Title
Thermo-xerophilous scrub with Ziziphus lotus in the region of Almeria and Murcia
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
South-east Spain: province Murcia-Almería (sector Almeriense)
area frequency
5 polygons.
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Ziziphetum loti Rivas Goday & Bellot 1944.
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
Ziziphus lotus scrub accompanied by slightly frost-resistant shrubs.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Shrub layer
Ziziphus lotus, Rhamnus lycioides, Withania frutescens
Herb layer
Stipa capensis, Lygeum spartum, Ifloga spicata
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
No details
Diagnostically important species
Ziziphus lotus, Withania frutescens, Rhamnus lycioides
Ecological variants
ziziphetosum loti; tamaricetosum africanae: argilliferous and sandy soils (Tamarix africana); nerietosum oleander: argilliferous and sandy gravel soils (Nerium oleander).
Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
periplocetosum laevigatae: zone with Mayteno-Periplocetum (Periploca angustifolia).
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)
holm oak forests (J3), kermes oak forests (J31), mastic tree forests (J43), thermophilous scrubs (J53), dune vegetation (P10), alluvial forests (U32).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
---
grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Pastures with perennial species: Dactylo hispanicae-Lygeetum sparti. Thyme communities: Helianthemo almeriensis-Sideritetum pusillae. Pastures with therophytes: Chaenorrhino rubriflori-Campanuletum fastigitae.
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
No details
settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
No details
Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
riverbeds
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
thermo-Mediterranean; 0-300 m
Geology (bedrock)
fluviatile Sediments (Quaternary); chalky clay and slate (Tertiary, Palaeozoic)
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
xero-humus carbonate soils with calcic mull; (stony calcic xerosols)
soil texture
stony, loamy-sandy
soil moisture, water balance
moderately dry, dry
soil reaction
weakly acidic, neutral
soil fertility
oligotrophic, oligo-mesotrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
III, III(IV), IV(III)
average annual temperature
17-19 °C
average annual precipitation
<300 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
25-27 °C
average temperature of the coldest month
8-12 °C
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
---
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, Díaz González, Rivas-Martínez & Sánchez-Gómez 1989; Mota Poveda, Cabello Piñar, Cueto Romero, Gómez Mercado, Gimenez Luque & Peñas 1997; Peinado Lorca & Rivas-Martínez (Ed.) 1987; Perez Raya, Lôpez Nieto, Molero Mesa & Valle Tendero 1990; Rivas-Goday & Bellot 1944; Rivas-Martínez 1975; Rivas-Martínez 1987
Compiled by
A. Penas Merino and L. Herrero Cembranos
