Thermo-Mediterranean scrub

English name: Thermo-Mediterranean scrub

Description (English)

Shrub formations characteristic of the thermo-Mediterranean zone. Included here are those formations, for the most part indifferent to the siliceous or calcareous nature of the substrate, that reach their greatest extent or optimal development in the thermo-Mediterranean zone, typically with abundant Pistacia lentiscus, Myrtus communis, Phillyrea spp., Erica manipuliflora, Styrax officinalis, Genista fasselata, Euphorbia dendroides, Calicotome villosa and Sarcopoterium spinosum. Also included are the numerous, strongly characterized, thermophile formations endemic to the south of the Iberian peninsula, mostly thermo-Mediterranean but sometimes meso-Mediterranean; in their great local diversity they are a western counterpart of, and sometimes approach in appearance, the mostly eastern Mediterranean phryganas F7.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type code F5.5
Relation to Annex I habitat types (EU Habitats Directive)

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Name Definition Other names Reference
Eryngio trifidi-Ulicion erinacei Rothmaler 1943 Thermo-mesomediterranean calcicolous scrub of humid and perhumid regions of southern Portugal and southwestern Spain Coridothymo-Genistion umbellatae Rivas Goday in Rivas Goday et Borja 1961; Micromerio micranthae-Coridothymion capitati Rivas Goday et Rivas-Mart. in Rivas Goday 1964; Saturejo micranthae-Thymbrion capitatae Rivas Goday et Rivas-Mart. 1969 nom. mut. propos.; Saturejo micranthae-Coridothymion capitati Rivas Goday et Rivas-Mart. 1969 Schaminee et al, 2012
Euphorbion pithyusae Biondi et Géhu in Géhu et Biondi 1994 Thermomediterranean sub-halophIlous chamaephytic garrigue on coastal cliffs of Corsica and Sardinia Helichrysion italici Paradis et Piazza 1995; Loto cytisoidis-Helichrysion italici Géhu et Biondi in Géhu 1994; Loto cytisoidis-Helichrysion italici Géhu et Biondi 1984 Schaminee et al, 2012
Quercion fruticosae Rothmaler 1954 Southwest- and west-Iberian and North African coastal matorral on oligotrophic palaeo-podzolic soils Frutici-Quercion Rothmaler 1954; Quecrion lusitanicaee Rothmaler 1954 nom. mut. propos. Schaminee et al, 2012
Helichryso sanguinei-Origanion syriaci Barbero et Quézel 1989 Thermomediterranean phrygana of southern and Cyprus Schaminee et al, 2012
Anthyllidion barbae-jovis S. Brullo et De Marco 1989 Subaerohaline coastal dwarf scrub on salt-sprayed cliffs of eastern Tyrrhenian Sea Plantagini-Thymelaeion hirsutae Bartolo et S. Brullo ex Mayer 1995; Helichrysion litorei Biondi 2007; Helichrysion litorei Biondi in Biondi et al. 2013; Plantagini-Thymelaeion hirsutae Bartolo et S. Brullo in Bartolo et al. 1992 Schaminee et al, 2012
Rhamno graeci-Juniperion lyciae Costa et al. 1984 Aegeo-Anatolian and Cypriotic low-grown coastal maquis and garrigue Schaminee et al, 2012
Rubo longifoliae-Coremation albi Rivas-Mart. in Rivas-Mart. et al. 1980 Lusitano-andaluzian relictual scrub on oligotrophic coastal dunes Schaminee et al, 2012
Retamion monospermae Rivas-Mart et al. 2002 Lusitano-Andalusian Iberian and Tingitanian seral broomy scrub on deep littoral soils and palaeodune regosols Retamion monospermae Rivas-Mart. et Cantó in Rivas-Mart. et al. 2002 Schaminee et al, 2012
Genistion specioso-equisetiformis Rivas-Mart. et F. Valle in Rivas-Mart. et al. 2011 Prevalently Baetic Iberian thermo-mesomediterranean dry-subhumid genistpoid retamal on calcarous and ultramafic soils Schaminee et al, 2012
Retamion sphaerocarpae Rivas-Mart. 1981 Ibero-Lusitanian Iberian thermo-supramediterranean semiarid continental semiarid retamal Cytiso-Retamion Rivas Goday 1980; Genistion haenselero-polyanthii Pérez Latorre et Cabezudo 2002 Schaminee et al, 2012
Cisto cretici-Genistion corsicae Arrigoni et Di Tommaso 1991 Cyrno-Sardean themomediterranean garrigue on brown soils and terra rossa Schaminee et al, 2012
Juniperion turbinatae Rivas-Mart. 1975 corr. 1987 Thermomediterranean juniper woodlands of coastal dune systems of Western Mediterranean seaboards Juniperion lyciae Rivas-Mart. 1975 Schaminee et al, 2012
Genisto scorpii-Retamion sphaerocarpae Rivas-Mart. et Costa in Rivas-Mart. et al. 2011 Iberolevantine thermo-mesomediterranean (and rarely supramediterranean) semiarid to subhumid retamal on calcareous soils Chronantho-Retamion Rivas Goday 1980 Schaminee et al, 2012
Lavandulion lanatae (Martínez-Parras et al. 1984) Rivas-Mart. et al. 2002 Baetic thermo-supramediterranean dolomitic tomillar Lavandulion lanatae (Martínez-Parras et al. 1984) Rivas-Mart. et al. 2001 Schaminee et al, 2012
Calicotomo villosae-Genistion tyrrhenae Biondi 2000 Thermomediterranean acidophilous coastal garrigue of southwestern Tyrrhenian seaboards Schaminee et al, 2012
Ericion umbellatae Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl. et al. 1952 Thermo-supramediterranean subhumid north-central and eastern Iberian and Provencasl low silicicolous heath Cisto salviifoliae-Ericion cineraeae Géhu in Bardat et al. 2004; Ericion australis Bellot et Casaseca in Bellot 1968; Cistion hirsuti Br.-Bl. et al. 1965; Ericion aragonensis Rivas-Mart. 1962; Genisto-Ericion aragonensis Rivas-Mart. 1962; Halimio-Ulicion Rothmaler 1954; Pterospartion Rothmaler 1943 Schaminee et al, 2012
Teucrion mari (Gamisans et Muracciole 1984) Biondi et Mossa 1992 Cyrno-Sardinian thermo-mesomediterranean acidophilous garrigue Genistion corsicae Paradis et Pozzo di Borgo 2005; Myrto communis-Ericion scopariae Paradis et Pozzo di Borgo 2005; Calicotomo villosae-Genistion tyrrhenae Biondi 2000 Schaminee et al, 2012
Cistion ladaniferi Br.-Bl. ex A. Bolós et O. Bolòs in A. Bolós 1950 Thermomediterranean acidophilous coastal garrigue of western Tyrrhenian and Ligurian seaboards Cistion medio-mediterraneum (Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl. et al. 1940) O. de Bolòs 1962; Cistion ladanifer Br.-Bl. 1931 (orig. form); Cistion ladaniferi Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl et al. 1940; Lavandulion stoechadis Julve 1993; Calicotomo spinosae-Cistion ladaniferi (Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl. et al. 1940) Rivas-Mart. 1979 Schaminee et al, 2012
Cisto cretici-Ericion manipuliflorae Horvatic 1958 Thermomediterranean calciphilous garrigue of Dalmatian and Istrian coastal regions Schaminee et al, 2012
Genisto spartioidis-Phlomidion almeriensis Rivas Goday et Rivas-Mart. 1969 Almerian (south Iberian) Infra-mesomediterranean semiarid-dry retamoid scrub on calcarous and ultramafic substrates Schaminee et al, 2012
Rosmarinion officinalis Molinier 1934 Catalonian, Balearic and Provencal thermo-supramediterranean semiarid to subhumid coastal limestone matorral and tomillar Rosmarinion Br.-Bl. et al. 1936; Rosmarino-Ericion Br.-Bl. 1931; Rosmarino-Ericion Br.-Bl. ex Br.-Bl. et al. 1952; Rosmarino-Ericion Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl. et al. 1935 Schaminee et al, 2012
Hyperico empetrifolii-Micromerion graecae Barbero et Quézel 1989 Themo-mesomediterranean phrygana on calcareous substrates of central and southern Hellas, Aegean region and Crete Schaminee et al, 2012
Cisto eriocephali-Ericion multiflorae Biondi 2000 Thermo- and mesomediterranean calciphilous garrigue of coastal regions of central and southern Apenninian Peninsula Schaminee et al, 2012
Micromerion Oberd. 1954 Thermo-mesomediterranean phrygana on rocky calcareous soils of northern Hellas Dorycnio-Coridothymion capitati (Oberd. 1954) S. Brullo et al. 1997; Coridothymion Oberd. 1954 Schaminee et al, 2012
Periplocion angustifoliae Rivas-Mart. 1975 Thermomediterranean semi-arid deciduous relictual low matorral in coastal regions southeastern Spain, eastern North Africa and Sicily Periploco angustifoliae-Tetraclinidion articulatae Rivas-Mart. In Rivas-Mart. et al. 2011; Coccifero-Tetraclinidion Rivas Goday ex Esteve 1973 (orig. form); Coccifero-Tetraclinidion Rivas Goday 1964 (orig. form); Querco cocciferae-Tetraclinidion articulatae Rivas Goday ex Fernandez Casas et M.E. Sánchez 1972 Schaminee et al, 2012
Sideritidion bourgaeanae Peinado et Martínez-Parras in Peinado et al. 1992 Manchego-Murcian thermo-mesomediterranean tomillar on calcareo-dolomitic and dolomitic soils Sideritido bourgaeanae-Thymion funkii P. Sánchez et Alcaraz 1993 Schaminee et al, 2012
Oleo-Ceratonion siliquae Br.-Bl. ex Guinochet et Drouineau 1944 Thermomediterranean maquis and matorral on calcareous substrates along seabords of Mediterranean Euphorbion dendroidis Papastergiadou et al. 1997; Myrtion communis Allier et Lacoste 1980; Oleo-Ceratonion Br.-Bl. 1936 Schaminee et al, 2012
Sarcopoterio spinosi-Genistion fasselatae Costa et al. 1984 Thermo-mesomediterranean phrygana on sandy and loamy soils of Cyprus Sarcopoterio spinosi-Genistion sphacelatae Costa et al. 1984 Schaminee et al, 2012
Juniperon phoeniceae-Pinon acutisquamae A.V. Pérez et Cabezudo in A.V. Pérez et al. 1988 corr. Rivas-Mart. et al. 2002 nom. invers. propos. Betic thermo-supramediterranean matorral on ultramafic and dolomitic substrates Pino acutisquamae-Juniperion phoeniceae A.V. Pérez et Cabezudo in A.V. Pérez et al. 1988 corr. Rivas-Mart. et al. 2002; Pino acutisquamae-Juniperion phoeniceae A.V. Pérez et Cabezudo in A.V. Pérez et al. 1988 corr. Rivas-Mart. et al. 2001; Pino pinastri-Juniperion phoeniceae A.V. Pérez et Cabezudo in A.V. Pérez et al. 1998 Schaminee et al, 2012
Telinion monspessulano-linifoliae Rivas-Mart. et al. 2002 Aljibic, Tyrrhenian and Catalonian thermo-mesomediterranean subhumid-humid silicicolous genistoid retamal seral to Telinion monspessulano-linifoliae Rivas-Mart. et al. 2001; Phlomido purpureae-Retametalia sphaerocarpae Rivas-Mart., Díez-Garretas et Asensi in Rivas-Mart. et al. 2011 Schaminee et al, 2012
Thymo moroderi-Sideritidion leucanthae O. de Bolòs 1957 corr. Alcaraz et al. 1989 Murciano-Almerian infra-thermomediterranean tomillar on calcareous marly soils Helianthemo almeriensis-Sideritidion pusillae Alcaraz et al. 1989; Thymo longiflori-Sideritidion leucanthae O. de Bolòs 1957 Schaminee et al, 2012
Ulici argentei-Cistion ladaniferi Br.-Bl. et al. 1965 Southern Iberian and Moroccan thermo-mesomediterranean xeric silicicolous garrigue Schaminee et al, 2012
Anthyllido terniflorae-Salsolion papillosae Rivas Goday et Esteve 1968 Almerian infra-thermomediterranean tomillar on ultramafic soils Frankenio-Salsolion genistoidis Rivas Goday et Borja 1961 Schaminee et al, 2012
Ceratonio-Pistacion lentisci Zohary ex Zohary et Orshan 1959 Sclerophyllous scrub of thermomediterranean belt of Eastern Mediterranean Ceratonio-Pistacion creticum Zohary et Orshan 1966; Ceratonio-Pistacion lentisci Zohary 1955; Ceratonio siliquae-Rhamnion oleoidis Barbero et Quézel ex Quézel et al. 1992; Ceratonio-Rhamnion oleoidis Barbero et Quézel 1979 Schaminee et al, 2012
Helichryso barrelieri-Phagnalion graeci (Barbéro et Quézel 1989) R. Jahn in Mucina et al. 2009 Themo-mesomediterranean phrygana on non-calcareous substrates of southern Hellas, central and southern Aegean region and adjacent Anatolia Schaminee et al, 2012
Stauracanthion boivinii (Rivas-Mart. 1979) Rivas-Mart., Fernández-González et Loidi 1999 Southern Iberian and northern Moroccan termo-mesomediterranean subhumid to perhumid silicicolous brezal Nepion boivinii (Rivas-Mart. 1979) Rivas-Mart., Fernández-González et Loidi 1999 nom. mut. propos. Schaminee et al, 2012
Hyperico olympici-Cistion cretici (Oberd. 1954) R.Jahn et Bergmeier in Mucina et al. 2009 Themo-mesomediterranean silicicolous phrygana of northern Hellas Cistion orientale Oberd. 1954; Cisto-Hypericion bithynici (Oberd. 1954) S. Brullo et al. 1997 Schaminee et al, 2012
Coremation albi Rothmaler 1943 Lusitano-Andalusian and northern Maroccan thermo-mesomediterranean psammophilous scrub on acidic palaeodunes Rubio longifoliae-Coremation albi Rivas-Martínez in Rivas-Martínez, Costa, Castroviejo et E. Valdés 1980; Stauracantho genistoidis-Halimion halimifolii Rivas-Mart. 1979; Stauracantho genistoidis-Coremation albi Br.-Bl. et al. 1965 Schaminee et al, 2012
Asparago albi-Rhamnion oleoidis Rivas Goday ex Rivas-Mart. 1975 South Iberian thermomediterranean semi-arid sclerophyllous scrub and low open forest Asparago-Rhamnion Rivas Goday 1964 Schaminee et al, 2012
Staehelino-Ulicion baetici Rivas Goday et Rivas-Mart. 1969 Baetic thermo-supramediterranean ultramafic low scrub Schaminee et al, 2012

Species mentioned in habitat description

Flowering Plants Calicotome villosa
Flowering Plants Erica manipuliflora
Flowering Plants Euphorbia dendroides
Flowering Plants Genista fasselata
Flowering Plants Myrtus communis
Flowering Plants Pistacia lentiscus
Flowering Plants Sarcopoterium spinosum
Flowering Plants Styrax officinalis
Species scientific name English common name Species group
Calicotome villosa Flowering Plants
Erica manipuliflora Flowering Plants
Euphorbia dendroides Flowering Plants
Genista fasselata Flowering Plants
Myrtus communis Flowering Plants
Pistacia lentiscus Flowering Plants
Sarcopoterium spinosum Flowering Plants
Styrax officinalis Flowering Plants

Other classifications

Classification Code Habitat type name Relationship type
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 200112 32.2 Thermo-Mediterranean shrub formations same
CORINE Land Cover 3.2.3. Sclerophyllous vegetation n/a
For relation to plant communities (syntaxa), see Vegetation types

History

Classification Code Habitat type name Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 F5.5 Thermo-Mediterranean scrub same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 F5.5 Thermo-Mediterranean shrub habitats same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 F5.5 Thermo-Mediterranean shrub habitats same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 F5.5 Thermo-Mediterranean shrub habitats same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 F2.2 Thermo-Mediterranean shrub formations same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 32.2 Thermo-Mediterranean shrub formations same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 32.2 Thermo-Mediterranean shrub formations same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 32.2   same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 32.2   same
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991 32.2   same
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989 32.2   same
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