T1By Mountain Quercus forests on acid soils

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Description

Acidophilous montane deciduous forests, mostly in areas with a certain risk of moderate summer drought as a result of abrupt terrain, rocky soil, southerly aspect or relatively sunny and dry summers (as happens in the westernmost sector of the Cantabrian mountains, where these forests, especially under the form of scrubby formations dominated by Quercus orocantabrica, reach the treeline).

Protection

This habitat is not protected under the EU Habitat Directive.

Floristic Composition

Frequent species

Quercus petraea 83%, Teucrium scorodonia 71%, Vaccinium myrtillus 69%, Pteridium aquilinum 65%, Stellaria holostea 65%, Erica arborea 61%, Avenella flexuosa 59%, Sorbus aucuparia 59%, Ilex aquifolium 59%, Lonicera periclymenum 49%, Melampyrum pratense 48%, Corylus avellana 48%, Anemone nemorosa 44%, Luzula sylvatica 39%, Holcus mollis 38%, Viola riviniana aggr. 38%, Fagus sylvatica 33%, Dryopteris filix-mas 32%, Crepis lampsanoides 30%, Polypodium vulgare 30%, Betula celtiberica 30%, Asphodelus albus 28%, Anthoxanthum odoratum 26%, Saxifraga spathularis 26%, Hedera helix aggr. 26%, Physospermum cornubiense 25%, Genista florida 25%, Dryopteris dilatata 22%, Euphorbia amygdaloides 22%, Crataegus monogyna 21%, Euphorbia dulcis 20%, Oxalis acetosella 20%, Solidago virgaurea 20%, Lathyrus linifolius 20%, Poa nemoralis 19%, Linaria triornithophora 19%, Sorbus aria 18%, Cytisus scoparius 17%, Melica uniflora 17%, Hypericum pulchrum 16%, Arenaria montana 16%, Galium saxatile 16%, Digitalis purpurea 15%, Polygonatum verticillatum 15%, Euphorbia hyberna 14%, Acer pseudoplatanus 14%, Daboecia cantabrica 14%, Omphalodes nitida 13%, Melittis melissophyllum 13%, Hieracium murorum aggr. 13%, Polystichum setiferum 13%, Frangula alnus 13%, Blechnum spicant 13%, Rubus ulmifolius 12%, Ranunculus tuberosus aggr. 12%, Fragaria vesca 12%, Geranium robertianum 11%, Castanea sativa 11%, Conopodium majus aggr. 10%, Quercus pyrenaica 10%, Valeriana montana aggr. 10%, Agrostis capillaris 10%, Brachypodium pinnatum 10%, Mercurialis perennis 10%, Aquilegia vulgaris aggr. 10%, Primula veris 9%, Ceratocapnos claviculata 9%, Quercus robur 9%, Festuca rubra 9%, Galium rotundifolium 9%, Helictochloa marginata 9%, Stachys officinalis 9%, Daphne laureola 8%, Ulex minor aggr. 8%, Asplenium adiantum-nigrum aggr. 8%, Pulmonaria longifolia 8%, Rubus lainzii 8%, Helleborus viridis 8%, Lathyrus niger 8%, Lilium martagon 8%, Erica vagans 8%, Prunus spinosa 8%, Prunella grandiflora 8%, Brachypodium sylvaticum 8%, Glandora diffusa 8%, Polygonatum odoratum 8%, Fraxinus excelsior 7%, Hepatica nobilis 7%, Helictotrichon thorei 7%, Sanicula europaea 7%, Dactylis glomerata 7%, Veronica officinalis 7%, Rosa arvensis 7%, Potentilla erecta 7%, Primula acaulis 7%, Luzula lactea 7%, Cruciata glabra 7%, Clinopodium vulgare 6%, Agrostis curtisii 6%, Dioscorea communis 6%, Calluna vulgaris 6%, Veronica chamaedrys 6%, Doronicum carpetanum 6%, Laserpitium latifolium 6%, Rumex acetosa 6%, Dryopteris affinis 6%, Vicia sepium 6%, Ruscus aculeatus 6%, Acer campestre 5%, Thelypteris limbosperma 5%, Potentilla sterilis 5%, Hieracium prenanthoides aggr. 5%, Gentiana lutea 5%, Galium odoratum 5%, Rumex acetosella 5%, Rosa canina aggr. 5%, Hyacinthoides non-scripta 5%

Phytosociology

  • Avenello ibericae-Quercetum orocantabricae
  • Linario triornithophorae-Quercetum petraeae
  • Luzulo henriquesii-Quercetum petraeae
  • Pulmonario longifoliae-Quercetum petraeae

Relations with other habitat types

A montane analogue of T1Bx, these forests replace T182 where, for climatic or topographic reasons, beeches are in risk of failing to support their high transpiration needs. If those comparatively dry conditions deepen, T19A comes to prevail. They correspond to EUNIS unit T1B623 (“Oro-Cantabrian acidophilous oak forests"), lumped by EUNIS with T1Bx but actually more related to T1B3 (“Atlantic Quercus petraea forests"), restricted by EUNIS to the British Isles. To resolve such issues, a new level IV regional unit is created. At level V it might be useful to distinguish the umbrophilous and heliophilous Quercus petraea-dominated variants, as well as the orophilous one dominated by Quercus orocantabrica.

Regional distribution

It has been argued that higher human pressure on oaks, as a consequence of their more valuable wood, has provoked or at least facilitated the expansion of T182 in detriment of these forests.

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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