Title
Subatlantic-southwest Central European altimontane spruce-fir-beech forests (Fagus sylvatica, Abies alba, Picea abies) with Luzula luzuloides, Luzula sylvatica, Prenanthes purpurea
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
France: Chaîne de Belledonne northeastern of Grenoble; Germany: southern high Black Forest
area frequency
3 polygons .
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Luzulo-Fagetum Meusel 1937, altimontane form with Abies alba and Picea abies (= Verticillato-Fagetum Oberdorfer 1957); Aceri-Fagetum Rübel 1930 ex J. & M. Bartsch 1940.
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
The beech prevails in the tree layer, while fir and spruce are added at varying proportions. The growth forms and heights of the conifers are generally good whereas the beech loses its vitality (15-20 m tall) and forms crippled stems; as a result of snow pressure during its juvenile phases the tree often grows in sabre form. A shrub layer is more or less distinctively developed. The degree of coverage of the herb layer varies, and contains especially mesophilous species amongst which there are numerous acidophytic species. Fagetalia-species are weakly represented. The moss layer is developed differently depending on the proportion of coniferous trees and soil moisture, water balance. Because of the high humidity the trees are covered extensively with epiphytic lichens and mosses that form their own synusium.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Tree layer
Fagus sylvatica predominating, admixed Abies alba, Picea abies, Sorbus aucuparia, Acer pseudoplatanus
Shrub layer
isolated Sambucus racemosa, Sorbus aria, Ribes petraeum, Lonicera nigra, Rosa pendulina
Herb layer
Luzula luzuloides, Luzula sylvatica, Deschampsia flexuosa, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Blechnum spicant, Maianthemum bifolium, Lycopodium annotinum, Galium saxatile, Oxalis acetosella, Polygonatum verticillatum, Senecio ovatus, Prenanthes purpurea, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris carthusiana, Athyrium filix-femina; Maple-beech forest with subalpine tall forb: Rumex arifolius, Cicerbita alpina, Adenostyles alliariae, Athyrium distentifolium, Senecio nemorensis agg., Ranunculus platanifolius, Ranunculus serpens, Petasites albus
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
Polytrichum formosum, Dicranum scoparium, Hylocomium splendens, Sphagnum spp.
Diagnostically important species
Fagus sylvatica, Picea abies, Abies alba, Acer pseudoplatanus; Luzula luzuloides, Luzula sylvatica, Vaccinium myrtillus, Blechnum spicant, Galium saxatile, Polygonatum verticillatum, Dryopteris dilatata, Athyrium distentifolium, Rumex arifolius
Ecological variants
Typical subassociation on moderately dry sites; subassociation with Festuca altissima on distinctively fresh sites; subassociation with Luzula sylvatica on fresh, humid-air sites; subassociation with Oxalis acetosella on fresh, base-richer sites; subassociation with Calamagrostis arundinacea on sunny-sided slopes; tall-forb-rich form on seeping-fresh, nutrient-richer sites.
Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
Vicariant with Rhododendron ferrugineum, Calamagrostis villosa in the western alps (France), in the black forest with Prunus padus subsp. petraea, Ribes petraeum, Digitalis purpurea.
Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)
Maple-beech forest (Aceri-Fagetum) with Picea abies opposite mapping units F94 of the Vosges, liverwort-spruce forest (Bazzanio-Piceetum), raised bog complexes, natural subalpine tall grass vegetation (Sorbo-Calamagrostietum arundinaceae ravine willow scrub (Salicetum appendiculatae), waterspring vegetation (Montio-Bryetum schleicheri, Caricetum frigidae), snow soil communities (Nardo-Gnaphalietum supini, Luzuletum desvauxii).
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
Pinus uncinata-forests (C21), fir forests (D24, D29), sessile oak-hornbeam forests (F54), species-poor fir-beech forests (F93), downy oak forests (G39), pine forests (K1), grey alder forests (U27).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
spruce forestry, larch forestry, in the black forest also Douglas fir forestry; pioneer forests with Sorbus aucuparia, Sorbus aria, Saix appendiculata; tall-forb vegetation, forest clearing communities.
grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Grass mown meadows of the Geranio-Trisetetum or Meo-Festucetum; siliceous shortgrass meadows (Leontodonto helvetici-Nardetum, Polygalo-Nardetum).
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
Very localised; cereals: rye with Galeopsio-Aphanetum; root crops: potatoes with Holco-Galeopsietum tetrahit.
settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
No details
Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
Uplands (ridge locations), high-mountains (northern and northwest slopes of the western intermediate Alps)
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
altimontane; 1000-1400 m
Geology (bedrock)
sandstone (Triassic), crystal slate, gneiss, granites (Palaeozoic, Precambrian)
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
mull-like mor-brown soils with weak appearance of eluviation, partly podzolized; locally podzole, ranker; ((stony) dystric cambisols; leptic podzols; dystric leptosols)
soil texture
stony and grouany loam soils
soil moisture, water balance
fresh, locally moist
soil reaction
strongly to moderately acidic
soil fertility
oligo-mesotrophic, locally meso-eutrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
VI(X), X(IV), X(VI)
average annual temperature
3-9 EC
average annual precipitation
700-1900 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
14-16 EC
average temperature of the coldest month
-3 to -1 EC
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
In winter usually high snow blankets, otherwise high air moisture and frequent fogs.
Importance for nature protection
Present state and development trend of natural vegetation (degree of endangerment)
The historical clearing and the subsequent reafforestation have allowed spruce plantations to develop as secondary forests, locally pioneer forests.
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
Subalpine tall forb.
causes of endangerment
Clearing, cutting and stripping of forests, transformation into coniferous plantations, air pollutants, agricultural use, tourism (ski lifts and runs).
required measures for protection and restitution
Complete protection of the surviving remnants is absolutely necessary (Luzulo-Fagetum, Aceri-Fagetum).
Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection
of the natural vegetation
Germany: BW Napf, nature reserve Feldberg, nature reserve Herzogenhorn, nature reserve Belchen (south Black Forest, Baden-Württemberg).
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
Germany: nature reserve Feldberg.
Most important references (author, year)
Gensac 1972; Müller Th. & Oberdorfer 1974; Oberdorfer (Hrsg.) 1992; Pautou (Red.) 1978; Richard & Hainard 1981; Richard & Pautou 1982
Compiled by
U. Bohn, C. Hettwer referring to the vegetation map of France and L. Richard & G. Pautou 1982 as well as after Müller & Oberdorfer 1974, Oberdorfer 1992
