Title
Thermo-xerophilous scrub with Maytenus senegalensis subsp. europaea in the region of Almeria
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
South Spain: Costa del Sol, Almeria (sector Almeriense)
area frequency
3 polygons.
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Rhamno angustifolii-Maytnetum europaei Rivas-Martínez ex Peinado et al. 1987 (= Zizipho loti-Maytenetum euroapei Fernández Casas 1970 nom. inv. Alcaraz et al. 1989; = Mayteno europaei-Ziziphetum loti Fernández Casas 1970).
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
Thornwood scrub consisting of mastic trees, dwarf palms and other thorny shrubs such as Ziziphus lotus.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Shrub layer
Maytenus senegalensis subsp. europaea, Rhamnus lycioides subsp. oleoides, Ziziphus lotus, Chamaerops humilis
Lianas
Asparagus horridus, Asparagus albus
Herb layer
Aristolochia baetica, Brachypodium retusum, Stipa capensis
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
No details
Diagnostically important species
Maytenus senegalensis subsp. europaea, Rhamnus lycioides subsp. oleoides, Aristolochia baetica, Asparagus albus
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)
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Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
mastic tree forests (J43), thermophilous scrubs (J52), dune vegetation (P10), alluvial forests (U32).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
Broom scrub: Genisto valentinae-Calicotometum intermediae at the Cabo de Palos, Lavandulo dentatae-Genistetum retamoides at the Cabo de Gata.
grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Pastures; meadows, grasslands: Lapidro martinezii-Stipetum tenacissimae; Dactylo hispnaicae-Lygeetum sparti; Ruto angustifoliae-Brachypodietum ramosii.
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
---
settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
Greenhouse cultivation.
Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
coastal zone
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
thermo-Mediterranean
Geology (bedrock)
Quaternary, Tertiary, Palaeozoic
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
(stony calcic (petrocalcic) xerosols)
soil moisture, water balance
dry, very dry
soil reaction
neutral, alkaline
soil fertility
oligotrophic, oligo-mesotrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
III, IV(III)
average annual temperature
17-19 °C
average annual precipitation
300-400 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
26-28 °C
average temperature of the coldest month
8-12 °C
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
semi-arid.
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
Greenhouse cultivation, livestock economy, tourism.
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, Díaz González, Rivas-Martínez & Sánchez-Gómez 1989; Fernández Casas 1970; Mota Poveda, Cabello Piñar, Cueto Romero, Gómez Mercado, Gimenez Luque & Peñas 1997; Peinado Lorca & Rivas-Martínez (Ed.) 1987; Rivas-Martínez 1987
Compiled by
A. Penas Merino and L. Herrero Cembranos
