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 | Annex I habitat types (EU Habitats Directive) |
Legal status
Relation to other habitat types mentioned in legal instruments
| Legal text | Annex | Name in legal text | Code in legal text |
Habitat type relationship |
More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora - consolidated version 01/01/2007 | Annex I: natural habitat types of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation | Sarcopoterium spinosum phryganas | 5420 | Wider | http://ec.europa.eu/environm...rective/index_en.htm |
Vegetation types
Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)
Not availableIndicator species
Flowering Plants
Sarcopoterium spinosum
Flowering Plants
Lagoecia cuminoides
Flowering Plants
Allium rubrovittatum
Flowering Plants
Valantia hispida
Flowering Plants
Phagnalon rupestre
Flowering Plants
Ranunculus paludosus
Flowering Plants
Cuscuta palaestina
Flowering Plants
Euphorbia acanthothamnos
Flowering Plants
Gagea graeca
Flowering Plants
Medicago coronata
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 | |
| Lagoecia cuminoides | Flowering Plants | |
| Allium rubrovittatum | Flowering Plants | |
| Valantia hispida | Flowering Plants | |
| Phagnalon rupestre | Flowering Plants | |
| Ranunculus paludosus | Flowering Plants | |
| Cuscuta palaestina | Flowering Plants | |
| Euphorbia acanthothamnos | Flowering Plants | |
| Gagea graeca | Flowering Plants | |
| Medicago coronata | Flowering Plants |
Flowering Plants
Sarcopoterium spinosum
Flowering Plants
Dactylis glomerata
Flowering Plants
Brachypodium retusum
Flowering Plants
Trifolium campestre
Flowering Plants
Phagnalon rupestre
Flowering Plants
Drimia maritima
Flowering Plants
Anagallis arvensis
Flowering Plants
Lagoecia cuminoides
Flowering Plants
Valantia hispida
Flowering Plants
Catapodium rigidum
Flowering Plants
Asphodelus ramosus
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 | |
| Dactylis glomerata | Flowering Plants | |
| Brachypodium retusum | Flowering Plants | |
| Trifolium campestre | Flowering Plants | |
| Phagnalon rupestre | Flowering Plants | |
| Drimia maritima | Flowering Plants | |
| Anagallis arvensis | Flowering Plants | |
| Lagoecia cuminoides | Flowering Plants | |
| Valantia hispida | Flowering Plants | |
| Catapodium rigidum | Flowering Plants | |
| Asphodelus ramosus | Flowering Plants | |
| Avena barbata | Flowering Plants |
Flowering Plants
Sarcopoterium spinosum
Flowering Plants
Euphorbia acanthothamnos
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 | |
| Euphorbia acanthothamnos | 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 |
