Title
Catalonian meso-Mediterranean Quercus canariensis-forests with Carex depressa
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
Spain: Catalonia near Girona (sector Vallesano-Empordanés)
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Carici depressae-Quercetum canariensis O. Bolós 1954 (incl. Sorbo torminalis-Quercetum canariensis O. Bolós 1959).
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
Three-layered, dense Quercus canariensis forests with evergreen and summer-green species in the tree and shrub layers.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Tree layer
Quercus canariensis, admixed Quercus ilex, Sorbus torminalis, Prunus avium, Acer monspessulanum
Shrub layer
Ilex aquifolium, Rubus ulmifolius, Erica arborea, Arbutus unedo, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Viburnum tinus
Lianas
Lonicera periclymenum, Rubia peregrina, Hedera helix
Herb layer
Carex depressa, Teucrium scorodonia, Gaudinia fragilis, Stachys officinalis, Luzula forsteri
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
No details
Diagnostically important species
Quercus canariensis, Quercus ilex; Erica arborea, Viburnum tinus; Carex depressa, Stachys officinalis, Luzula forsteri, Teucrium scorodonia
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)
No details
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
Quercus ilex subsp. rotundifolia-forests (J4), cork oak forests (J27).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
Pinus forestry; broom scrub: Cisto salvifoliae-Sarothamnetum catalaunici; thornwood scrub: Rubo ulmifolii-Coriaretum myrtifoliae.
grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Pastures.
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
No details
settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
No details
Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
north exposed slopes in the mountains
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
meso-Mediterranean; 300-700 m
Geology (bedrock)
siliceous rock (Palaeozoic)
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
(stony humic cambisols)
soil moisture, water balance
fresh to moderately dry
soil reaction
moderately acidic
soil fertility
oligo-mesotrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
IV2
average annual temperature
13-17 °C
average annual precipitation
600-1000 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
22-24 °C
average temperature of the coldest month
7-8 °C
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
humid
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
No details
Most important references (author, year)
Carreras, Carrillo, Font, Ninot, Soriano & Vigo Bonada 1995; Folch I Guillèn 1981; Rivas-Martínez 1987
Compiled by
referring to details by A. Penas Merino and L. Herrero Cembranos
