Title
Adriatic meso-Mediterranean kermes oak forests (Quercus coccifera) with Fraxinus ornus on carbonate rocks
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
Croatia (not shown on the map); Yugoslavia: Montenegro
area frequency
1 polygons.
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Orno-Quercetum cocciferae Horvatić (1958) 1963 in Trinajstić 1984 ("Orno-Cocciferetum" Horvatić 1958 in Horvatić 1963).
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
In the Adriatic coastal land most probably remnants of old cultivations of kermes oak (Quercus coccifera) from the time of Greek colonization for the extraction of red dye (kermes). The stands develop as high macchia, and more rarely as low forest without any special characterising species.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Tree layer
Quercus coccifera, Fraxinus ornus
Shrub layer
Pistacia lentiscus, Spartium junceum, Laurus nobilis
Lianas
Rubia peregrina, Asparagus acutifolius, Smilax aspera, Lonicera implexa, Rosa sempervirens, Clematis flammula
Herb layer
Ruscus aculeatus, Brachypodium retusum
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
No details
Diagnostically important species
Quercus coccifera, Fraxinus ornus
Ecological variants
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Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
Local characterising and differential species: Quercus coccifera.
Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)
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Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
Quercus trojana forests (G63), scleophyllous forests (J20, J19), alluvial forests (U18).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
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grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
---
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
south exposed slopes of the south-Adriatic coast country protected against the Bora
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
lowland
Geology (bedrock)
Tertiary, Cretaceous
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
(chromic cambisols)
soil texture
sandy, loamy, stone-rich
soil moisture, water balance
moderately dry, dry
soil fertility
meso-eutrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
IV(V)a
average annual temperature
14-16 °C
average annual precipitation
to 1500 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
July 26-29 °C
average temperature of the coldest month
February 6-8 °C
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
locally xerothermic meso-(micro) climate within the typical Mediterranean 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
No details
required measures for protection and restitution
No details
Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection
of the natural vegetation
Croatia: Pelješac peninsula (Orebić); Yugoslavia (Montenegro): Ulcinj.
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
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Most important references (author, year)
Horvatić 1958; Horvatić 1963a; Trinajstić 1984a; Trinajstić 1985c
Compiled by
Z. Neuhäuslová based on documents by I. Trinajstić
