Title
Cantabrian relict Quercus ilex subsp. rotundifolia-forests with Cephalanthera longifolia and Carex caudata
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
North Spain: Asturia (area around Oviedo)
area frequency
5 polygons.
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Cephalanthero longifoliae-Quercetum rotundifoliae S. Rivas-Martínez, T.E. Díaz, F. Prieto, J. Loidi & A. Penas 1984 (= Epipactido microphyllae-Quercetum rotundifoliae S. Rivas-Martínez 1983 nom. nud.).
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
Relict holm oak forests (Quercus ilex subsp. rotundifolia) of moderate height. Usually juniper and some geophytes as well as the endemic species Carex caudata in the undergrowth.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Tree layer
Quercus ilex subsp. rotundifolia
Shrub layer
Phillyrea latifolia, Pistacia terebinthus, Juniperus oxycedrus, Rhamnus alaternus, Berberis vulgaris subsp. vulgaris
Lianas
Rubia peregrina, Smilax aspera, Clematis vitalba
Herb layer
Cephalanthera longifolia, Epipactis helleborine, Brachypodium pinnatum subsp. rupestre, Helleborus foetidus, Carex caudata
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
No details
Diagnostically important species
Quercus ilex subsp. rotundifolia, Cephalanthera longifolia, Carex caudata, Epipactis helleborine
Ecological variants
quercetosum rotundifoliae oro-Cantabrian colline to montane belt; arbutetosum unedonis on acidophilous sites of the Liebana valley with Arbutus unedo, Carex distachya and Saxifraga continentalis.
Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
rosetosum sempervirentis aroand Oviedo with Laurus nobilis and Rosa sempervirens.
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)
acid-soil oak forests (F15, F24, F25), mixed oak-ash forests (F33), species-poor and species-rich beech forests (F98, F136).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
Thornwood: Rubo ulmifolii-Tametum communis (colline belt); Pruno spinosae-Berberidetum cantabricae (montane belt). Broom scrub: Lithodoro diffusae-Genistetum legionensis (colline belt of the Pico de Europa); Lithodoro diffusae-Genistetum occidentalis (montane belt); Lithodoro diffusae-Genistetum scorpii (Campurriano-Carrionesa on heavily washed soils of the montane belt); thyme communities (tomillares): Festuco hystricis-Thymetum mastigophori.
grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Pastures: Seseli cantabrici-Brachypodietum rupestris.
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
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settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
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Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
Karst lime areas with steep slopes
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
colline, montane
Geology (bedrock)
calcareous or slightly acidic rocks (Cretaceous, Carboniferous, Devonian)
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
(stony humic and stony calcic cambisols)
soil moisture, water balance
moderately dry, dry
soil reaction
weakly acidic, neutral
soil fertility
oligo-mesotrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
V(VI)
average annual temperature
>12 °C
average annual precipitation
900-1200 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
19-22 °C
average temperature of the coldest month
7-8 °C
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)
Dense young forests.
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
No details
causes of endangerment
Forestry.
required measures for protection and restitution
Development of semi-natural stands needs to be promoted.
Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection
of the natural vegetation
Spain: La Liebana, La Hermida, Desfiladero del Cares and Los Beyos (Asturia, Leon, Cantabria).
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
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Most important references (author, year)
Díaz González & Fernández Prieto 1987; Díaz González & Fernández Prieto 1994a; Díaz González & Fernández Prieto 1994b; Peinado Lorca & Rivas-Martínez (Ed.) 1987; Rivas-Martínez 1983; Rivas-Martínez 1987; Rivas-Martínez, Díaz González, Fernández Prieto, Loidi Arregui & Penas Merino 1984
Compiled by
A. Penas Merino and L. Herrero Cembranos; J. Loidi
