Title
West Euxinian Oriental beech forests (Fagus sylvatica subsp. orientalis) with evergreen understorey (Prunus laurocerasus, Rhododendron ponticum, Daphne pontica)
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
Bulgaria: northeastern Istranca-mountains; Turkey: eastern Istranca- or Y2ld2z-mountains
area frequency
6 polygons .
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Fagetum orientale rhododendrosum Penev 1956, Rhododendro pontici-Fagetum orientalis Horvat, Glava… & Ellenberg 1974 (syn: Lauroceraso-Fagetum Stefanov 1924, Fageta orientalis Bondev 1991).
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
Usually three-layered, species-rich, shady oriental beech forests with admixture tree species. Lower tree, shrub and herb layer with evergreen Euxinian-Colchic elements. Herb layer sometimes luxuriant with very particular ferns, tall forbs, grasses and orchids.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Tree layer
Fagus sylvatica subsp. orientalis, admixed Carpinus betulus, Tilia tomentosa, Tilia cordata, Tilia platyphyllos, Acer pseudoplatanus, Acer platanoides, Acer campestre, Ulmus glabra, Prunus avium, Quercus petraea
Shrub layer
Rhododendron ponticum, Daphne pontica, Prunus laurocerasus, Taxus baccata, Ilex aquifolium, Ruscus hypoglossum, Pyracantha coccinea
Herb layer
Trachystemon orientalis, Primula acaulis subsp. rubra, Cyclamen coum, Sesleria alba, Teucrium cuneifolium, Epimedium pubigerum, Hypericum calycinum, Hypericum androsaemum, Dorycnium graecum, Polystichum aculeatum, Asplenium scolopendrium, Asplenium adiantum-nigrum, Euphorbia amygdaloides, Sanicula europaea, Salvia glutinosa, Digitalis ferruginea, Scrophularia umbrosa, Festuca drymeja, Circaea lutetiana, Arum maculatum, Senecio nemorensis, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Carex sylvatica, Cardamine bulbifera, Aremonia agrimonoides, Stachys sylvatica, Pulmonaria officinalis, Neottia nidus-avis, Epipactis helleborine, Cephalanthera longifolia
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
No details
Diagnostically important species
Fagus sylvatica subsp. orientalis; Rhododendron ponticum, Daphne pontica, Prunus laurocerasus; Hypericum androsaemum, Hypericum calycinum, Epimedium pubigerum, Teucrium cuneifolium, Trachystemon orientalis
Ecological variants
No details
Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
No details
Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)
Quercus polycarpa, Quercus frainetto, Quercus cerris, Quercus pedunculiflora, Quercus hartwissiana, Fraxinus angustifolia subsp. oxycarpa forests (all in Bondev 1991).
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
sessile oak-hornbeam forests (F69), Oriental beech forests (F161), Balkan oak-bitter oak forests (G24), (mixed) Balkan oak forests (G30), downy oak-bitter oak forests (G33).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
Pinus sylvestris, Pinus nigra plantations.
grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Pastures (Agrostis capillaris, Pteridium aquilinum in Bondev 1991).
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
Corn cultivation.
settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
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Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
Uplands, lower mountainous country with narrow valleys and ravines to the northeast
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
colline-submontane, montane; 250-500 m, 800-1030 m
Geology (bedrock)
crystal slate (chlorite slate, gneiss, quarzit; Palaeozoic)
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
middle to deep, partly podzolized gray-brown podzolic soil; (chromic luvisols)
soil texture
sandy loam, clayey loam, locally loamy clay, low to middle skeletal content, permeable
soil moisture, water balance
fresh to moist
soil reaction
acidic (pH (4,0) 4,5-5,5)
soil fertility
mesotrophic, meso-eutrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
VI(VII); IV(VII)
average annual temperature
(9) 11-12 EC
average annual precipitation
700-900 (1250) mm
average temperature of the warmest month
July (17) 22-23 EC
average temperature of the coldest month
January (-1,7) 1-3 EC
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
Moist-warm climate by mostly north and northeastern winds by the Black Sea; frequent formation of thew and mists in summer; high air moisture during the whole year.
Importance for nature protection
Present state and development trend of natural vegetation (degree of endangerment)
A very rare Euxinian relict community for Europe that is highly worthy of protection; protected in parts.
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
Species worthy of protection: Rhododendron ponticum, Daphne pontica, Taxus baccata, Cyclamen coum, Epimedium pubigerum, Fritillaria pontica, Trachystemon orientalis, Hypericum calycinum, Hypericum androsaemum.
causes of endangerment
Forestry, charcoal production, forest grazing, air pollution.
required measures for protection and restitution
All semi-natural stands should be placed under protection.
Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection
of the natural vegetation
Bulgaria: Istranca-mountains (Sikkosija, Uzunbodñak); Turkey: Istranca- or Y2ld2z-mountains (Mahya Da—2), Kara Tepe.
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
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Most important references (author, year)
Bondev 1991; Hermann 1936; Horvat, Glavač & Ellenberg 1974; Jordanov 1939; Kantarcı 1976; Kantarcı 1979b; Kantarcı 1980a; Kantarcı 1986; Kantarcı 1989b; Kantarcı 1997a; Penev 1956; Stefanov 1924
Compiled by
Z. Neuhäuslová based on documents by I. Bondev, completed with details by M.D. Kantarc2
