T21z Iberoatlantic Quercus rotundifolia forests on acid soils

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Description

Acidophilous sclerophyllous evergreen forests in inner, continental areas, drought-prone throughout the year for topographic reasons at various scales (rainshadow by high mountains, abrupt slopes, gorges channelling desiccating winds, etc.).

Protection

Protected under the code 9340 ("Quercus ilex and Quercus rotundifolia forests") by the EU Habitat Directive.

Floristic Composition

Frequent species

Quercus rotundifolia 100%, Rubia peregrina 60%, Asplenium adiantum-nigrum aggr. 57%, Erica arborea 55%, Arbutus unedo 53%, Daphne gnidium 49%, Ruscus aculeatus 49%, Teucrium scorodonia 49%, Lonicera periclymenum 42%, Dioscorea communis 38%, Hedera helix aggr. 38%, Lavandula pedunculata 38%, Arenaria montana 34%, Genista hystrix 34%, Dactylis glomerata 34%, Crataegus monogyna 32%, Clinopodium vulgare 32%, Osyris alba 30%, Cytisus scoparius 30%, Erica cinerea 28%, Cistus salviifolius 26%, Festuca elegans 26%, Phillyrea angustifolia 25%, Quercus pyrenaica 25%, Lonicera etrusca 23%, Genista falcata 21%, Brachypodium sylvaticum 21%, Lotus corniculatus 19%, Pistacia terebinthus 17%, Quercus suber 17%, Origanum vulgare 17%, Polypodium vulgare 15%, Pteridium aquilinum 15%, Cistus ladanifer 15%, Agrostis castellana 15%, Vicia sativa aggr. 13%, Cytisus multiflorus 13%, Prunus spinosa 13%, Sedum forsterianum 13%, Silene nutans 13%, Glandora prostrata 11%, Asplenium trichomanes 11%, Juniperus oxycedrus 11%, Anarrhinum bellidifolium 9%, Thymus mastichina 9%, Rosa canina aggr. 9%, Jasione montana 9%, Brachypodium pinnatum 9%, Sedum album 9%, Ranunculus ollissiponensis 9%, Helictochloa marginata 9%, Glandora diffusa 9%, Galium pumilum aggr. 9%, Genista scorpius 9%, Genista florida 9%, Erica scoparia 9%, Geranium robertianum 9%, Calluna vulgaris 8%, Geranium purpureum 8%, Helleborus foetidus 8%, Prunus avium 8%, Rubus ulmifolius 8%, Genista hispanica 8%, Arrhenatherum elatius 8%, Andryala integrifolia 8%, Euphorbia amygdaloides 8%, Carlina corymbosa 8%, Sanguisorba verrucosa 8%, Ilex aquifolium 8%, Galium mollugo aggr. 8%, Cistus populifolius 8%, Fraxinus angustifolia 8%, Amelanchier ovalis 8%, Teucrium chamaedrys 6%, Viola riviniana aggr. 6%, Spiraea hypericifolia 6%, Erica umbellata 6%, Sanguisorba minor 6%, Pimpinella villosa 6%, Hypochaeris radicata 6%, Digitalis purpurea 6%, Jasminum fruticans 6%, Erica vagans 6%, Laserpitium nestleri 6%, Dorycnium pentaphyllum 6%, Geranium lucidum 6%, Genista tridentata 6%, Cistus inflatus 6%, Centranthus calcitrapae 6%, Polygonatum odoratum 6%, Epipactis helleborine aggr. 6%, Asplenium ceterach 6%, Halimium umbellatum 6%

Phytosociology

  • Arbuto unedonis-Quercetum rotundifoliae
  • Genisto hystricis-Quercetum rotundifoliae

Relations with other habitat types

An acidophilous analogue of T21y, not benefitting of the percolating nature of limestones and therefore requiring drier macroclimates like those of the southwestern boundaries of the ecoregion, mostly in the orographically sheltered basin of El Bierzo, where they replace T19A in south-facing slopes. In the original EUNIS framework it should be included in the somewhat misnamed level VII unit T212422 (“Castilian encinares"), a new level IV unit becoming necessary for the reasons stated under T21x.

Regional distribution

Their recent expansion, this time at the expense of S73z and S33w, is similar to that explained under T21x and T21y.

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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