T1D1 Iberian acidophilous birch forests

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Description

Pioneer deciduous forests on acid substrates, at low- and mid-elevations, both as a purely zonal (especially under climates with hardly any Mediterranean influence) or as a riverine formation along modest watercourses (also in submediterranean areas).

Protection

This habitat is not protected under the EU Habitat Directive.

Floristic Composition

Frequent species

Betula celtiberica 100%, Holcus mollis 80%, Teucrium scorodonia 77%, Quercus robur 76%, Lonicera periclymenum 72%, Pteridium aquilinum 69%, Salix atrocinerea 62%, Hedera helix aggr. 59%, Blechnum spicant 57%, Erica arborea 56%, Athyrium filix-femina 49%, Frangula alnus 44%, Dryopteris affinis 44%, Agrostis capillaris 42%, Deschampsia cespitosa aggr. 39%, Carex reuteriana 35%, Viola riviniana aggr. 34%, Euphorbia dulcis 34%, Stellaria holostea 33%, Brachypodium pinnatum 31%, Castanea sativa 31%, Senecio bayonnensis 31%, Dactylis glomerata 30%, Digitalis purpurea 29%, Saxifraga spathularis 29%, Omphalodes nitida 29%, Viola palustris 29%, Oenanthe crocata 26%, Vaccinium myrtillus 25%, Corylus avellana 24%, Arrhenatherum elatius 24%, Dryopteris dilatata 23%, Ajuga reptans 22%, Luzula sylvatica 22%, Polypodium vulgare 21%, Carex laevigata 20%, Centaurea nigra 20%, Osmunda regalis 20%, Ilex aquifolium 18%, Avenella flexuosa 18%, Crocus serotinus 18%, Acer pseudoplatanus 16%, Angelica laevis 16%, Sorbus aucuparia 16%, Crepis lampsanoides 15%, Alnus glutinosa aggr. 15%, Oxalis acetosella 13%, Primula acaulis 13%, Pyrus cordata 13%, Cytisus scoparius 13%, Dryopteris aemula 12%, Fraxinus excelsior 12%, Lamium maculatum 12%, Ulex minor aggr. 12%, Rubus ulmifolius 12%, Crataegus monogyna 12%, Genista florida 12%, Ranunculus repens 11%, Quercus pyrenaica 11%, Rumex acetosa 11%, Melampyrum pratense 11%, Daboecia cantabrica 11%, Heracleum sphondylium 10%, Juncus effusus 10%, Cirsium palustre 10%, Adenostyles alpina 10%, Hypericum androsaemum 10%, Veronica chamaedrys 9%, Sambucus nigra 9%, Stachys officinalis 9%, Euphorbia amygdaloides 9%, Narcissus minor 9%, Scrophularia auriculata 8%, Silene dioica 8%, Lathyrus linifolius 8%, Potentilla erecta 8%, Hyacinthoides non-scripta 8%, Helictotrichon thorei 8%, Aquilegia vulgaris aggr. 7%, Allium victorialis 7%, Thelypteris limbosperma 7%, Caltha palustris 7%, Saxifraga lepismigena 7%, Valeriana dioica 7%, Galium mollugo aggr. 7%, Prunella vulgaris 7%, Cardamine pratensis 7%, Anthoxanthum amarum 7%, Agrostis castellana 6%, Prunus spinosa 6%, Molinia caerulea 6%, Arenaria montana 6%, Dryopteris borreri 6%, Brachypodium sylvaticum 6%, Dryopteris filix-mas 6%, Cirsium filipendulum 6%, Peucedanum lancifolium 6%, Ulex europaeus aggr. 6%

Phytosociology

  • Carici reuterianae-Betuletum celtibericae
  • Chaerophyllo hirsuti-Betuletum pubescentis
  • Holco mollis-Betuletum celtibericae
  • Rhamno frangulae-Betuletum celtibericae
  • Violo palustris-Betuletum pubescentis

Relations with other habitat types

The small, winged, highly mobile seeds of birches, in combination with their vast array of fungal partners, turn them into an efficient pioneer tree species on acid soils, promptly colonising any clearing and, in particular, being the most likely arboreal plants overshadowing S353 and regenerating forest conditions. Later-arriving, larger-seeded species like those dominating T1Bx and T182, more competitive in the shady and root-crowded conditions of the understorey, eventually prevail. Birch's pioneer behaviour explains its prevalence in the margins of small watercourses, where periodic floods would eliminate T1Bx but waters ar too low in summer for T121 to develop.

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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