Title
Dalmatian-Albanian meso-Mediterranean holm oak forests (Quercus ilex) with Myrtus communis, Pistacia lentiscus, Juniperus phoenicea, Lonicera implexa, Hippocrepis emerus subsp. emeroides, partly in combination with Pinus halepensis-forests on carbonate rocks
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
Slovenia (not shown on the map); Croatia: Dalmatian coast and offshore islands; Bosnia-Herzegovina; Yugoslavia: Montenegro; Albania: western part of the country
area frequency
35 polygons.
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Erica arborea-Arbutus unedo-community Krause et al. 1963, Myrtus communis-Pinus halepensis- community Krause et al. 1963, Erica manipuliflora-Pinus halepensis-community Krause et al. 1963; Rosmarino-Lithospermetum pinetosum G. Braun-Blanquet 1936; Myrto-Quercetum ilicis (Horvatić 1958) Trinajstić 1985 (syn.: Orno-Quercetum ilicis myrtetosum Horvatić 1958, Quercetum ilicis adriaprovinciale Trinajstić 1978).
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
Pure, evergreen holm oak forests (Quercus ilex) and local (on extreme sites) aleppo pine forests with an undergrowth of sclerophyllous shrubs and other Mediterranean species; without summer-green elements, the herb layer is absent or very weakly developed, and is formed from hemicryptophytes and geophytes.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Tree layer
Quercus ilex, Pinus halepensis
Shrub layer
Pistacia lentiscus, Phillyrea latifolia, Myrtus communis, Erica arborea, Cistus salviifolius, Erica multiflora, Erica manipuliflora, Quercus coccifera, Phillyrea angustifolia, Arbutus unedo, Viburnum tinus, Calicotome infesta, Coridothymus capitatus
Lianas
Smilax aspera, Tamus communis; Lonicera implexa, Rubia peregrina, Clematis flammula, Rosa sempervirens
Herb layer
Asparagus acutifolius, Asparagus aphyllus, Rosmarinus officinalis; Osyris alba, Ruscus aculeatus, Asplenium onopteris, Cyclamen repandum, Carex distachya, Brachypodium retusum
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
No details
Diagnostically important species
Quercus ilex, Pinus halepensis; Pistacia lentiscus, Phillyrea latifolia, Myrtus communis, Erica arborea, Quercus coccifera, Phillyrea angustifolia; Pulicaria odora, Asparagus aphyllus, Euphorbia apios; additionally Yugoslavia: Juniperus phoenicea, Hippocrepis emerus subsp. emeroides
Ecological variants
Pinus halepensis in the entire Mediterranean region (particularly in warmer parts) is a natural stand creator where sclerophyllous plants are less assertive, particularly on marl, slate, sandstone and serpentine. In addition, the canopy it provides favours the reconstitution of the sclerophyllous forests of Quercetalia ilicis from shrub garrigue and macchia after fires.
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)
Quercetum ilicis as well as Phrygana as well as shrub garrigue, macchia; vegetation of sea cliffs (Crithmo-Limonion), rock crevice vegetation (Centaureo-Portenschlagiellion).
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
downy oak forests (G52, G63, G57), Mediterranean sclerophyllous forests (J19, J22, J32, J48), dune vegetation (P11), salt vegetation (P26), alluvial forests (U18, U35).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
Pine forestry; present today as low forest or high macchia of comparatively poor floristic composition.
grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Phrygana, Garrigue; holm pastures (Brachypodio-Hyparrhenietum hirtae).
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
The greater part of this vegetation has been converted into fields and winter pastures for cattle (Albania); in addition vineyards, olive groves (Vulpio-Lotion).
settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
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Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
lowland plains, hilly country, steep stony slopes at the Mediterranean
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
lowland bis colline; 0-200 m
Geology (bedrock)
limestone, chalky clay, slate, sandstone, serpentine (Tertiary, Cretaceous); fluviatile sediments (Holocene)
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
terra rossa; shallow brown-red soils; (chromic cambisols; (stony) chromic luvisols)
soil texture
loamy, stone-rich
soil moisture, water balance
dry, very dry
soil reaction
weakly acidic, neutral
soil fertility
meso-eutrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
IV3c, IV(V)a
average annual temperature
15-18 °C
average annual precipitation
750-1100 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
22-26 °C
average temperature of the coldest month
7-9 °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)
Hardly any semi-natural stands present.
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
No details
causes of endangerment
Timber use, grazing, long standing cultivation, fire.
required measures for protection and restitution
Strict protection of semi-natural stands, exclusion of grazing and natural succession.
Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection
of the natural vegetation
Albania: Divakë (Lushnje), Corriepen (Kavajë); Croatia: adriatic islands (for instance the islands Lošinj, Korčula, Lastovo).
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
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Most important references (author, year)
Braun-Blanquet 1936; Horvat, Glavač & Ellenberg 1974; Horvatić 1963a; Krause, Ludwig & Seidel 1963; Mullaj 1989; Trinajstić 1984a; Trinajstić 1985c
Compiled by
Z. Neuhäuslová based on documents by H. Wagner; I. Trinajstić; Th. Raus and E. Bergmeier, completed by J. Vangjeli
