S33y Cytisus scoparius fields

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Description

Retamoid scrub on moderately sandy or stony, not particularly well-draining soils, fringing mostly deciduous forests in not too acid areas, including leached limestones, mostly at mid-latitudes.

Protection

This habitat is not protected under the EU Habitat Directive.

Floristic Composition

Frequent species

Cytisus scoparius 98%, Erica arborea 54%, Pteridium aquilinum 44%, Genista florida 42%, Arenaria montana 34%, Quercus pyrenaica 30%, Teucrium scorodonia 29%, Cytisus multiflorus 23%, Erica australis 22%, Genista falcata 22%, Calluna vulgaris 21%, Festuca elegans 20%, Halimium umbellatum 19%, Genista tridentata 18%, Digitalis purpurea 17%, Sedum forsterianum 17%, Adenocarpus complicatus aggr. 16%, Viola riviniana aggr. 16%, Conopodium majus aggr. 15%, Lavandula pedunculata 14%, Quercus rotundifolia 13%, Clinopodium vulgare 13%, Jasione montana 13%, Dactylis glomerata 12%, Rubus ulmifolius 12%, Hypochaeris radicata 12%, Potentilla erecta 12%, Helictochloa marginata 12%, Silene nutans 11%, Glandora diffusa 11%, Polygala vulgaris 11%, Sanguisorba verrucosa 11%, Galium pumilum aggr. 11%, Erica cinerea 11%, Agrostis castellana 11%, Agrostis capillaris 11%, Orobanche rapum-genistae 10%, Agrostis curtisii 10%, Ulex europaeus aggr. 10%, Helictotrichon thorei 10%, Brachypodium pinnatum 9%, Thymus mastichina 9%, Lotus corniculatus 8%, Halimium alyssoides 8%, Bellis perennis 8%, Anthoxanthum odoratum 8%, Hypericum pulchrum 8%, Hyacinthoides non-scripta 8%, Ranunculus nigrescens 8%, Cytisus striatus 8%, Vaccinium myrtillus 7%, Primula acaulis 7%, Brachypodium sylvaticum 7%, Cistus inflatus 7%, Cytisus oromediterraneus 7%, Cistus ladanifer 7%, Holcus mollis 6%, Anemone nemorosa 6%, Crataegus monogyna 6%, Luzula campestris 6%, Campanula rapunculus 6%, Thesium pyrenaicum 5%, Teesdalia nudicaulis 5%, Anarrhinum bellidifolium 5%, Centaurea paniculata aggr. 5%, Galium saxatile 5%, Melampyrum pratense 5%, Helleborus foetidus 5%, Crepis lampsanoides 5%, Cruciata glabra 5%, Daphne gnidium 5%, Pilosella officinarum 5%

Phytosociology

  • Cytiso scoparii-Genistetum polygaliphyllae (p.p.)
  • Genisto falcatae-Ericetum arboreae (p.p.)

Relations with other habitat types

The submediterranean hue of many regional stands difficults a full assimilation to S331 (“Temperate Cytisus scoparius fields") and recommends the creation of a new level IV unit. It tends to occupy soils less sandy and draining than S33n and less acid than S42m, and replaces the frost- and drought-sensitive S332 at higher elevations or submediterranean areas unsuitable to gorse but suitable to the hardier Cytisus scoparius.

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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