Title
Majorcan meso-Mediterranean holm oak forests (Quercus ilex) with Cyclamen balearicum on carbonate rocks
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
Spain: Mallorca
area frequency
1 polygons.
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Cyclamini balearici-Quercetum ilicis (O. Bolós & Molinier 1958) O. Bolós 1965 (Quercetum illicis galloprovinciale pteridio-rhamnetosum ludovici salvatoris O. Bolós & Moliner 1958).
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
Forests with a reduced tree stand of Quercus ilex of moderate height and an undergrowth of shrubs, lianas and sparse herbaceous plants of a markedly thermophilous character.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Shrub layer
Viburnum tinus, Rhamnus ludovici-salvatoris, Arbutus unedo
Lianas
Smilax aspera, Rubia peregrina, Asparagus acutifolius, Tamus communis
Herb layer
Cyclamen balearicum, Viola alba subsp. dehnhardtii, Pteridium aquilinum, Brachypodium retusum, Helictotrichon bromoides, Tripodion tetraphyllum, Hypericum balearicum
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
No details
Diagnostically important species
Quercus ilex, Viburnum tinus, Rhamnus ludovici-salvatoris, Cyclamen balearicum, Viola alba subsp. dehnhardtii
Ecological variants
quercetosum ilicis: middle and upper meso-Mediterranean belt; pistacietosum lentisci: lower meso-Mediterranean belt.
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)
No details
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
Mediterranean sclerophyllous forests (J40).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
Forestry; scrub: Smilaco balearicae-Ampelodesmetum mauritanicae with onsetting degradation. Buxo baleaericae-Genistetum majorici at rock slopes and projections on deprived skeletal-rich soils; Hippocrepidetum balearicae at ledges (Cantiles). Pastinacetum lucidae. Sibthorpio africanae-Arenarietum balearicae. Polypodietum serrati.
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
mountainous country
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
meso- and supra-Mediterranean
Geology (bedrock)
carbonate rocks (Jurassic, Triassic)
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
(stony calcic cambisols)
soil moisture, water balance
moderately dry, dry
soil reaction
moderately acidic to alkaline
soil fertility
oligotrophic, oligo-mesotrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
IV3
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
4-8 °C
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
subhumid-humid climate.
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
Tourism, grazing, agricultural use (e.g. livestock breeding).
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)
Bolòs de & Molinier 1958; Bolòs de & Molinier 1969; Peinado Lorca & Rivas-Martínez (Ed.) 1987; Rivas-Martínez 1987; Rivas-Martínez, Costa Talens, Soriano, Perez, Llorens & Rosello 1992
Compiled by
A. Penas Merino and L. Herrero Cembranos
