Mediterranean tall-grass and Artemisia steppes

English name: Mediterranean tall-grass and wormwood (Artemisia) steppes

Description (English)

Meso-, thermo- and sometimes supra-Mediterranean formations of the Mediterranean basin, physiognomically dominated by tall grasses, between which may grow communities of annuals or sometimes chamaephytes. They include silicicolous as well as basiphile formations. In the Mediterranean region proper, they are most characteristic of the Iberian peninsula and of the Mediterranean rim of Anatolia, with local representations in southern Provence, Sardinia, southern peninsular Italy, Sicily and Greece. In the semiarid regions between the Mediterranean and the deserts of western Asia, they dominate the landscape, forming a major steppe belt in which low scrub of Artemisia may be prominent.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type code E1.4

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Name Definition Alternatives Reftext
Hyparrhenion hirtae Br.-Bl. et al. 1956 Cirsum-mediterranean tall tussock thermophilous pseudosteppes of subtropical affinity Avenulo cincinnatae-Ampelodesmion mauritanici Minissale 1995; Aristido coerulescentis-Hyparrhenion hirtae S. Brullo et al. 1997; Micromerio graecae-Hyparrhenion podotrichae O. de Bolòs 1962 corr. Rivas-Mart. et al. 1992; Saturejo-Hyparrhenion hirtae O. de Bolòs 1962; Hyparrhenion sinaicae Br.-Bl. et al. 1956 corr. J.C. Costa et al. 2001; Panico repentis-Hyparrhenion hirtae S. Brullo et Siracusa 2000; Micromerio graecae-Hyparrhenion hirtae O. de Bolòs 1962; Dauco criniti-Hyparrhenion hirtae (Br.-Bl. et al. 1956) O. de Bolòs 1962 Schaminee et al, 2012
Moricandio-Lygeion sparti S. Brullo et al. 1990 Southern Italian-Ionian thermo- and mesomediterranean relict edaphic steppes on clayey soils Polygonion tenoreani S. Brullo et al. 1990 Schaminee et al, 2012
Stipion parviflorae De la Torre et al. 1996 Ibero-Levantine thermo- to supramediterranean sub-nitrophilous pseudosteppes on shallow calcareous soils Schaminee et al, 2012
Reichardio maritimae-Dactylidion hispanicae Biondi et al. 2001 Thermomediterranean subhalophilous perennial grasslands in wind-swept habitats along Tyrrhenian, Ionian and Aegean coasts Schaminee et al, 2012
Stipion tenacissimae Rivas-Mart. 1984 Southern Iberian thermomediterranean relict edaphic steppes on deep loamy-clayey soils Stipion tenacissimae Rivas-Mart. 1978 Schaminee et al, 2012
Cymbopogono hirti-Brachypodion ramosi Horvatic 1963 Pseudosteppes on calcareous and sandy soils in eastern Mediterranean and coastal areas of Balkan Peninsula Alyssion muralis Konstantinou 1992; Alyssion muralis Konstantinou et Babalonas 1996; Alyssion muralis Konstantinou in Carni et al. 2000; Cymbopogono-Brachypodion ramosi Horvatic 1957; Hyparrhenio-Brachypodion ramosi Horvatic 1963 nom. mut. propos.; Cymbopogono hirti-Brachypodion ramosi Horvatic 1958 Schaminee et al, 2012
Scorzonero creticae-Lygeion sparti S. Brullo et al. 2002 Cretan thermomediterranean relict edaphic steppes on clayey soils Schaminee et al, 2012
Triseto velutini-Brachypodion boissieri Rivas-Mart. et al. 2002 Perennial grasslands on dolomitic and ultramafic soils in thermo- to supramediterranean belts of southern Spain Triseto velutini-Brachypodion boissieri Rivas-Mart. et al. 2001 Schaminee et al, 2012
Festucion scariosae Martínez-Parras et al. 1984 Betic upper meso-supramediterranean semiarid pseudosteppes on deep calcareous soils Schaminee et al, 2012
Leontodono tuberosi-Bellion sylvestris Biondi et al. 2001 Thermo-mesomediterranean secondary pseudosteppes on deep calcareous soils of Central and Eastern Mediterranean Schaminee et al, 2012
Thero-Brachypodion retusi Br.-Bl. 1925 Western Mediterranean thermo- to supramediterranean semi-arid pseudosteppes on calcareous substrates Scabioso turolensis-Brachypodion retusi Rossellò 1994; Phlomidi lychnitis-Brachypodion retusi Mateo 1983; Bupleuro baldensis-Brachypodion distachyi (Br.-Bl. 1925) de Foucault 1999; Thero-Brachypodion Br.-Bl. 1931; Teucrio pseudochamaepitys-Brachypodion retusi Rivas-Mart. In Rivas-Mart. et al. 2011; Thero-Brachypodion ramosi Br.-Bl. 1925 nom. mut. propos.; Asphodelo aestivi-Brachypodion retusi de Foucault 1999 Schaminee et al, 2012
Agropyro pectinati-Lygeion sparti Br.-Bl. et O. de Bolòs 1958 corr. Rivas-Mart. et al. 1999 Central Iberian relict edaphic steppes on clayey soils Eremopyro cristati-Lygeion sparti Br.-Bl. et O. de Bolòs 1958 Schaminee et al, 2012

Species mentioned in habitat description

Not available

Other classifications

Classification Code Habitat type name Relationship type
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 200112 34.6 Mediterranean tall-grass and wormwood steppes same
CORINE Land Cover 3.2.1. Natural grassland n/a
For relation to plant communities (syntaxa), see Vegetation types

History

Classification Code Habitat type name Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 E1.4 Mediterranean tall-grass and Artemisia steppes same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 E1.4 Mediterranean tall-grass and Artemisia steppes same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 E1.4 Mediterranean tall-grass and Artemisia steppes same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 E1.4 Mediterranean tall-grass and Artemisia steppes same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 E1.4 Mediterranean tall-grass and Artemisia steppes same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 E1.15 Mediterranean tall-grass and wormwood steppes same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 34.6 Mediterranean tall-grass and wormwood steppes same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 34.6 Mediterranean tall-grass and wormwood steppes same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 34.6   same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 34.6   same
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991 34.6   same
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989 34.6   same
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