are stand forming.

Dominant and most frequent species in different layers

Diagnostically important species

Fagus sylvatica, Acer pseudoplatanus; Sorbus aria, Sorbus aucuparia, Sorbus mougeotii, Juniperus communis subsp. alpina; Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium uliginosum, Calluna vulgaris, Genista pilosa, Calamagrostis arundinacea, Luzula spicata, Nardus stricta

Ecological variants

The heaths and grasslands are divided into stands with Calluna vulgaris on sunny, less snow-covered ridges, Vaccinium-species on fresh sites, Empetrum nigrum with Lycopodium spp. and lichens at northern slopes with seven to eight month-long snow coverage, short grasses in glacial erosion valleys with long snow coverage, Calamagrostis arundinacea at southern slopes at higher altitudes, and Deschampsia flexuosa stands on weakly inclined slopes or on deep soils.

Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)

In the Montes du Forez the above described grasslands represent a transitional form to the Sorbo-Calamagrostidetum of the Vosges. In the south, species from the Juniperion nanae alliance penetrate into the grasslands and heaths.

Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)

raised bogs; Pinus uncinata stands in protected north-sided erosion sites and at the edges of bogs; alpine community with Saxifraga hieraciifolia, Saxifraga androsacea, Carex atrata; in snow-covered north exposed gulleys: Communities with Saxifraga lamottei, Saxifraga bryoides, Androsace halleri; Adenostyles alliariae tall-herb communitiess on valley floors and at moist north exposed slopes with Adenostyles alliariae and Luzula desvauxii accompanied by Salix lapponum, Cardamine resedifolia, Saxifraga rotundifolia, Saxifraga stellaris; Debris communities with Alchemilla saxatilis, Leucanthemum delarbrei, Sesamoides clusii, Agrostis rupestris; Boulders with Huperzia selago, Woodsia alpina, Androsace carnea, Arato alpina, Alchemilla alpina and Alchemilla hoppeana, Thlaspi caerulescens and Cochlearia pyrenaica; rock crevice communities with Allium senescens subsp. montanum, Asplenium septentrionale, Sempervivum arachnoideum, Sempervivum tectorum subsp. avernense at dry sites and various Saxifraga species (Saxifraga paniculata, Saxifraga oppositifolia), rock vegetation (Saxifragetum lamottei Quézel & Rioux 1953).

Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)

species-poor fir-beech forests (F92), species-rich fir-beech forests (F140).

Land use, substitute communities

Site conditions of the mapping unit

Importance for nature protection

Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection

Most important references (author, year)

Dobremez, Lacassin & Mazars 1986; Dupias 1971; Dupias & Lavergne 1968; Ozenda 1985; Dupias 1973

Compiled by

A. Noirfalise; C. Hettwer referring to the map of the vegetation of France and documents by P. Ozenda