Title
East Iberian meso-Mediterranean basiphilous Quercus ilex subsp. rotundifolia-forests with Bupleurum rigidum, Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. pinnatifidum
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
Spain: Castile, Aragon, La Rioja, Navarra, Catalonia, Valencia, Castilla-La Mancha, east Andalusia, Murcia, (sectors Manchego and Aragones)
area frequency
11 polygons.
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Quercetum rotundifoliae Braun-Blanquet & Bolós in Vives 1965 (= Bupleuro rigidi-Quercetum rotundifoliae Rivas-Martínez 1982).
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
Open forests with relatively low-growing Quercus ilex subsp. rotundifolia (5-10 m). The usually not particularly dense undergrowth contains mostly sclerophyllous shrubs. The herb layer consists of many strongly thermophilous herbs.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Tree layer
Quercus ilex subsp. rotundifolia, Quercus coccifera, Pinus halepensis
Shrub layer
Rhamnus alaternus var. parvifolia, Rhamnus lycioides subsp. lycioides, Osyris alba, Juniperus oxycedrus, Genista scorpius, Rosmarinus officinalis, Jasminum fruticans
Lianas
Rubia peregrina, Lonicera implexa
Herb layer
Bupleurum rigidum, Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. pinnatifidum, Brachypodium retusum, Carex halleriana, Carex humilis, Leuzea conifera, Thalictrum tuberosum
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
No details
Diagnostically important species
Quercus ilex subsp. rotundifolia, Bupleurum rigidum, Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. pinnatifidum
Ecological variants
a) centaureetosum linifoliae: Aragon (typical); b) rhamnetosum infectoriae: sub-Mediterranean moderately moist sites (Rhamnus saxatilis); c) ulicetosum Valencia: thermophilous and xerophilic.
Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
for Aragon: Rosa pimpinellifolia, Prunus spinosa, Paeonia officinalis subsp. microcarpa, Centaurea linifolia (these species are very rare or absent in La Mancha); for Castile (La Mancha): Jasminum fruticans, Pistacia terebinthus, Aristolochia paucinervis, Geum sylvaticum.
Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)
alluvial meadows: Rubio-Populetum albae, Aro italici-Ulmetum minoris; rock scrub: Rhamno-Kuniperetum phoeniceae.
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
acidophilous oak forests (F26), downy oak forests (G41), Quercus pyrenaica forests (G64, G66), Quercus faginea forests (G71, G72), Quercus canariensis forests (G76), Mediterranean sclerophilous forests (J1, J8, J9, J10, J6, J7, J12, J39, J14, J15, J27, J30, J31), open Juniperus thurifera woodlands (K30), lowland and alluvial forests (U30, U32).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
Plantations with Pinus pinea and Pinus halepensis on areas with extremely degraded soil. Kermes oak forest: Rhamno lycioidis-Quercetum cocciferae; scrub: Salvio-Ononidetum suffruticosae, Rosmarino officinalis-Linetum suffruticosi; broom scrub: Genisto scorpii-Retametum sphaerocarpae; Paronychio-Astragaletum tumidi; thyme communities (tomillares): Lino differentis-Salvietum lavandulifoliae; Jurineo pinnati-Gypsophyletum struthii (on gypsum).
grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Fumano ericoidis-Stipetum tenacissimae, Arrhenathero albi-Stipetum tenacissimae, Ruto angustifoliae-Brachypodietum ramosi.
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
Arable fields (mostly cereal), as well as vineyards and olive groves.
settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
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Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
mountainous country, usually plateaus
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
meso-Mediterranean; 250-700 m (to 900m)
Geology (bedrock)
limestone (Cretaceous , Jura, Trias); fluviatile sediments (Holocene)
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
calcic, petric, haplic cambisols (FAO); (stony, saline and petrocalcic calcic cambisols; lithic eutric cambisols; chromic and vertic luvisols)
soil texture
stony, loamy, clayey; very different
soil moisture, water balance
moderately dry to very dry
soil reaction
neutral, alkaline
soil fertility
meso-eutrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
IV4, IV5, IV6, IV(VI), IV7b, IV7c
average annual temperature
13-17 °C
average annual precipitation
350-500 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
22-24 °C
average temperature of the coldest month
4-6 °C
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
dry ombro climate.
Importance for nature protection
Present state and development trend of natural vegetation (degree of endangerment)
A few small islands of forests are preserved, with single (isolated) trees prevailing in the landscape.
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
No details
causes of endangerment
Forestry, agricultural use (extensive animal breeding, apiculture).
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)
Costa Talens 1982; Folch I Guillèn 1981; Folch I Guillèn & Franquesa 1984; Loidi Arregui, Biurrun Galarraga & Herrera Gallastegui 1997; Loidi Arregui, Díaz González & Herrera Gallastegui 1997; Peinado Lorca & Rivas-Martínez (Ed.) 1987; Rivas-Martínez 1987; Rivas-Martínez, Bascones, Díaz González, Fernández-González & Loidi Arregui 1991a; Rivas-Martínez, Bascones, Díaz González, Fernández-González & Loidi Arregui 1991b
Compiled by
J. Loidi; V. Voggenreiter based on documents by S. Rivas-Martínez; A. Penas Merino and L. Herrero Cembranos
