Thermomediterranean arid scrub

Description (English)

Scrub with a usually low and rather open cover of shrubs with sub-shrubs, dwarf shrubs and herbs between, on dry soils of varied composition in the thermomediterranean belt, and of very diverse local composition. Primary and permanent in more arid and exposed situations, but can be successional to a forest and often much affected by grazing.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type code S54
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 Euphorbia dendroides
Flowering Plants Teucrium fruticans
Flowering Plants Olea europaea
Flowering Plants Asparagus albus
Flowering Plants Ruta chalepensis
Flowering Plants Prasium majus
Flowering Plants Chamaerops humilis
Flowering Plants Pistacia lentiscus
Flowering Plants Arisarum vulgare
Flowering Plants Ferula communis
Flowering Plants Ampelodesmos mauritanicus
Flowering Plants Hyparrhenia hirta
Flowering Plants Asphodelus ramosus
Flowering Plants Asparagus acutifolius
Flowering Plants Calicotome infesta
Flowering Plants Genista ephedroides
Flowering Plants Anagyris foetida
Flowering Plants Phagnalon saxatile
Flowering Plants Calicotome villosa

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
Euphorbia dendroides Flowering Plants
Teucrium fruticans Flowering Plants
Olea europaea Flowering Plants
Asparagus albus Flowering Plants
Ruta chalepensis Flowering Plants
Prasium majus Flowering Plants
Chamaerops humilis Flowering Plants
Pistacia lentiscus Flowering Plants
Arisarum vulgare Flowering Plants
Ferula communis Flowering Plants
Ampelodesmos mauritanicus Flowering Plants
Hyparrhenia hirta Flowering Plants
Asphodelus ramosus Flowering Plants
Asparagus acutifolius Flowering Plants
Calicotome infesta Flowering Plants
Genista ephedroides Flowering Plants
Anagyris foetida Flowering Plants
Phagnalon saxatile Flowering Plants
Calicotome villosa Flowering Plants
Flowering Plants Euphorbia dendroides
Flowering Plants Pistacia lentiscus
Flowering Plants Asparagus acutifolius
Flowering Plants Olea europaea
Flowering Plants Prasium majus
Flowering Plants Hyparrhenia hirta
Flowering Plants Dactylis glomerata
Flowering Plants Arisarum vulgare
Flowering Plants Asphodelus ramosus
Flowering Plants Smilax aspera
Flowering Plants Rubia peregrina
Flowering Plants Brachypodium retusum
Flowering Plants Teucrium fruticans
Flowering Plants Bituminaria bituminosa
Flowering Plants Phagnalon saxatile
Flowering Plants Chamaerops humilis
Flowering Plants Calicotome villosa
Flowering Plants Asparagus albus
Flowering Plants Ruta chalepensis
Flowering Plants Ampelodesmos mauritanicus

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
Euphorbia dendroides Flowering Plants
Pistacia lentiscus Flowering Plants
Asparagus acutifolius Flowering Plants
Olea europaea Flowering Plants
Prasium majus Flowering Plants
Hyparrhenia hirta Flowering Plants
Dactylis glomerata Flowering Plants
Arisarum vulgare Flowering Plants
Asphodelus ramosus Flowering Plants
Smilax aspera Flowering Plants
Rubia peregrina Flowering Plants
Brachypodium retusum Flowering Plants
Teucrium fruticans Flowering Plants
Bituminaria bituminosa Flowering Plants
Phagnalon saxatile Flowering Plants
Chamaerops humilis Flowering Plants
Calicotome villosa Flowering Plants
Asparagus albus Flowering Plants
Ruta chalepensis Flowering Plants
Ampelodesmos mauritanicus Flowering Plants
Flowering Plants Euphorbia dendroides
Flowering Plants Periploca angustifolia
Flowering Plants Chamaerops humilis
Flowering Plants Pistacia lentiscus

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
Euphorbia dendroides Flowering Plants
Periploca angustifolia Flowering Plants
Chamaerops humilis Flowering Plants
Pistacia lentiscus Flowering Plants

Please note that a maximum of 20 species of each indicator category is shown.

Other classifications

Classification Code Habitat type name Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) F5.5 Thermo-Mediterranean scrub narrower
European Red List of Habitats F5.5 Thermomediterranean scrub same
For relation to plant communities (syntaxa), see Vegetation types

History

Classification Code Habitat type name Relationship type Comment
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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