Title
Southeast Scandinavian moss-rich spruce forests (Picea abies) with Quercus robur, with dwarf shrubs (Vaccinium myrtillus, Hylocomium splendens, Pleurozium schreberi), partly alternating with rocky pine forests (Pinus sylvestris) and wooded mires
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
Insular in south Sweden; Finland: south-west peak with islands put up in front
area frequency
54 polygons.
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
a) Myrtillus-type, Vaccinium-Myrtillus-type Ilvessalo 1937, 1960. Mossrik blåbärsskog Tamm & Holmen 1961. Frisk blåbärstyp Arnborg 1964. Deschampsia-Myrtillus-type, Hylocomium-Myrtillus-type Kalela 1961, 1970; Eu-Piceetum myrtilletosum Kielland-Lund 1962; b) Cladonio-Pinetum (Cajander 1921) Kielland-Lund 1967.
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
Relief- and site-determined vegetation mosaic with dominating berry shrub-spruce forests (a). Picea abies usually dominates in the tree layer. Quercus robur, Betula pubescens and Sorbus aucuparia also appear frequently. In the herb and moss layers, dwarf shrubs and mosses predominate, while herbs occur only occasionally. On rocks, Pinus sylvestris forests grow frequently with dominant Cladonia species (b).
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Tree layer
a) Picea abies, admixed Quercus robur, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Sorbus aucuparia;
b) Pinus sylvestris
Shrub layer
Sorbus aucuparia, Juniperus communis
Herb layer
Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Trientalis europaea, Melampyrum pratense, Deschampsia flexuosa, Luzula pilosa, Linnaea borealis, Lycopodium annotinum, Maianthemum bifolium, Oxalis acetosella, Gymnocarpium dryopteris, Equisetum sylvaticum
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
a) Barbilophozia lycopodioides, Dicranum majus, Dicranum polysetum, Dicranum scoparium, Hylocomium splendens, Pleurozium schreberi, Ptilium crista-castrensis
Diagnostically important species
Picea abies, Quercus robur; Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Linnaea borealis, Hylocomium splendens, Pleurozium schreberi, Ptilium crista-castrensis, Sphagnum quinquefarium
Ecological variants
various humidity stages.
Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
No details
Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)
Populo-Quercetum Tuexen 1951, Deschampsio flexuosae-Fagetum Passarge 1956, Carici elongatae-Alnetum glutinosae Kielland-Lund 1981.
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
spruce forests (D7, D8, D15, D16), pine forests (D45, D46, D48, D54), acidic-soil oak forests (F10), raised bogs (S8), tall sedge swamps (R1).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
Coniferous plantations; pioneer forests with (Betula spp., Populus tremula); clear-cut communities with Epilobium angustifolium, Deschampsia flexuosa.
grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Nardo-Callunetea, Cynosurion, short-grass meadows with Agrostis capillaris.
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
No details
settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
No details
Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
Plains, shallow undulating hilly landscapes, skerry coasts and islands
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
lowland-colline; 0-380 m
Geology (bedrock)
granite, gneiss (Precambrian), moraines (Pleistocene)
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
podzole, ranker, locally raised bog; (dystric cambisols; (stony) orthic podzols; dystric leptosols, dystric histosols)
soil moisture, water balance
fresh to moist
soil reaction
strong acidic
soil fertility
oligotrophic (-mesotrophic)
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
VIII(VII)1, VIII(VI)2
average annual temperature
5-7 °C
average annual precipitation
500-700 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
15-17 °C
average temperature of the coldest month
-2 to -4 °C
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
---
Importance for nature protection
Present state and development trend of natural vegetation (degree of endangerment)
Typical semi-natural stands are not very common; in southern Sweden with outposts of species of northern forests.
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
---
causes of endangerment
Forest clearing, timber exploitation, agricultural use.
required measures for protection and restitution
Typical semi-natural stands should be protected with the highest of priorities.
Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection
of the natural vegetation
Sweden: Tiveden (national park), Korra Kvill (national park), Hästhultsskogen (nature reserve), Moskogen (Kronobergs län), Nytebodaskogen (nature reserve).
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
---
Most important references (author, year)
Arnborg 1964; Cajander & Ilvessalo 1921; Hägglund & Lundmark 1977; Ilvessalo 1960; Kalela 1961; Kalela 1970; Kielland-Lund 1967a; Kielland-Lund 1967b; Kielland-Lund 1973; Kielland-Lund 1981; Tamm & Holmen 1961
Compiled by
L. Påhlsson; completed by U. Bohn
