Title
Catalonian Provencal supra-Mediterranean holm oak forests (Quercus ilex) with Quercus pubescens, Asplenium onopteris, Luzula forsteri
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
Spain: Catalonia (Catalonian coastal mountains, Montserrat-top area); France: Languedoc, Provence (extensive)
area frequency
15 polygons.
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Asplenio onopteridis-Quercetum ilicis (Braun-Blanquet 1936) Rivas-Martínez 1975 (= Quercetum mediterraneum-montanum Braun-Blanquet 1936), (Syn.: Quercetum ilicis mediterraneo-montanum) supra-Mediterranean Catalonian-Provençal/serie supra-Mediterranean Catalonian with Quercus ilex.
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
Dense shady forests of average height (7-15 m) with several leaf-shedding Quercus and Acer species and few evergreen shrubs. The proportion of oak depends on the soil. The herb layer is rich in rather acidophytic hemicryptophytes.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Tree layer
Quercus ilex s. l., Quercus pubescens, Pinus sylvestris, Sorbus aria
Shrub layer
Erica arborea, Erica scoparia, Cytisus scoparius, Cistus salviifolius, Viburnum tinus, Phillyrea latifolia, Rubus ulmifolius, Amelanchier ovalis, Ilex aquifolium
Lianas
Lonicera implexa, Rubia peregrina, Hedera helix
Herb layer
Asplenium onopteris, Teucrium scorodonia, Luzula forsteri, Pteridium aquilinum, Prunella grandiflora subsp. pyrenaica, Viola canina, Fragaria vesca, Viola alba subsp. dehnhardtii, Cephalanthera longifolia
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
No details
Diagnostically important species
Quercus ilex; Asplenium onopteris, Luzula forsteri, Teucrium scorodonia. Character species of the Quercion ilicis: Carex depressa, Epipactis microphylla, Character species des Quercenion ilicis: Carex olbiensis (dif.), Cyclamen balearicum, Laurus nobilis
Ecological variants
Quercus ilex dominates on projections of limestone strata, and Quercus pubescens dominates on fresher, deeper soils.
Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
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Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)
on shallow soils Juniperus phoenicea garrigue.
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
acidophilous oak forests (F26), species-poor and species-rich beech forests (F77, F100, F138, F141), downy oak forests (G38, G41, G42), Mediterranean sclerophyllous forests (J4, J9, J14, J27), pine forests (K4), alluvial forests (U33).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
Pinus halepensis, Pinus pinea plantations, Castanea sativa forests with Calluna vulgaris, Erica scoparia, Cistus salviifolius, Viola canina. Frequently Erica arborea in the substitute communities or at forest fringes. High garrigue with Juniperus oxycedrus and Buxus sempervirens, low garrigue with Genista scorpius and Lavandula stoechas; scrub: Rosmarino-Ericion, Pruno-Rubion ulmifolii, Calluno genestion; forest fringes (fringes): Geranion sanguinei; Cistaceae scrub of moister habitats: Cisto-Sarothamnetum catalaunici, Pteridio-Lavanduletum pedunculatae.
grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Pastures with Agrostis capillaris, Sedum forsterianum, Hypochaeris radicata. Brachypodion phoenicoidis, occasionally also on silicate. Pastures: Hyparrhenietum hirto-pubescentis; with therophytes: Helianthemetum guttati; Heaths: Lavandulo-Ericetum scopariae.
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
Very rarely agricultural use on deeper soils of valley bases.
settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
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Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
mountainous country
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
supra-Mediterranean; 300-800 m, with corresponding soil conditions 200-1000 m; Spain 600-1200 m
Geology (bedrock)
sand stone, slate, limestone, silicate rocks (Tertiary, Cretaceous, Palaeozoic)
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
moist brown soils above silicate-containing basement; with poor developed humus horizon above limy basement; lime-brown soils above not consolidated material; deep silicate soils or decalcified soils; (stony humic and stony dystric cambisols; chromic luvisols; rendzic leptosols)
soil moisture, water balance
fresh to dry
soil reaction
acidic, weakly acidic
soil fertility
oligotrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
IV4, IV(V)3
average annual temperature
8-12 °C
average annual precipitation
600 to >1600 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
22-23 °C
average temperature of the coldest month
5-8 °C
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
hill country of East Catalonia rich in rain; eu-Mediterranean, warm, less dry climate with tepid winters. The forests consisting of holm oak (Quercus ilex) grow only in the Mediterranean region of the Iberian peninsula in regions somewhat rich in summer rain in the meso- and supra-Mediterranean level of the north-east, where they reach slightly over the Catalanian region (Catalanian coastal chains).
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)
Barbéro, Loisel & Quézel 1974; Bolòs de & Bolòs de 1950; Bolòs de 1956a; Bolòs de 1956b; Braun-Blanquet 1936; Folch I Guillèn 1976; Folch I Guillèn 1979; Folch I Guillèn 1981; Folch I Guillèn & Franquesa 1984; Ozenda 1981; Rivas-Martínez 1969a; Rivas-Martínez 1969b; Rivas-Martínez 1975; Rivas-Martínez 1987
Compiled by
V. Voggenreiter based on documents by S. Rivas-Martínez; A. Penas Merino and L. Herrero Cembranos; C. Hettwer based on documents by M. Barbéro, R. Loisel and P. Ozenda
