T22x Iberoatlantic Laurus forests

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Description

Lauroid, usually low-stature mesic forests widespread in mostly maritime, virtually frost-free lowlands, often interpretable as a thermophilous immature stage of other forest types but locally functioning as a stable community, as happens in salt-sprayed coastal areas where the budburst of the potentially dominant large deciduous trees may fail.

Protection

Despite some definitional issues, it should be considered protected with priority under the code 5230* ("Arborescent matorral with Laurus nobilis") by the EU Habitat Directive.

Floristic Composition

Frequent species

Laurus nobilis 100%, Hedera helix aggr. 97%, Rubia peregrina 76%, Asplenium adiantum-nigrum aggr. 72%, Ruscus aculeatus 67%, Smilax aspera 67%, Lonicera periclymenum 64%, Dioscorea communis 53%, Brachypodium pinnatum 47%, Pteridium aquilinum 38%, Polystichum setiferum 38%, Parietaria judaica 36%, Arum italicum 34%, Dactylis glomerata 29%, Rubus ulmifolius 28%, Teucrium scorodonia 28%, Crataegus monogyna 27%, Geranium robertianum 26%, Iris foetidissima 25%, Asplenium scolopendrium 24%, Umbilicus rupestris 22%, Rhamnus alaternus 21%, Quercus robur 20%, Rumex acetosa 17%, Prunus spinosa 17%, Digitaria sanguinalis 16%, Festuca rubra 16%, Mercurialis perennis 15%, Sambucus nigra 15%, Viola riviniana aggr. 14%, Polypodium cambricum 14%, Leucanthemum pluriflorum 13%, Polypodium interjectum 13%, Asplenium trichomanes 12%, Castanea sativa 12%, Picris hieracioides 11%, Lamium maculatum 11%, Athyrium filix-femina 10%, Crithmum maritimum 10%, Holcus mollis 10%, Hypericum androsaemum 10%, Agrostis stolonifera 10%, Corylus avellana 9%, Ulex europaeus aggr. 9%, Omphalodes nitida 9%, Silene uniflora 9%, Silene latifolia 9%, Dryopteris dilatata 8%, Ilex aquifolium 8%, Orobanche hederae 8%, Galium mollugo aggr. 8%, Polypodium vulgare 8%, Erica arborea 8%, Aquilegia vulgaris aggr. 7%, Brachypodium sylvaticum 7%, Digitalis purpurea 7%, Primula acaulis 7%, Cornus sanguinea 7%, Arbutus unedo 6%, Coincya monensis 6%, Saxifraga spathularis 6%, Davallia canariensis 6%, Fraxinus excelsior 6%, Helleborus foetidus 6%, Glandora diffusa 6%, Solanum nigrum 6%, Asphodelus albus 6%, Saxifraga hirsuta 6%, Eupatorium cannabinum 6%, Osmunda regalis 5%, Genista hispanica 5%, Linaria triornithophora 5%, Urtica dioica 5%, Rosa sempervirens 5%

Phytosociology

  • Calluno vulgaris-Lauretum nobilis
  • Hedero helicis-Lauretum nobilis
  • Holco mollis-Lauretum nobilis
  • Lithodoro diffusae-Oleetum europaei
  • Omphalodo nitidae-Lauretum nobilis
  • Tamo communis-Lauretum nobilis

Relations with other habitat types

Adjacent, successionally related or intermixing with T1Bx, T1E1 or T21x (starting from S353), its full assimilation with EUNIS level IV unit T221 ("Mediterraneo-Atlantic Laurus-Quercus forest") seems straightforward, were it not for the too narrowing allusion to evergreen oak forests in the definition of the latter.

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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