S33n Genista florida fields

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Description

Tall retamoid scrub in deep, well-drained and occasionally dry siliceous soils (typically, moraines and colluvia of coarse blocks) of mid elevations, at the level of the main mountain passes.

Protection

This habitat is not protected under the EU Habitat Directive.

Floristic Composition

Frequent species

Genista florida 100%, Erica arborea 69%, Cytisus scoparius 62%, Pteridium aquilinum 41%, Teucrium scorodonia 38%, Conopodium majus aggr. 28%, Agrostis capillaris 26%, Avenella flexuosa 26%, Helictochloa marginata 26%, Digitalis purpurea 25%, Arenaria montana 24%, Galium saxatile 22%, Quercus pyrenaica 20%, Vaccinium myrtillus 20%, Cytisus cantabricus aggr. 19%, Orobanche rapum-genistae 19%, Dactylis glomerata 18%, Calluna vulgaris 17%, Cytisus oromediterraneus 15%, Agrostis castellana 15%, Rumex acetosella 14%, Stellaria holostea 14%, Potentilla erecta 14%, Cytisus multiflorus 14%, Hypochaeris radicata 13%, Silene nutans 12%, Sorbus aucuparia 11%, Jasione montana 11%, Genista obtusiramea 10%, Erica australis 10%, Holcus mollis 10%, Sedum forsterianum 10%, Hypericum richeri 9%, Viola riviniana aggr. 9%, Cytisus striatus 9%, Arrhenatherum elatius 9%, Achillea millefolium 8%, Ceratocapnos claviculata 8%, Asphodelus albus 8%, Adenocarpus complicatus aggr. 8%, Gentiana lutea 8%, Phalacrocarpum oppositifolium 8%, Lavandula pedunculata 8%, Thymus mastichina 7%, Ulex minor aggr. 7%, Betula celtiberica 7%, Pilosella officinarum 7%, Erica vagans 7%, Festuca elegans 7%, Digitalis parviflora 6%, Clinopodium vulgare 6%, Geranium lucidum 6%, Halimium alyssoides 6%, Festuca rubra 6%, Festuca nigrescens 6%, Ilex aquifolium 6%, Neoschischkinia truncatula 6%, Daboecia cantabrica 6%, Cirsium palustre 5%, Festuca rothmaleri 5%, Rubus ulmifolius 5%, Galium broterianum 5%, Thymus pulegioides aggr. 5%, Rosa micrantha 5%

Phytosociology

  • Cytiso dieckii-Genistetum polygalaephyllae
  • Cytiso scoparii-Genistetum polygaliphyllae

Relations with other habitat types

It is recognised by EUNIS, but only at an unsatisfactory level V and lumping it with S33z, the creation of a new regional level IV unit becoming thus necessary. This scrub occurs in a close successional relation to montane beech and oak forests of the units T182 and TB1y, which it replaces both ephemerally in episodic clearings or, more permanently, in pastoral landscapes, where these scrubs are periodically removed to gain pastures mostly referable to R43z. At lower elevations, Genista florida can dominate permanent scrubs in rocky siliceous outcrops where too shallow and patchy soils prevent the development of a dense tree canopy. At high elevations it is replaced by S33z.

Regional distribution

Known occurrences and potential area of occupancy of the habitat type in the study region.

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Citation: IBEROATLANTICA – Flora and Habitats of the Cantabrian Mixed Forests ecoregion.
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