Title
Atlantic-subatlantic beech forests (Fagus sylvatica) of the Massif Central with Luzula nivea, Prenanthes purpurea, Ilex aquifolium
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
France: upper sites of the northwestern Massif Centrals (Plateau de Millevaches)
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Luzulo niveae-Fagetum (Suspl. 1942) Braun-Blanquet 1952, Euphorbio hybernicae-Fagetum ass. nov. Noirfalise.
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
Tall forests dominated by beeches with a sparse shrub layer and an interspersed herb layer mainly consisting of acidophytes, with montane and atlantic-subatlantic species.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Tree layer
Fagus sylvatica
Shrub layer
Sorbus aucuparia, Sorbus aria, Corylus avellana, Ilex aquifolium, Sambucus racemosa, Rubus idaeus
Lianas
Hedera helix, Lonicera periclymenum
Herb layer
Vaccinium myrtillus, Deschampsia flexuosa, Maianthemum bifolium, Luzula sylvatica, Luzula nivea, Oxalis acetosella, Galium saxatile, Lathyrus linifolius, Blechnum spicant, Thelypteris phegopteris, Dryopteris dilatata; montane species: Digitalis purpurea, Prenanthes purpurea, Polygonatum verticillatum, Senecio ovatus; geographic differential species: Euphorbia hyberna, Doronicum austriacum, Doronicum pardalianches
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
No details
Diagnostically important species
Fagus sylvatica; Ilex aquifolium; Luzula nivea, Luzula sylvatica, Vaccinium myrtillus, Polygonatum verticillatum, Prenanthes purpurea, Doronicum austriacum, Euphorbia hyberna (character species?)
Ecological variants
Typical form with Vaccinium myrtillus on granites and magmatites. Primary range on the extensive high plain of Millevaches. Form on mesotrophic soils with Melica uniflora, Milium effusum, Scilla bifolia, Mycelis muralis, Conopodium majus, and occasionally Hordelymus europaeus.
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)
No details
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
species-poor beech forests (F82).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
Coniferous plantations with Pinus sylvestris, Pinus nigra subsp. laricio or west Armorican conifers. Pioneer forests with mountain ash and whitebeam (Sorbus aucuparia, Sorbus aria); Pteridium aquilinum stands.
grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Dry heaths and shortgrass meadows with Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Genista pilosa, Vaccinium myrtillus, Deschampsia flexuosa; moist heaths with Ulex minor, Genista anglica and Nardus stricta.
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
Root and cereal crops (rye, buckwheat, potatoes, fodder plants) with weed communities.
settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
No details
Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
Uplands (plateaus)
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
(500) 600-1000 m
Geology (bedrock)
gneiss, granites, crystal slate, magmatite (Palaeozoic); acidic volcanic rock; tuffs (Tertiary)
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
acidic, base-poor brown soils and parabrown soils; ((stony) dystric cambisols, luvisols)
soil moisture, water balance
fresh
soil reaction
strongly to moderately acidic
soil fertility
oligotrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
VI1, X
average annual temperature
6-9 EC
average annual precipitation
1000-1800 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
July 15-17 EC
average temperature of the coldest month
January 0 to 1 EC
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
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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
No details
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
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Most important references (author, year)
Dupias & Lavergne 1968; Lavergne 1969; Rameau 1996a
Compiled by
A. Noirfalise
