Title
Pre-Pyrenean Luzula sylvatica-beech forests (Fagus sylvatica) with Quercus pyrenaica, Quercus petraea, with Euphorbia angulata, Saxifraga hirsuta
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
France: northwestern pre-Pyrenees around Tarbes (Astarac), Soule, Béarn, Basque country
area frequency
8 polygons .
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Ilici-Fagetum Braun-Blanquet 1967.
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
The tree layer is dominated by Fagus sylvatica, a shrub layer is present from place to place in which Ilex aquifolium reaches a high degree of coverage. The herb layer mostly contains acidophilous species.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Tree layer
Fagus sylvatica dominating, stem-wise interspersed Quercus petraea, Quercus robur, Quercus pyrenaica, Sorbus torminalis
Shrub layer
Ilex aquifolium, Pyrus cordata, Mespilus germanica
Lianas
Lonicera periclymenum
Herb layer
Luzula sylvatica, Deschampsia flexuosa, Vaccinium myrtillus, Blechnum spicant, Oreopteris limbosperma, Veronica officinalis, Pteridium aquilinum, Digitalis purpurea, Euphorbia angulata, Saxifraga hirsuta, Asphodelus albus
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
No details
Diagnostically important species
Fagus sylvatica, Quercus pyrenaica; Ilex aquifolium; Luzula sylvatica, Blechnum spicant, Deschampsia flexuosa, Euphorbia angulata, Saxifraga hirsuta, Asphodelus albus
Ecological variants
Hygrocline form with Quercus robur and Quercus petraea, varying distinctiveness depending on the base content of the soil.
Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
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Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)
Pulmonario affinis-Fagetum, Androsaemo-Fagetum, Alnus glutinosa alluvial forests.
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
soil-acidic mixed oak forests (F15), mixed oak-ash forests (F33), species-rich beech- and fir-beech forests (F137, F138), downy oak forests (G38), alluvial and moist forests (U8, U9, U25).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
Castanea sativa forests, Quercus robur low and middle forests (Blechno spicant-Quercetum roboris Braun-Blanquet 1967).
grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Heaths with Erica vagans, acidophilous fringes of the Melampyro-Holcetea.
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
Cereal cultivation.
settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
No details
Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
Hilly country, lower mountainous country
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
colline-submontane; 400-500 m, locally <100 m
Geology (bedrock)
fluviatile (Pleistocene) sediments; silicate slate (Tertiary, Cretaceous; Palaeozoic)
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
acidic, base-poor brown soils and parabrown soils, humus form mull-like mor to dysmull-like mor; (dystric cambisols; dystric luvisols)
soil moisture, water balance
fresh to moderately dry
soil reaction
strongly to moderately acidic
soil fertility
oligotrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
V1, V(VI)
average annual temperature
10-12 EC
average annual precipitation
900-1400 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
18-20 EC
average temperature of the coldest month
3-4 EC
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
Humid climate with a long growth period.
Importance for nature protection
Present state and development trend of natural vegetation (degree of endangerment)
Currently oak forests predominate that are frequently utilised as low or middle forests.
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
Nearly-natural beech forests.
causes of endangerment
Forestry, timber harvesting.
required measures for protection and restitution
Use should be converted depending on habitat potential to high beech forests.
Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection
of the natural vegetation
No details
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
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Most important references (author, year)
Braun-Blanquet 1967b; Timbal 1988
Compiled by
C. Hettwer referring to details in the vegetation map of France (maps 70, 71) and documents by J.C. Rameau
