IBEROATLANTICA

Description

Dwarf juniper and bearberry scrub on siliceous windswept ridges where snow doesn’t last long, usually above the timberline.

Protection

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

Floristic Composition

Frequent species

Juniperus communis 100%, Avenella flexuosa 71%, Vaccinium myrtillus 64%, Calluna vulgaris 60%, Festuca summilusitana 34%, Gentiana lutea 24%, Cytisus oromediterraneus 24%, Phalacrocarpum oppositifolium 23%, Luzula caespitosa 18%, Hypericum richeri 17%, Vaccinium uliginosum 16%, Daphne laureola 14%, Genista sanabrensis 14%, Helictochloa marginata 14%, Jasione crispa 14%, Solidago virgaurea 14%, Sempervivum vicentei 13%, Galium saxatile 12%, Nardus stricta 10%, Lotus corniculatus 10%, Helianthemum apenninum 9%, Festuca eskia 9%, Senecio nebrodensis 9%, Carex asturica 9%, Agrostis tileni 8%, Genista tridentata 8%, Thymus praecox 8%, Dianthus langeanus 7%, Conopodium majus aggr. 7%, Sedum brevifolium 6%, Silene nutans 6%, Digitalis parviflora 6%, Cruciata glabra 6%, Thymelaea coridifolia aggr. 5%, Anthyllis vulneraria 5%, Senecio pyrenaicus 5%, Cryptogramma crispa 5%, Genista hispanica 5%, Erica australis 5%, Festuca rubra 5%, Meum athamanticum 5%, Melampyrum pratense 5%, Luzula pediformis 5%, Potentilla erecta 5% view more...

Indicator species

Juniperus communis 0.98, Avenella flexuosa 0.59, Vaccinium myrtillus 0.52, Festuca summilusitana 0.31, Calluna vulgaris 0.3, Cytisus oromediterraneus 0.22, Phalacrocarpum oppositifolium 0.21, Gentiana lutea 0.2, Luzula caespitosa 0.18, Jasione crispa 0.13, Sempervivum vicentei 0.13, Vaccinium uliginosum 0.13, Hypericum richeri 0.13, Daphne laureola 0.12, Solidago virgaurea 0.12, Genista sanabrensis 0.12, Senecio nebrodensis 0.09, Festuca eskia 0.09, Agrostis tileni 0.08, Helianthemum apenninum 0.08, Helictochloa marginata 0.07, Carex asturica 0.07, Dianthus langeanus 0.06, Lotus corniculatus 0.05, Galium saxatile 0.05, Digitalis parviflora 0.05, Cryptogramma crispa 0.05, Senecio pyrenaicus 0.05, Nardus stricta 0.05, Sedum brevifolium 0.05, Cruciata glabra 0.04, Silene nutans 0.04, Luzula pediformis 0.04, Meum athamanticum 0.04, Minuartia recurva 0.04, Jurinea humilis 0.04, Rhinanthus minor 0.04, Thymelaea coridifolia aggr. 0.04, Trifolium alpinum 0.04, Anthyllis vulneraria 0.04, Melampyrum pratense 0.03, Pulsatilla alpina 0.03, Thymus praecox 0.03, Carex brevicollis 0.03, Viola bubanii 0.03, Armeria duriaei 0.03, Conopodium majus aggr. 0.03, Poa alpina 0.03, Rumex suffruticosus 0.03, Patzkea paniculata 0.03 view more...

Phytosociology

Junipero nanae-Vaccinietum microphylli

Relations with other habitat types

The local abundance of Cytisus oromediterraneus and other Oroiberian endemics (recalling EUNIS unit S333) contrasts with the boreo-alpine floristic background of S223, with which this community alternates topographically, giving further support to the creation of a new unit as explained under S23x. Often in mosaic with grasslands of block R43.