Title
South Albanian fir forests (Abies borisii-regis) with Pinus nigra, Quercus pubescens, Carpinus orientalis, Daphne laureola, Astragalus creticus, Stachys cretica, Thymus boissieri on calcareous rocks
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
south Albania: Llogara (Vlorë), Gjirokaster
area frequency
8 polygons.
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
No details
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
In general Abies borisii-regis is accompanied by Pinus nigra, but at lower altitudes of this type’s range Quercus pubescens and Ostrya carpinifolia are also intermingled.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Tree layer
Abies borisii-regis, Pinus nigra, Quercus pubescens, Carpinus orientalis
Shrub layer
Rosa gallica, Daphne laureola, Astragalus creticus
Herb layer
Stachys cretica, Campanula patula, Galium odoratum, Festuca altissima, Thymus boissieri, Hypericum haplophylloides
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
No details
Diagnostically important species
Abies borisii-regis; Daphne laureola, Astragalus creticus
Ecological variants
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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)
Quercetum ilicis, Quercus frainetto and Quercus cerris.
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
fir forests (D31), Balkan oak-bitter oak forests (G19), Oriental hornbeam-mixed downy oak forests (G57), holm oak forests (J22).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
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grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Used traditionally as winter pasture.
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
mountainous country
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
montane; 1000-1600 m
Geology (bedrock)
limestone (Cretaceous, Jurassic)
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
brown soils; (stony chromic luvisols; chromic and calcaric cambisols)
soil moisture, water balance
fresh to moderately dry
soil reaction
weakly acidic, neutral
soil fertility
oligo-mesotrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
IV5a, X
average annual temperature
6-10 °C
average annual precipitation
2000-2500 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
18-20 °C
average temperature of the coldest month
0-1 °C
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
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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
Natural fires, firewood harvesting, grazing, settlements.
required measures for protection and restitution
Semi-natural stands should be protected in national parks.
Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection
of the natural vegetation
Albania: Llogara, Gjirokaster, Leskovik.
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
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Most important references (author, year)
Paparisto, Demiri, Mitrushi & Qosja 1988; Vangjeli & Ruci 1995
Compiled by
J. Vangjeli
