Mediterranean maquis and arborescent matorral

Description (English)

Evergreen sclerophyllous or laurophyllous shrub vegetation forming a dense closed canopy, with or without low emergent trees, on a wide variety of substrates and soils through the thermo- to mesomediterranean belts. May be permanent primary vegetation on xeric sites but is usually derived by the degradation of evergreen deciduous or coniferous forest and much influenced in structure and composition by grazing and fire.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type code S51
Relation to Resolution 4 habitat type (used for designation of Emerald sites)

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Not available

Indicator species

Diagnostic species
Constant species
Dominant species
Flowering Plants Arbutus unedo
Flowering Plants Pistacia lentiscus
Conifers Juniperus phoenicea
Flowering Plants Myrtus communis

Diagnostic species occur concentrated in the habitat in question, but are absent or rare in other habitats. They are good positive indicators of the habitat, but they do not need to occur in every location of the habitat.

Species scientific name English common name Species group
Arbutus unedo Flowering Plants
Pistacia lentiscus Flowering Plants
Juniperus phoenicea Conifers
Myrtus communis Flowering Plants
Flowering Plants Pistacia lentiscus
Flowering Plants Rubia peregrina
Flowering Plants Erica arborea
Flowering Plants Smilax aspera
Flowering Plants Asparagus acutifolius
Conifers Juniperus oxycedrus
Flowering Plants Arbutus unedo
Conifers Juniperus phoenicea
Flowering Plants Brachypodium retusum
Flowering Plants Phillyrea latifolia
Flowering Plants Quercus ilex
Flowering Plants Myrtus communis
Flowering Plants Rhamnus alaternus
Flowering Plants Lonicera implexa
Flowering Plants Phillyrea angustifolia
Flowering Plants Rubus ulmifolius
Flowering Plants Cistus monspeliensis
Flowering Plants Rosmarinus officinalis
Flowering Plants Dactylis glomerata

Constant species occur frequently in the habitat, but they may include generalist species that are also frequent in other habitats.

Species scientific name English common name Species group
Pistacia lentiscus Flowering Plants
Rubia peregrina Flowering Plants
Erica arborea Flowering Plants
Smilax aspera Flowering Plants
Asparagus acutifolius Flowering Plants
Juniperus oxycedrus Conifers
Arbutus unedo Flowering Plants
Juniperus phoenicea Conifers
Brachypodium retusum Flowering Plants
Phillyrea latifolia Flowering Plants
Quercus ilex Flowering Plants
Myrtus communis Flowering Plants
Rhamnus alaternus Flowering Plants
Lonicera implexa Flowering Plants
Phillyrea angustifolia Flowering Plants
Rubus ulmifolius Flowering Plants
Cistus monspeliensis Flowering Plants
Rosmarinus officinalis Flowering Plants
Dactylis glomerata Flowering Plants
Flowering Plants Erica arborea
Conifers Juniperus phoenicea
Conifers Juniperus oxycedrus
Flowering Plants Arbutus unedo
Flowering Plants Myrtus communis
Flowering Plants Phillyrea latifolia

Dominant species are those that often reach high cover in the habitat, thus determining the habitat physiognomy.

Species scientific name English common name Species group
Erica arborea Flowering Plants
Juniperus phoenicea Conifers
Juniperus oxycedrus Conifers
Arbutus unedo Flowering Plants
Myrtus communis Flowering Plants
Phillyrea latifolia Flowering Plants

History

Classification Code Habitat type name Relationship type Comment
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 F5.2 Maquis same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 F5.1 Arborescent matorral same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 F5.2 Maquis same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 F5.1 Arborescent matorral same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 F5.2 Maquis same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 F5.1 Arborescent matorral same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 F5.1 Arborescent matorral same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 F5.2 Maquis same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 F2.1 Arborescent matorral same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 F2.2 Maquis same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 F2.1 Arborescent matorral same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 32.1 Arborescent matorral same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 32.2 Thermo-Mediterranean shrub formations narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 32.3 Meso-Mediterranean silicicolous maquis narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 32.1 Arborescent matorral same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 32.2 Thermo-Mediterranean shrub formations narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 32.3 Meso-Mediterranean silicicolous maquis narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 32.3   narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 32.2   narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 32.1   same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 32.1   same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 32.3   narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 32.2   narrower
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991 32.1   same
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991 32.3   narrower
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991 32.2   narrower
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989 32.3   narrower
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989 32.2   narrower
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989 32.1   same
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