Title
Pinus uncinata-forests with Erica carnea, Polygala chamaebuxus, Sesleria albicans on carbonate rocks in the west Alps
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
France: west Alps, Savoy Alps, especially Chartreuse, Vercors, Devoluy, Mont Ventoux
area frequency
7 polygons.
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Rhododendro-Pinetum uncinatae Faure & Gilot 1968, Erico-Pinetum montanae Ellenberg & Klötzli 1972, Rhododendro hirsuti-Pinetum montanae Ellenberg & Klötzli 1972, Rhododendro ferruginei-Pinetum montanae Ellenberg & Klötzli 1972.
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
Mosaic of Pinus uncinanta forests with calcareous grasslands and tall herbss, closely related to the Asplenio-Piceetum that borders below. The dwarf shrub layer is denser, mosses and sciophilous plants play a lesser role.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Shrub layer
Rhododendron ferrugineum, Sorbus chamaemespilus, Sorbus aucuparia
Herb layer
Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Vaccinium uliginosum, Empetrum hermaphroditum, Deschampsia flexuosa, Luzula sylvatica subsp. sieberi
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
Pleurozium schreberi
Diagnostically important species
Pinus uncinata; Erica carnea, Polygala chamaebuxus, Sesleria albicans
Ecological variants
On the Moucherotte (Vercors) a very warm "Pinède à Hippocrepis" is found on the southern and south-west exposures in association with Laserpitio-Seslerietum with Amelanchier ovalis, Sesleria albicans, Helictotrichon setacea, Coronilla vaginalis, Hippocrepis comosa, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi amongst others.
Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
No details
Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)
No details
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
spruce forests (D35), species-rich beech forests (F132, F141), downy oak forests (G41).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
No details
grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
No details
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
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settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
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Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
mountain areas, mostly on north-west exposures; arêtes, peaks and plateau surfaces
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
1750-1900 m, rarely as high as 1000 m (with Dryas octopetala, Gentiana angustifolia)
Geology (bedrock)
limestone, predominately on Urgonkalk (Cretaceous, Jurassic)
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
lithosols; (calcaric lithic and stony rendzic leptosols; eutric cambisols; orthic luvisols)
soil moisture, water balance
fresh
soil reaction
weakly acidic, neutral
soil fertility
oligotrophic to mesotrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
VI1, VI2, X(VI)
average annual temperature
5-7 °C
average annual precipitation
850-1200 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
13-15 °C
average temperature of the coldest month
-5 to -2 °C
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
---
Importance for nature protection
Present state and development trend of natural vegetation (degree of endangerment)
No details
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
No details
causes of endangerment
No details
required measures for protection and restitution
No details
Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection
of the natural vegetation
France: Vercors (Moucherotte to Glandasse).
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
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Most important references (author, year)
Ellenberg & Klötzli 1972; Faure 1968; Ozenda 1985
Compiled by
H. Wagner
