T1D7 Montane Betula celtiberica forests

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Description

Acidophilous deciduous forests at high elevations, near the treeline (around 1800 m). In these areas the mortality of trees is increased by episodes of blizzard and other inclemencies, forests becoming chronically patchy and immature (i.e., as in T1D1, dominated by birches, whose wind-dispersed seeds can get more readily to those high slopes, and are in less risk of being lost downhill than those of the dominating T182 and T1By, only rarely reaching the treeline). Locally, in the southern slopes of the Cantabrian mountains, sunnier in summer and warmer during the day, the treeline might rather correspond to T37x. In limestone massifs, mostly uninhabitable to birch for edaphic reasons, treeline is lower and formed by T172.

Floristic Composition

Frequent species

Betula celtiberica 1, Vaccinium myrtillus 0.91, Sorbus aucuparia 0.85, Erica arborea 0.82, Luzula sylvatica 0.64, Stellaria holostea 0.55, Saxifraga spathularis 0.53, Oxalis acetosella 0.5, Crepis lampsanoides 0.49, Blechnum spicant 0.47, Ilex aquifolium 0.45, Anemone nemorosa 0.42, Pteridium aquilinum 0.41, Avenella flexuosa 0.4, Dryopteris filix-mas 0.38, Viola riviniana aggr. 0.37, Dryopteris dilatata 0.36, Poa nemoralis 0.35, Corylus avellana 0.35, Teucrium scorodonia 0.32, Lonicera periclymenum 0.29, Athyrium filix-femina 0.27, Melampyrum pratense 0.24, Salix atrocinerea 0.24, Genista florida 0.24, Dryopteris affinis 0.21, Euphorbia dulcis 0.2, Cirsium palustre 0.19, Allium victorialis 0.18, Polygonatum verticillatum 0.17, Polypodium vulgare 0.17, Aquilegia vulgaris aggr. 0.17, Omphalodes nitida 0.17, Holcus mollis 0.16, Galium saxatile 0.16, Fagus sylvatica 0.14, Euphorbia hyberna 0.14, Hedera helix aggr. 0.14, Valeriana montana aggr. 0.14, Rubus ulmifolius 0.14, Euphorbia amygdaloides 0.14, Digitalis purpurea 0.14, Ranunculus tuberosus aggr. 0.13, Adenostyles alpina 0.13, Ceratocapnos claviculata 0.12, Veronica officinalis 0.12, Daboecia cantabrica 0.12, Anthoxanthum odoratum 0.12, Chaerophyllum hirsutum 0.12, Quercus petraea 0.12, Crataegus monogyna 0.11, Lilium martagon 0.11, Quercus robur 0.11, Potentilla erecta 0.11, Calluna vulgaris 0.1, Primula acaulis 0.1, Doronicum carpetanum 0.1, Frangula alnus 0.1, Salix caprea 0.1, Ranunculus platanifolius 0.09, Valeriana officinalis 0.09, Sorbus aria 0.09, Aconitum lycoctonum 0.09, Caltha palustris 0.09, Erythronium dens-canis 0.09, Agrostis capillaris 0.09, Daphne laureola 0.09, Poa chaixii 0.09, Thelypteris limbosperma 0.08, Acer pseudoplatanus 0.08, Angelica laevis 0.08, Veratrum album 0.08, Taxus baccata 0.08, Lamium maculatum 0.08, Silene dioica 0.07, Pyrola minor 0.07, Polystichum setiferum 0.07, Hyacinthoides non-scripta 0.07, Geranium robertianum 0.06, Prunus padus 0.06, Solidago virgaurea 0.06, Cytisus scoparius 0.06, Cruciata glabra 0.06, Dactylorhiza maculata aggr. 0.06, Rumex acetosa 0.06, Helleborus viridis 0.06, Rosa canina aggr. 0.06, Ranunculus repens 0.06, Gentiana lutea 0.06, Erica vagans 0.06, Castanea sativa 0.05, Chrysosplenium oppositifolium 0.05, Conopodium majus aggr. 0.05, Sorbus mougeotii 0.05, Dryopteris expansa 0.05, Dryopteris oreades 0.05, Festuca rubra 0.05, Quercus pyrenaica 0.05, Fragaria vesca 0.05, Pulmonaria longifolia 0.05, Physospermum cornubiense 0.05

Phytosociology

  • Eryngio juresiani-Betuletum celtibericae
  • Luzulo henriquesii-Betuletum celtibericae
  • Sorbo aucupariae-Salicetum capreae
  • Valeriano officinalis-Betuletum pubescentis

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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