Title
East Iberian semi-arid kermes oak-mastic tree forests (Pistacia lentiscus, Quercus coccifera)
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
East Spain: areas of the provinces Tarragona, Castellon and Valencia (sectors Setabense and Valenciano-Tarragonense) close to the coast
area frequency
4 polygons.
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Querco cocciferae-Pistacietum lentisci Braun-Blanquet et al. 1957 (= Querco-Lentiscetum (Braun-Blanquet et al. 1935) A. & O. Bolòs 1950; = Querco cocciferae-Lentiscetum Braun-Blanquet et al. 1935).
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
Dense, thorny and barely permeable forests, in which mainly kermes oak, wild olive trees, mastic trees and other shrubs and herbs of a strongly thermophilous character grow.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Tree layer
Quercus coccifera
Shrub layer
Pistacia lentiscus, Quercus coccifera, Olea europaea subsp. oleaster, Chamaerops humilis, Rosmarinus officinalis, Rhamnus lycioides
Lianas
Rubia peregrina, Clematis flammula
Herb layer
Brachypodium retusum, Ononis minutissima, Phlomis lychnitis, Carex halleriana, Euphorbia polygalifolia, Asparagus horridus
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
No details
Diagnostically important species
Pistacia lentiscus, Quercus coccifera, Olea europaea subsp. oleaster
Ecological variants
asparagetosum stipularis: typical expression in central areas with Asparagus horridus; conopodietosum ramosi: to the north with Conopodium ramosum, Ampelodesmos mauritanica; rhamnetosum angustifoliae: on argilliferous soils in southern areas with Rhamnus lycioides subsp. oleoides, Osyris lanceolata.
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)
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Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
kermes oak forests (J30), thermo-Mediterranean sclerophyllous forests (J39, J43), alluvial forests (U32).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
Pinus halepensis plantations; Cistaceae scrub: Anthyllido-Cistetum clusii; rosemary communities: Erico multiflorae-Lavanduletum dentatae; thyme communities: Thymelaeetum tinctorio-hirsutae.
grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Pastures: Phlomido lychnitis-Brachypodietum retusi, Scillo-Erodietum sanguis-christi.
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
Fruit tree cultivation and irrigation-assisted market gardening.
settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
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Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
hilly country
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
thermo-Mediterranean
Geology (bedrock)
Cretaceous, Triassic
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
different terra rossa-soils; (chromic and stony calcic cambisols; chromic luvisols)
soil moisture, water balance
dry, very dry
soil reaction
weakly acidic to alkaline
soil fertility
oligotrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
III(IV), IV1, IV4
average annual temperature
17-19 °C
average annual precipitation
200-400 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
23-25 °C
average temperature of the coldest month
8-12 °C
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
semi-arid-dry 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
No details
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
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Most important references (author, year)
Alcaraz Ariza, Torre de la & Crespo 1996; Bolòs de & Bolòs de 1950; Braun-Blanquet 1935; Cantó, Laorga & Belmonte 1986; Esteve Chueca 1972; Folch I Guillèn 1981; Folch I Guillèn & Franquesa 1984; Peinado Lorca & Rivas-Martínez (Ed.) 1987; Rigual Magallon 1972; Rivas-Martínez 1987
Compiled by
A. Penas Merino and L. Herrero Cembranos
