Title
East Pyrenean sessile oak forests (Quercus petraea) with Erica arborea, Daphne laureola, Luzula forsteri, Luzula sylvatica, Hypericum androsaemum, Galium rotundifolium, Conopodium majus
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
France: southern Roussillon, Monts Albèrès; Spain: eastern Pyrenees, Emporda
area frequency
3 polygons.
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Lathyro montanei-Quercetum petraeae (Lapraz 1966) Rivas-Martínez 1983; Prunello hastifoliae-Quercetum petraeae Vigo ex Rivas-Martínez & Costa 1998 (syn.: Quercetum petraeae catalaunicum (Lapraz 1966) Vigo 1968).
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
Closed forest, dominated by moderately tall Quercus petraea, and sometimes Quercus pubescens and hybrid oaks are scattered. The shrub layer is sparse, while in the ground covering herb layer perennial acidophytic species dominate.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Tree layer
Quercus petraea, scattered Quercus pubescens, Quercus x rosacea, Quercus x calvescens, Populus tremula, Sorbus aucuparia, Fagus sylvatica, Betula pendula, Castanea sativa (introduced)
Shrub layer
Ruscus aculeatus, Cytisus scoparius, Ilex aquifolium, Juniperus communis, Corylus avellana, partly Buxus sempervirens, Daphne laureola, Erica arborea, Erica scoparia, Frangula alnus
Lianas
Lonicera periclymenum, Clematis vitalba, Tamus communis, locally Rubia peregrina, Rubus ulmifolius
Herb layer
Pteridium aquilinum, Melampyrum pratense, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia flexuosa, Veronica officinalis, Calluna vulgaris, Vaccinium myrtillus, Potentilla erecta, Holcus mollis, Lonicera periclymenum, Teucrium scorodonia, Hedera helix, Lathyrus linifolius, Hypericum pulchrum, Luzula forsteri, Luzula sylvatica, Conopodium majus, Potentilla montana, Prunella grandiflora subsp. pyrenaica, Hypericum androsaemum, Galium rotundifolium, Festuca ovina agg., Serratula tinctoria, Poa nemoralis, Fragaria vesca, Vicia sepium, Silene nutans, Hieracium sabaudum, Viola riviniana, Hieracium murorum, partly Hypericum montanum, Festuca heterophylla, Cruciata glabra, Jasione montana
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
No details
Diagnostically important species
Quercus petraea; Erica arborea, Daphne laureola; Lathyrus linifolius, Luzula forsteri, Luzula sylvatica, Hypericum androsaemum, Conopodium majus, Galium rotundifolium, Deschampsia flexuosa
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)
Rock and debris vegetation.
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
species-poor fir-beech forests (F100), mixed downy oak forests (G41), holm oak forests (J4, J15), cork oak forests (J27).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
Low and middle forests with Quercus robur, Castanea sativa (naturalised), Quercus pubescens and oak hybrids; Broom scrub (Prunello-Sarothamnetum scopariae).
grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Dwarf shrub heath (Violo-Callunetum); Siliceous shortgrass meadows and pastures (Gentiano pneumonanthe-Molinietum pyrenaicae; Cynosuretum catalaunicum).
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
---
settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
---
Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
Mountainous country
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
submontane to montane (in dry regions)
Geology (bedrock)
siliceous rocks: slate, granite (Palaeozoic)
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
ranker, base-poor brown soils; mull-like mor-humus-cover; (dystric leptosols; stony humic and dystric cambisols)
soil moisture, water balance
fresh to moderately dry
soil reaction
strongly to moderately acidic
soil fertility
oligotrophic, oligo-mesotrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
IV(VI), V(VI)
average annual temperature
6-12 EC
average annual precipitation
900 to >1400 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
18-22 EC
average temperature of the coldest month
3-5 EC
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
No details
Importance for nature protection
Present state and development trend of natural vegetation (degree of endangerment)
Regionally there are still sufficient numbers of semi-natural stands that remain preserved.
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
No details
causes of endangerment
Forestry (cultivation of introduced tree species), timber use, agricultural use.
required measures for protection and restitution
Protection of representative stands and enablement of natural regeneration.
Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection
of the natural vegetation
No details
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
No details
Most important references (author, year)
Bolòs de 1988; Folch I Guillèn 1981; Folch I Guillèn & Franquesa 1984; Lapraz 1966; Peinado Lorca & Rivas-Martínez (Ed.) 1987; Rameau 1996b; Rivas-Martínez 1987; Vigo Bonada 1968; Vigo Bonada 1984
Compiled by
A. Penas Merino and L. Herrero Cembranos; C. Hettwer based on documents by J.C. Rameau, completion by J. Pallas
