Title
Middle Portuguese meso-Mediterranean basiphilous Quercus faginea subsp. broteroi-forests with Arisarum simorrhinum
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
Portugal: Estremadura (sector Divisorio portugués), Beira litoral
area frequency
3 polygons.
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Arisaro simorrhini-Quercetum broteroi Br.-Bl., P. Silva & Rozeira 1956.
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
Three-layered, light forests with dominant Quercus faginea subsp. broteroi and well developed shrub and herb layers, rich in Mediterranean species.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Tree layer
Quercus faginea subsp. broteroi, Laurus nobilis
Shrub layer
Viburnum tinus, Arbutus unedo, Rubus ulmifolius, Crataegus monogyna, Daphne gnidium, Quercus coccifera, Pistacia lentiscus, Osyris alba, Ruscus aculeatus
Lianas
Smilax aspera, Rubia peregrina subsp. longifolia, Asparagus aphyllus, Hedera helix
Herb layer
Coronilla valentina subsp. glauca, Vinca difformis, Arisarum simorrhinum, Centaurea sempervirens, Clinopodium vulgare, Teucrium scorodonia
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
No details
Diagnostically important species
Quercus faginea subsp. broteroi; Laurus nobilis, Viburnum tinus, Arbutus unedo; Arisarum simorrhinum, Asparagus aphyllus, Vinca difformis
Ecological variants
On porous soil with Quercus ilex subsp. rotundifolia.
Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
---
Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)
Alluvial forests: Ficario ranunculoidis-Fraxinetum angustifoliae, Salicetum lambertiano-salviifoliae, Scrophulario scorodoniae-Alnetum glutinosae
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
acidophilous pedunculate oak forests (F14), cork oak forests (J25, J35), dune vegetation (P9), lowland and alluvial forests (U30).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
Pinus forestry; kermes oak macchia: Melico arrectae-Quercetum cocciferae (meso-Mediterranean), Viburno tini-Quercetum cocciferae (thermo-Mediterranean); secondary scrub (Salvio sclareoidis-Ulicetum densi).
grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Pastures: Phlomido lychnitidis-Brachypodietum phoenicoidis.
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
---
settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
---
Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
hilly and mountainous country
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
meso-thermo-Mediterranean, 0-500 m
Geology (bedrock)
marl, limestone (Tertiary, Cretaceous, Jurassic)
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
(stony chromic luvisols; calcic cambisols)
soil moisture, water balance
moderately dry
soil reaction
moderately acidic to alkaline; pH 5,5-7,2
soil fertility
mesotrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
IV(V)
average annual temperature
13-17 °C
average annual precipitation
600-1000 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
20-24 °C
average temperature of the coldest month
8-10 °C
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
subhumid.
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
Portugal: Serra da Arrábida national parks as well as Serras de Aire e Candeeiros.
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
No details
Most important references (author, year)
Braun-Blanquet, Pinto da Silva & Rozeira 1956; Capelo, Costa & Fernándes Lousã 1994; Costa, Ladero Alvarez, Díaz González, Fernándes Lousã, Espirito Santo, Vasconcelos, Monteiro & Amor Morales 1993; Fernándes Lousã, Espirito Santo & Costa 1994; Rivas-Martínez, Fernández Lousa, Díaz González, Fernández-González & Costa 1990
Compiled by
referring to details by A. Penas Merino and L. Herreo Cembranos; C. Pinto Gomes
