Title
Andalusian meso-Mediterranean Quercus canariensis-forests with Ruscus hypophyllum
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
Spain: province Malaga (Sierra de Ronda, Sector Gaditano)
area frequency
2 polygons.
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Rusco hypophylli-Quercetum canariensis Rivas-Martínez 1975.
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
Dense, three-layered Quercus canariensis forests with scattered cork oaks and summer-green as well as evergreen species in the shrub and herb layers as well as lianas.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Tree layer
Quercus canariensis, Quercus suber interspersed
Shrub layer
Cytisus arboreus subsp. baeticus, Rhododendron ponticum subsp. baeticum, Stauracanthus boivinii, Ulex jussiaei, Erica arborea
Lianas
Rubia peregrina, Hedera helix, Smilax aspera, Tamus communis
Herb layer
Ruscus hypophyllum, Pteridium aquilinum, Polystichum setiferum
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
No details
Diagnostically important species
Quercus canariensis; Ruscus hypophyllum, Polystichum setiferum
Ecological variants
No details
Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
In the humid region of Algeciras with Laurus nobilis, Viburnum tinus, Ilex aquifolium; in the region of Marbella with Quercus faginea subsp. broteroi, Quercus x jahandiezii.
Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)
Pioneer forest stages with Phillyreo angustifoliae-Quercetum lusitanicae.
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
cork oak forests (J26, J36)
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
Various scrub degradation stages: Asparago aphylli-Calicotometum villosae, Lonicero hispanicae-Rubetum ulmifolii (in the region of Algeciras), Phillyreo latifoliae-Arbutetum unedonis, Genisto tridentis-Stauracanthetum boivinii.
grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Therophyte pastures: Trifolio cherleri-Plantaginetum bellardii; heaths: Stauracantho boivinii-Drosophylletum lusitanici; forest edge communities: Calamintho baetici-Galietum scabri.
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
No details
settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
No details
Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
mountainous country
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
meso-Mediterranean; 300-700 m
Geology (bedrock)
siliceous rock (Tertiary, Triassic)
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
(stony eutric and stony humic cambisols)
soil moisture, water balance
fresh to moderately dry
soil reaction
moderately acidic
soil fertility
mesotrophic to eutrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
IV(V), IV(V)X
average annual temperature
17-19 °C
average annual precipitation
1000 to >1600 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
25-27 °C
average temperature of the coldest month
4-10 °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
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Most important references (author, year)
Diez Garretas, Cuenca & Asensi 1986; Nezadal, Deil & Welss 1994; Nieto Caldera, Perez de la Torre & Cabezudo 1991; Nieto Caldera, Perez de la Torre & Cabezudo 1993; Peinado Lorca & Rivas-Martínez (Ed.) 1987; Perez Latorre, Galan de Mera, Deil & Cabezudo 1996; Rivas-Martínez 1974a; Rivas-Martínez 1987
Compiled by
referring to details by A. Penas Merino and L. Herrero Cembranos
