Title
Erica carnea-pine forests (Pinus sylvestris) in the margin Alps with Polygala chamaebuxus, partly Genista januensis, Potentilla carniolica, Crepis froelichiana subsp. dinarica on dolomite and serpentine rocks
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
south Germany: Bavaria (Berchtesgaden); Austria; Italy; not on the map, because too small-scaled in Slovenia, France (Maurienne), Switzerland, Yugoslavia: Montenegro
area frequency
14 polygons.
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Erico-Pinion Braun-Blanquet 1939; Erico-Pinetum sylvestris Braun-Blanquet 1939, Carici humilis-Pinetum sylvestris Braun-Blanquet 1939, Calamagrostio variae-Pinetum sylvestris Wendelberger 1963, Pino-Genistetum januensis Tomažič 1940.
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
Open pine forests with a sparse shrub layer and usually a more closed dwarf shrub and thicket plant layer on shallow, usually steep dolomite and hard limestone soils. Weakly growing pine, 10-20 m tall. At higher altitudes the pines grow better (up to 30 m). Spruce and larch are sometimes scattered. Quercus pubescens and Ostrya carpinifolia penetrate at lower altitudes. The moss layer varies (better developed particularly on shaded slopes).
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Tree layer
Pinus sylvestris, isolated Larix decidua, Picea abies, Sorbus aria
Shrub layer
Juniperus communis, Amelanchier ovalis, Berberis vulgaris, Viburnum lantana, Rhamnus saxatilis, Cotoneaster tomentosus, Quercus pubescens
Herb layer
Erica carnea, Sesleria albicans, Polygala chamaebuxus, Epipactis atrorubens, Buphthalmum salicifolium, Dorycnium pentaphyllum subsp. germanicum, Peucedanum oreoselinum, Leontodon incanus, Anthericum liliago, Anthericum ramosum, Goodyera repens, Carex humilis, Brachypodium pinnatum, Calamagrostis varia
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
Rhytidium rugosum, Scleropodium purum, Pleurozium schreberi, Hylocomium splendens, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Dicranum polysetum
Diagnostically important species
Pinus sylvestris; Erica carnea, Sesleria albicans, Polygala chamaebuxus, Epipactis atrorubens
Ecological variants
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Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
Erico-Pinetum largely uniform from Maurienne (France) through Switzerland (in the Valais in the Ononido-Pinetum (K1) complex) and Italy (particularly the dolomites) to Austria (particularly the northern limestone Alps), at the eastern margin Alps and in the south-east Alps transitions to Pinus nigra forests (K9); Calamagrosti-Pinetum appears usually as a transition to calcareous beech forest; Pineto-Caricetum humilis in the Ofen region (Switzerland) in drier subalpine locations (transition to K1). The Pineto-Genistetum in Slovenia is closely affiliated with the Pinus nigra forests. On serpentine very open stands, close to the Erico-Pinetum, sprinkled with dry grasslands (often with relict species). Transitions to inner-Alpine pine forests (K1). The pine forests with Erica spp. and Calluna vulgaris in the Brixen-Bozen region (Italy, Dicrano-Pinion on porphyry) and in the “Buckligen Welt” (Austria, on silicate slates) occupy a special position.
Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)
Usually clearly demarcated permanent communities, mainly in climax areas of the Fagion, Vaccinio-Piceion, Pino-Genistetum within the range of the Orno-Ostryon; Stipo-Koelerion (steppe grasslands); Italy: Stipo-Poion xerophilae, Berberidion scrub.
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
alpine grasslands (B44), larch-pine forests (C19), alpine rose-dwarf pine scrubs (C20), spruce-fir forests (D29), spruce forests (D35), oak-hornbeam forests (F65), species-poor beech forests (F96), species-rich beech forests (F115, F133, F142, F143), mixed hop-hornbeam-downy oak forests (G48), black pine forests (K8).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
Spruce, larch and black pine forests.
grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Semi-dry and dry grasslands (Xerobromion); Stipo-Koelerion (Festucetalia valesiacae from Italy).
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
uplands: usually south exposed dry slopes
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
montane-altimontane; 600-1000 m
Geology (bedrock)
dolomite and limes, serpentine, exceptionally porphyry, silicate schist (Mesozoic; Palaeozoic)
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
shallow humus carbonate soils, exceptionally ranker; (stony, eutric and lithic leptosols; stony dystric cambisols)
soil texture
grouany, gravely, stone-rich, partly rocky, sandy
soil moisture, water balance
dry
soil reaction
weakly acidic to neutral
soil fertility
oligotrophic, oligo-mesotrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
VI(X)2, VI(X)3
average annual temperature
5-8 °C
average annual precipitation
900-1800 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
13-16 °C
average temperature of the coldest month
-5 to -2 °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)
Due to its lack of exploitability it is semi-natural to natural in nature almost everywhere, although sometimes damaged by erosion.
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
species worthy of protection: Daphne cneorum, orchid-species, Callianthemum anemonoides; on serpentine various endemic species (for instance Sempervivum pittonii).
causes of endangerment
Quarries, gravel extraction, erosion.
required measures for protection and restitution
No details
Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection
of the natural vegetation
Austria: Mötz (Tyrol), Lofer (Salzburg, with Stipa eriocaulis), Sulzau near. Werfen, Mandling near Radstadt, Lower Austrian pre-Alps for instance. Ochsattel region. Serpentine: Austria: Kraubath, Kirchdorf/Pernegg, Aggsbach, Bernstein; Italy: Nonsberg, dolomites, partly protected (Brenta-Adamello: Tovel valley). Occurrences not shown on the map: France: Maurienne (between Modane and Bramans), Roya valley above Tende; Switzerland: Graubünden, Valais (above all the southern slope), north Switzerland: Axenstraße.
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
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Most important references (author, year)
Ellenberg & Klötzli 1972; Hölzel 1996a; Hölzel 1996b; Mayer 1974; Wagner 1971; Wagner 1989
Compiled by
J. Niedbala referring to H. Wagner, completed by K. Zukrigl, F. Klötzli; F. Pedrotti
