T19A Quercus pyrenaica forest

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Description

Acidophilous submediterranean forests, usually in inland, relatively high areas, dominated by Quercus pyrenaica, a late-leafer with deeply lobed, whitish leaves, hence resistant to late frosts and able to dissipate solar heat with modest transpiration (reducing potential photosynthetic output but increasing survival during moderate but systematic summer droughts).

Protection

Protected by the EU Habitat Directive under the code 9230 ("Galicio-Portuguese oak woods with Quercus robur and Quercus pyrenaica").

Floristic Composition

Frequent species

Quercus pyrenaica 100%, Teucrium scorodonia 65%, Holcus mollis 62%, Viola riviniana aggr. 62%, Pteridium aquilinum 60%, Melampyrum pratense 57%, Clinopodium vulgare 51%, Crataegus monogyna 44%, Arenaria montana 43%, Physospermum cornubiense 42%, Cruciata glabra 42%, Erica arborea 42%, Cytisus scoparius 41%, Stellaria holostea 41%, Lonicera periclymenum 38%, Brachypodium pinnatum 34%, Hedera helix aggr. 29%, Anthoxanthum odoratum 29%, Crepis lampsanoides 28%, Melittis melissophyllum 26%, Poa nemoralis 25%, Lathyrus linifolius 25%, Festuca elegans 25%, Rubus ulmifolius 23%, Hypericum pulchrum 23%, Genista falcata 22%, Potentilla erecta 22%, Ulex minor aggr. 21%, Prunella grandiflora 21%, Helictotrichon thorei 21%, Linaria triornithophora 21%, Luzula forsteri 21%, Primula acaulis 20%, Daboecia cantabrica 19%, Asphodelus albus 19%, Brachypodium sylvaticum 19%, Galium pumilum aggr. 18%, Conopodium majus aggr. 18%, Silene nutans 18%, Frangula alnus 18%, Agrostis capillaris 17%, Lathyrus niger 17%, Anemone nemorosa 17%, Ilex aquifolium 16%, Dactylis glomerata 16%, Avenella flexuosa 16%, Hieracium murorum aggr. 16%, Digitalis purpurea 16%, Genista florida 16%, Campanula rapunculus 15%, Festuca heterophylla 15%, Castanea sativa 15%, Galium aparine aggr. 15%, Erica vagans 14%, Sedum forsterianum 14%, Dioscorea communis 14%, Stachys officinalis 14%, Helictochloa marginata 14%, Glandora diffusa 14%, Euphorbia amygdaloides 13%, Rosa canina aggr. 13%, Quercus robur 13%, Fragaria vesca 13%, Vaccinium myrtillus 13%, Erica cinerea 13%, Geum sylvaticum 13%, Potentilla sterilis 13%, Prunus spinosa 13%, Lotus corniculatus 12%, Euphorbia angulata 12%, Agrostis castellana 12%, Potentilla montana 12%, Simethis mattiazzii 12%, Melica uniflora 12%, Vicia sepium 11%, Ruscus aculeatus 11%, Helleborus foetidus 11%, Corylus avellana 11%, Euphorbia dulcis 11%, Aquilegia vulgaris aggr. 11%, Jasione montana 10%, Arrhenatherum elatius 10%, Rumex acetosa 10%, Ulex europaeus aggr. 10%, Agrostis curtisii 10%, Omphalodes nitida 10%, Vicia sativa aggr. 10%, Lapsana communis 10%, Prunus avium 9%, Ranunculus tuberosus aggr. 9%, Pulmonaria longifolia 9%, Centaurea nigra 9%, Glandora prostrata 9%, Hyacinthoides non-scripta 9%, Helleborus viridis 9%, Calluna vulgaris 9%, Festuca rubra 8%, Veronica chamaedrys 8%, Asplenium adiantum-nigrum aggr. 8%, Trifolium medium 8%, Danthonia decumbens 8%, Trisetum flavescens 8%, Primula veris 8%, Hieracium prenanthoides aggr. 7%, Polygonatum odoratum 7%, Veronica officinalis 7%, Blechnum spicant 7%, Cruciata laevipes 7%, Mercurialis perennis 7%, Pyrus communis 7%, Picris hieracioides 7%, Polygala vulgaris 7%, Origanum vulgare 7%, Tanacetum corymbosum 7%, Polypodium vulgare 7%, Galium rotundifolium 7%, Geranium robertianum 7%, Vicia tenuifolia 6%, Hypericum perforatum 6%, Sorbus aucuparia 6%, Trifolium pratense 6%, Pyrus cordata 6%, Narcissus triandrus 6%, Serratula tinctoria 6%, Geranium sanguineum 5%, Luzula campestris 5%, Erythronium dens-canis 5%, Fagus sylvatica 5%, Campanula lusitanica 5%, Andryala integrifolia 5%, Conopodium pyrenaeum 5%, Achillea millefolium 5%, Aristolochia paucinervis 5%

Phytosociology

  • Genisto falcatae-Quercetum pyrenaicae
  • Holco mollis-Quercetum pyrenaicae
  • Linario triornithophorae-Quercetum pyrenaicae
  • Melampyro pratensis-Quercetum pyrenaicae

Relations with other habitat types

An acidophilous analogue of T197, these broadleaved deciduous forests replace T1Bx in the lowlands and T1By in the mountains under submediterranean conditions, outcompeting T21z where summer drought is less severe and snowfalls might be detrimental to broadleaved evergreens. Arguably an adaptation to relatively frequent wildfires throughout an evolutionary history unfold under wet submediterranean climates, Quercus pyrenaica sprouts vigorously from root when burnt or coppiced, resulting in dense shrubby formations recognised by EUNIS as S516 (“Deciduous Quercus matorral").

Regional distribution

This woodland functions as zonal forest in much of SE Galicia and NE Portugal, as well as in siliceous areas of the southern foothills of the Cantabrian Mountains. In the northern territories it occurs scattered in south-facing slopes and even in sandy coastal areas, as well as, more widespread, in areas of SW Asturias particularly sheltered from the oceanic summer clouds. Just like T1Bx, these forests were decimated and replaced by cereal croplands and pastures (often eroded into S42y heathlands); but in recent decades, human-depopulation of much of its economically unfavoured domains has led to a considerable recovery under the guise of the above-mentioned juvenile shrubby formations, except in heavily eroded areas where virtually stable stands of S42y prevail.

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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