U3D1 Mediterranean wet inland cliffs
Description
Rupicolous communities of highly specialised plants colonising rocky banks through which hard waters (loaded with calcium or magnesium cations after having percolated through rocks rich in those elements) permanently trickle. Loss of pressure when waters emerge and evaporation under the sun typically enhance the formation of travertines through carbonate precipitation and deposition. Adiantum capillus-veneris is often dominant, except at the higher elevations.
Protection
Code 7220* ("Petrifying springs with tufa formation [Cratoneurion]") of the EU Habitat Directive grants priority protection to part of these communities.Floristic Composition
Frequent species
Petrocoptis glaucifolia
75%,
Asplenium trichomanes
43%,
Erinus alpinus
41%,
Adiantum capillus-veneris
33%,
Hypericum nummularium
29%,
Asplenium ruta-muraria
27%,
Globularia nudicaulis
16%,
Pinguicula grandiflora
12%,
Schoenus nigricans
12%,
Campanula rotundifolia aggr.
8%,
Sedum dasyphyllum
6%,
Samolus valerandi
6%,
Crithmum maritimum
6%,
Asplenium ceterach
6%,
Oreochloa confusa
6%,
Campanula adsurgens
6%,
Tofieldia calyculata
6%
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Indicator species
Petrocoptis glaucifolia 0.74,
Adiantum capillus-veneris 0.33,
Hypericum nummularium 0.28,
Erinus alpinus 0.26,
Asplenium trichomanes 0.23,
Asplenium ruta-muraria 0.14,
Globularia nudicaulis 0.12,
Schoenus nigricans 0.12,
Pinguicula grandiflora 0.12,
Samolus valerandi 0.06,
Tofieldia calyculata 0.06,
Crithmum maritimum 0.06,
Eupatorium cannabinum 0.04,
Asperula aristata 0.04,
Oreochloa confusa 0.04,
Aquilegia pyrenaica aggr. 0.03,
Saxifraga hirsuta 0.03,
Sarcocapnos enneaphylla 0.02,
Rhamnus pumila 0.02,
Plantago maritima 0.02,
Carex flacca 0.02,
Clinopodium alpinum 0.02,
Ficus carica 0.02,
Erigeron karvinskianus 0.02,
Asplenium marinum 0.02,
Hepatica nobilis 0.02,
Scabiosa columbaria 0.02,
Thymus zygis 0.01,
Euphorbia flavicoma 0.01,
Dactylis glomerata 0.01,
Alchemilla hoppeana aggr. 0.01,
Matthiola fruticulosa 0.01,
Helichrysum stoechas 0.01,
Sesleria caerulea 0.01,
Hieracium lainzii aggr. 0.01
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Phytosociology
- Eucladio-Adiantetum capilli-veneris
- Hyperico nummularii-Pinguiculetum coenocantabricae
- Samolo valerandii-Adiantetum capilli-veneris
Relations with other habitat types
The definition and name of this EUNIS unit don’t suit perfectly to our communities, so the creation of a regional unit (analogous to the already defined U3D3 ["Illyrio-Helleno-Balkanic wet carbonate cliffs"]) should be considered in the future as soon as new data enable a better definition of this still unsatisfactorily resolved unit. Next to these oozing rocks, both upstream and downstream, alkaline wetlands (Q41x, Q431) may develop. The statistical weight of Petrocoptis glaucifolia (a plant not properly associated to the seeping rocky slopes, but indicative of the resurfacing of infiltrated water since it lives in overhanging cliffs, sheltered form direct rain) links these communities to the far more common U381. An alternative systematisation under P2N might be considered.
Regional distribution
Known occurrences and potential area of occupancy of the habitat type in the study region.
