Eastern Mediterranean spiny heath (phrygana)
Description (English)
Low scrub dominated by thorny hemispherical chamaephytes on various base-rich and acidic substrates in the thermo-, meso- and supramediterranean belts of mainland Greece, Anatolia, the Aegean and Ionian islands, Crete, Cyprus and parts of Sicily. It can be of a primary origin or develops after clearance of evergreen sclerophyllous forest.
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
| EUNIS habitat type | code S72 |
|---|---|
| Relation to | Resolution 4 habitat type (used for designation of Emerald sites) |
Legal status
Relation to other habitat types mentioned in legal instruments
Vegetation types
Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)
Not availableIndicator species
Diagnostic species
Constant species
Dominant species
Flowering Plants
Sarcopoterium spinosum
Flowering Plants
Genista acanthoclada
Flowering Plants
Thymbra capitata
Flowering Plants
Carlina graeca
Flowering Plants
Lagoecia cuminoides
Flowering Plants
Leontodon tuberosus
Flowering Plants
Allium rubrovittatum
Flowering Plants
Valantia hispida
Flowering Plants
Satureja thymbra
Flowering Plants
Phagnalon rupestre
Flowering Plants
Bromus intermedius
Flowering Plants
Ranunculus paludosus
Flowering Plants
Galium murale
Flowering Plants
Cuscuta palaestina
Flowering Plants
Gastridium phleoides
Flowering Plants
Euphorbia acanthothamnos
Flowering Plants
Gagea graeca
Flowering Plants
Medicago coronata
Flowering Plants
Teucrium microphyllum
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sarcopoterium spinosum | Flowering Plants | |
| Genista acanthoclada | Flowering Plants | |
| Thymbra capitata | Flowering Plants | |
| Carlina graeca | Flowering Plants | |
| Lagoecia cuminoides | Flowering Plants | |
| Leontodon tuberosus | Flowering Plants | |
| Allium rubrovittatum | Flowering Plants | |
| Valantia hispida | Flowering Plants | |
| Satureja thymbra | Flowering Plants | |
| Phagnalon rupestre | Flowering Plants | |
| Bromus intermedius | Flowering Plants | |
| Ranunculus paludosus | Flowering Plants | |
| Galium murale | Flowering Plants | |
| Cuscuta palaestina | Flowering Plants | |
| Gastridium phleoides | Flowering Plants | |
| Euphorbia acanthothamnos | Flowering Plants | |
| Gagea graeca | Flowering Plants | |
| Medicago coronata | Flowering Plants | |
| Teucrium microphyllum | Flowering Plants |
Flowering Plants
Sarcopoterium spinosum
Flowering Plants
Thymbra capitata
Flowering Plants
Dactylis glomerata
Flowering Plants
Leontodon tuberosus
Flowering Plants
Brachypodium retusum
Flowering Plants
Genista acanthoclada
Flowering Plants
Trifolium campestre
Flowering Plants
Hypochaeris achyrophorus
Flowering Plants
Phagnalon rupestre
Flowering Plants
Drimia maritima
Flowering Plants
Anagallis arvensis
Flowering Plants
Lagoecia cuminoides
Flowering Plants
Galium murale
Flowering Plants
Valantia hispida
Flowering Plants
Catapodium rigidum
Flowering Plants
Carlina graeca
Flowering Plants
Asphodelus ramosus
Flowering Plants
Trifolium stellatum
Flowering Plants
Linum strictum
Flowering Plants
Avena barbata
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sarcopoterium spinosum | Flowering Plants | |
| Thymbra capitata | Flowering Plants | |
| Dactylis glomerata | Flowering Plants | |
| Leontodon tuberosus | Flowering Plants | |
| Brachypodium retusum | Flowering Plants | |
| Genista acanthoclada | Flowering Plants | |
| Trifolium campestre | Flowering Plants | |
| Hypochaeris achyrophorus | Flowering Plants | |
| Phagnalon rupestre | Flowering Plants | |
| Drimia maritima | Flowering Plants | |
| Anagallis arvensis | Flowering Plants | |
| Lagoecia cuminoides | Flowering Plants | |
| Galium murale | Flowering Plants | |
| Valantia hispida | Flowering Plants | |
| Catapodium rigidum | Flowering Plants | |
| Carlina graeca | Flowering Plants | |
| Asphodelus ramosus | Flowering Plants | |
| Trifolium stellatum | Flowering Plants | |
| Linum strictum | Flowering Plants | |
| Avena barbata | Flowering Plants |
Flowering Plants
Sarcopoterium spinosum
Flowering Plants
Genista acanthoclada
Flowering Plants
Euphorbia acanthothamnos
Flowering Plants
Thymbra capitata
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sarcopoterium spinosum | Flowering Plants | |
| Genista acanthoclada | Flowering Plants | |
| Euphorbia acanthothamnos | Flowering Plants | |
| Thymbra capitata | Flowering Plants |
Other classifications
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) | F7.3 | East Mediterranean phrygana | same |
| European Red List of Habitats | F7.3 | Eastern Mediterranean spiny heath (phrygana) | same |
History
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | F7.3 | East Mediterranean phrygana | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | F7.3 | East Mediterranean phrygana | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | F7.3 | East Mediterranean phrygana | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | F7.3 | East Mediterranean phrygana | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 | F6.3 | East Mediterranean phrygana | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | F5.3 | East Mediterranean phryganas | same |
