Title
West Lusitanian thermo-Mediterranean basiphilous kermes oak forests (Quercus coccifera) with Viburnum tinus, Phillyrea latifolia, Bupleurum fruticosum, Serratula baetica subsp. lusitanica, Ulex densus
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
Portugal: south-eastern Estremadura, coast east of Cape Espichel (sector Divisório Português, sector Ribatagano-Sadense)
area frequency
2 polygons.
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Viburno tini-Quercetum cocciferae S. Rivas-Martínez, M. Lousã, T.E. Díaz, F. Fernández-González & J.C. Costa 1990.
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
Sclerophyllous Quercus coccifera forests with numerous shrubs and lianas.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Tree layer
Quercus coccifera, Arbutus unedo, Pistacia lentiscus
Shrub layer
Viburnum tinus, Phillyrea angustifolia, Phillyrea latifolia, Erica arborea, Myrtus communis
Lianas
Smilax aspera, Lonicera implexa, Rubia peregrina subsp. longifolia, Tamus communis, Hedera helix
Herb layer
Ruscus aculeatus, Asplenium onopteris, Arisarum simorrhinum, Hyacinthoides hispanica, Neotinea maculata
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
No details
Diagnostically important species
Quercus coccifera (in the tree-layer), Viburnum tinus, Pistacia lentiscus (in the tree-layer), Phillyrea latifolia, Serratula baetica subsp. lusitanica, Ulex densus
Ecological variants
No details
Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
No details
Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)
On moist soils: Ficario ranunculoidis-Fraxinetum angustifoliae, Polygono equisetiformis-Tamaricetum africanae, Rubo ulmifolii-Nerietum oleandri, Viti sylvestris-Salicetum atrocinereae, Arisaro simorrhini-Quercetum broteroi suberis.
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
cork oak forests (J25, J35, J36), alluvial forests (U30).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
pioneer forest stages: Phillyreo angustifoliae-Quercetum cocciferae; Zimbral (= shrub forest corresponding to macchia): Querco cocciferae-Juniperetum turbinatae on degraded soils.
grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
---
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
---
settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
---
Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
mountainous country, slopes
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
thermo-Mediterranean
Geology (bedrock)
dolomite-containing calcareous rock (Jurassic)
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
(calcic cambisols)
soil texture
clayey, loamy
soil moisture, water balance
moist, fresh
soil fertility
mesotrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
IV3
average annual temperature
13-17 °C
average annual precipitation
550-650 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
21-23 °C
average temperature of the coldest month
2-9 °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
Endemnic species: Serratula baetica subsp. lusitanica, Ulex densus; Carrascal of the Querco cocciferae-Juniperetum turbinatae.
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
Portugal: Parque Natural da Serra da Arrábida.
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
No details
Most important references (author, year)
Rivas-Martínez, Fernández Lousa, Díaz González, Fernández-González & Costa 1990
Compiled by
C. Pinto Gomes
