S73y Genista sanabrensis cushion-heaths
Description
Thorny cushion-forming scrub restricted to outcropping slates in the highest levels of the Montes de León and western Cantabrian mountains, essentially above the treeline.
Protection
Protected under the code 4090 ("Endemic oro-Mediterranean heaths with gorse") by the EU Habitat Directive.Floristic Composition
Frequent species
Genista sanabrensis
100%,
Calluna vulgaris
87%,
Avenella flexuosa
71%,
Vaccinium myrtillus
48%,
Agrostis tileni
48%,
Solidago virgaurea
45%,
Gentiana lutea
32%,
Festuca summilusitana
32%,
Erica umbellata
32%,
Erica australis
29%,
Juniperus communis
29%,
Sedum brevifolium
29%,
Jasione crispa
26%,
Jasione laevis
23%,
Cytisus oromediterraneus
23%,
Genista tridentata
23%,
Silene ciliata
19%,
Luzula lactea
19%,
Luzula caespitosa
16%,
Halimium alyssoides
13%,
Scorzoneroides pyrenaica
13%,
Jurinea humilis
10%,
Neoschischkinia truncatula
10%,
Halimium umbellatum
10%,
Eryngium duriaei
10%,
Dianthus langeanus
10%,
Jacobaea adonidifolia
6%,
Agrostis curtisii
6%,
Antennaria dioica
6%,
Armeria ciliata
6%,
Conopodium majus aggr.
6%,
Rumex acetosella
6%,
Phyteuma hemisphaericum
6%,
Phalacrocarpum oppositifolium
6%,
Hieracium murorum aggr.
6%,
Agrostis capillaris
6%
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Indicator species
Genista sanabrensis 1,
Avenella flexuosa 0.58,
Calluna vulgaris 0.54,
Agrostis tileni 0.48,
Solidago virgaurea 0.42,
Vaccinium myrtillus 0.33,
Festuca summilusitana 0.29,
Sedum brevifolium 0.27,
Gentiana lutea 0.26,
Erica umbellata 0.26,
Jasione crispa 0.25,
Silene ciliata 0.19,
Cytisus oromediterraneus 0.18,
Jasione laevis 0.17,
Luzula lactea 0.16,
Luzula caespitosa 0.15,
Juniperus communis 0.12,
Erica australis 0.12,
Scorzoneroides pyrenaica 0.1,
Jurinea humilis 0.09,
Eryngium duriaei 0.09,
Dianthus langeanus 0.08,
Halimium umbellatum 0.07,
Jacobaea adonidifolia 0.06,
Armeria ciliata 0.06,
Phyteuma hemisphaericum 0.06,
Neoschischkinia truncatula 0.06,
Antennaria dioica 0.05,
Hieracium murorum aggr. 0.05,
Phalacrocarpum oppositifolium 0.03,
Murbeckiella boryi 0.03,
Cerastium ramosissimum 0.03,
Sesamoides minor 0.03,
Rumex acetosella 0.03,
Euphrasia hirtella 0.03,
Armeria duriaei 0.03,
Scorzoneroides carpetana 0.03,
Dianthus pungens 0.03,
Jasione sessiliflora 0.03,
Teesdalia conferta 0.02,
Echinospartum ibericum 0.02,
Orobanche rapum-genistae 0.01
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Phytosociology
- Erico umbellatae-Genistetum sanabrensis
- Genisto sanabrensis-Juniperetum nanae
Relations with other habitat types
Interpretable as a western and acidophilous analogue of S73x, particularly associated with slate outcrops and far more orophilous than the otherwise ecologically similar S732. For the reasons explained under said S73x, a new level IV regional unit is created, replacing the original S73452 (Genista sanabrensis cushion-heaths).
Regional distribution
Known occurrences and potential area of occupancy of the habitat type in the study region.
