Macaronesian Laurus woodland
Description (English)
Humid to hyper-humid, mist-bound, luxuriant, evergreen, lauriphyllous forests of the cloud belt of the Macaronesian islands, extremely rich in floral and faunal species, among which many are restricted to these communities. Genera such as Picconia, Semele, Gesnouinia, Lactucosonchus, Ixanthus are entirely endemic to these communities, while others, such as Isoplexis, Visnea and Phyllis reach in them their maximum development; in addition, each of the formations of the various archipelagoes harbours distinctive endemic species. Laurel forests are the most complex and remarkable relict of the humid sub-tropical vegetation of the Mioceno-Pliocene late Tertiary of southern Europe. Areas of intact forests have been drastically reduced to a level below which the preservation of their elements could not be sustained.
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
| EUNIS habitat type | code G2.3 |
|---|---|
| Bern Convention | Included in a Resolution 4 habitat type at a higher level (G2) |
| Relation to | Annex I habitat types (EU Habitats Directive) |
Legal status
Relation to other habitat types mentioned in legal instruments
| Legal text | Annex | Name in legal text | Code in legal text |
Habitat type relationship |
More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora - consolidated version 01/01/2007 | Annex I: natural habitat types of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation | Macaronesian laurel forests (Laurus, Ocotea) | 9360 | Same | http://ec.europa.eu/environm...rective/index_en.htm |
Vegetation types
Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)
| Name | Definition | Other names | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visneo mocanerae-Apollonion barbujanae Rivas-Mart. in Capelo et al. 2000 | Macaronesian subhumid-arid thermophilous submesophytic laurisilva forests | Schaminee et al, 2012 | |
| Ixantho viscosae-Laurion azoricae Oberd. ex Santos in Rivas-Mart. et al. 1977 | Canarian infra-thermomediterranean subhumid-humid hyperoceanic laurisilva forests | Laurion macaronesicum Rübel 1930; Laurion macaronesicum Rübel ex Oberd. 1965; Ixantho viscosae-Laurion novocanariensis Oberd. ex Santos in Rivas-Mart. et al. 1977 corr. Rivas-Mart. et al. 2001; Ixantho viscosae-Laurion novocanariensis Oberd. ex Santos in Rivas-Mart. et al. 1977 corr. Rivas-Mart. et al. 2002 | Schaminee et al, 2012 |
| Myrico fayae-Pittosporion undulati Lüpnitz 1976 | Azorean low-altitude thermotemperate laurisilva forests | Pittosporo undulati-Myricion fayae Lüpnitz 1976 nom. invers. propos. | Schaminee et al, 2012 |
| Dryopterido azoricae-Laurion azoricae Rivas-Mart. et al. 2002 | Azorean meso-supratemperate humid laurisilva forests | Dryopterido azoricae-Laurion azoricae Rivas-Mart. et al. 2001; Laurion macaronesicum Lüpnitz 1976 | Schaminee et al, 2012 |
| Sibthorpio peregrinae-Clethrion arboreae Capelo et al. 2000 | Madeirean subhumid-humid hyperoceanic laurisilva forests | Clethro-Laurion Sjögren 1972 | Schaminee et al, 2012 |
| Culcito macrocarpae-Juniperion brevifoliae Lüpnitz 1975 | Azorean infra- to supratemperate humid laurisilva forests and ericaceous mantle and seral heath | Juniperion brevifoliae Sjögren 1973 | Schaminee et al, 2012 |
Species mentioned in habitat description
Other classifications
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 200112 | 45.6 | Macaronesian laurel forests | same |
| CORINE Land Cover | 3.1.1. | Broad-leaved forest | n/a |
| BEAR Forest Types for Biodiversity Assessment | 25 | Laurel forest | wider |
History
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | G2.3 | Macaronesian Laurus woodland | same |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | G2.3 | Macaronesian Laurus woodland | same |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | G2.3 | Macaronesian Laurus woodland | same |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | G2.3 | Macaronesian Laurus woodland | same |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 | G2.3 | Macaronesian Laurus woodland | same |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | G2.3 | Macaronesian laurel woodland | same |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 | 45.6 | Macaronesian laurel forests | same |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 | 45.6 | Macaronesian laurel forests | same |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 | 45.6 | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 | 45.6 | same | |
| CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991 | 45.6 | same | |
| CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989 | 45.6 | same |
