IBEROATLANTICA

Description

Dwarf, somewhat wet heaths in the north-facing, snowy side of siliceous cirques above the timberline, with Calluna vulgaris as dominant but rich in other Ericaceae like Vaccinium myrtillus, V. uliginosum, Erica tetralix and, locally, Empetrum nigrum, as well as numerous acidophilous herbs, clubmosses, mosses and lichens.

Protection

Protected under the code 4060 ("Alpine and Boreal heaths") by the EU Habitat Directive.

Floristic Composition

Frequent species

Calluna vulgaris 99%, Vaccinium myrtillus 78%, Avenella flexuosa 55%, Juniperus communis 47%, Vaccinium uliginosum 45%, Nardus stricta 34%, Helictochloa marginata 33%, Hypericum richeri 33%, Erica tetralix 32%, Potentilla erecta 31%, Jasione laevis 27%, Meum athamanticum 21%, Daboecia cantabrica 21%, Solidago virgaurea 21%, Luzula pediformis 19%, Scorzoneroides pyrenaica 19%, Lotus corniculatus 19%, Gentiana lutea 17%, Pilosella officinarum 17%, Festuca rubra 15%, Galium saxatile 14%, Carex pilulifera 14%, Erica vagans 13%, Luzula caespitosa 12%, Festuca eskia 12%, Erica arborea 12%, Genista micrantha 11%, Erica australis 11%, Ulex minor aggr. 11%, Arenaria montana 10%, Carex asturica 10%, Erica cinerea 10%, Agrostis capillaris 10%, Genista pilosa 10%, Festuca summilusitana 9%, Scilla verna 9%, Festuca nigrescens 9%, Phyteuma hemisphaericum 9%, Thymus praecox 8%, Trifolium alpinum 8%, Silene ciliata 8%, Agrostis curtisii 7%, Thesium pyrenaicum 7%, Anthoxanthum odoratum 7%, Cytisus oromediterraneus 7%, Phalacrocarpum oppositifolium 7%, Glandora diffusa 7%, Thymelaea coridifolia aggr. 7%, Viola riviniana aggr. 7%, Cruciata glabra 7%, Pteridium aquilinum 7%, Jasione montana 7%, Juncus trifidus 6%, Genista carpetana 6%, Melampyrum pratense 6%, Genista obtusiramea 6%, Teesdalia conferta 6%, Plantago alpina 6%, Hypochaeris radicata 6%, Juncus squarrosus 6%, Halimium umbellatum 6%, Euphorbia polygalifolia 6%, Veronica officinalis 6% view more...

Indicator species

Calluna vulgaris 0.92, Vaccinium myrtillus 0.68, Vaccinium uliginosum 0.44, Avenella flexuosa 0.41, Nardus stricta 0.32, Juniperus communis 0.32, Hypericum richeri 0.29, Jasione laevis 0.25, Helictochloa marginata 0.22, Meum athamanticum 0.21, Potentilla erecta 0.2, Luzula pediformis 0.19, Scorzoneroides pyrenaica 0.18, Erica tetralix 0.18, Solidago virgaurea 0.17, Pilosella officinarum 0.13, Carex pilulifera 0.12, Festuca eskia 0.12, Festuca rubra 0.12, Luzula caespitosa 0.11, Daboecia cantabrica 0.11, Gentiana lutea 0.11, Lotus corniculatus 0.11, Galium saxatile 0.09, Genista pilosa 0.09, Phyteuma hemisphaericum 0.08, Genista micrantha 0.08, Trifolium alpinum 0.08, Silene ciliata 0.07, Festuca summilusitana 0.07, Festuca nigrescens 0.07, Carex asturica 0.07, Scilla verna 0.07, Thymelaea coridifolia aggr. 0.06, Juncus trifidus 0.06, Phalacrocarpum oppositifolium 0.06, Arenaria montana 0.06, Thesium pyrenaicum 0.06, Plantago alpina 0.06, Genista carpetana 0.06, Teesdalia conferta 0.06, Homogyne alpina 0.05, Cruciata glabra 0.05, Veronica officinalis 0.05, Jasione crispa 0.04, Melampyrum pratense 0.04, Cruciata pedemontana 0.04, Huperzia selago 0.04, Campanula herminii 0.04, Anthoxanthum odoratum 0.04 view more...

Phytosociology

Avenello ibericae-Empetretum hermaphroditi
Erico tetralicis-Vaccinietum microphylli

Relations with other habitat types

It replaces montane birchwoods of T1D7 (or their secondary heathlands S42z) above the timberline, where it alternates with S23y, restricted to rockier areas with less deep and long-lasting snowpack.