Fagus woodland on non-acid soils

Within the climatic zone where Fagus sylvatica (including in south-eastern Europe ssp. orientalis and ssp. moesiaca) can out-compete other broadleaved trees, this habitat comprises all those beech woodlands on more base-rich and neutral soils including both nutrient-poor rendzinas and more fertile brown earths. They extend from the Atlantic zone, in Great Britain, northern France and the Pyrenees, through the Continental zone into the Alpine region of central Europe, the Carpathians, and the Balkans. Beech is the supreme dominant in the canopy, which, on more productive soils, is often very high, the majestic trees creating a cathedral like effect. However, there are more associates here than on base-poor soils even though they are sometimes in a subordinate canopy tier, with Quercus petraea, Q. robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Acer pseudoplatanus, A. platanoides and Ulmus glabra. Carpinus betulus and Tilia cordata are more common in the warmer lowlands while more strongly thermophilous types in periodically dry situations have Sorbus aria, S. torminalis, Aesculus hippocastanum and Acer campestre. To the Atlantic west, Taxus baccata is characteristic, though groves, where it becomes locally dominant, are included in G3.9a Taxus woodland. Towards higher altitudes, there can be some Abies alba and Picea abies but co-dominant canopies fall within the G3.1b and G3.1c mountain Abies woodland. The shrub layer is typically sparse and the most common species throughout are Crataegus monogyna, C. laevigata, Corylus avellana, Viburnum opulus, V. lantana, Cornus sanguinea, Prunus spinosa, Ligustrum vulgare, Rosa arvensis and R. canina agg., of which many are more typical of thermophilous oak woodland. Ilex aquifolium increases towards the Atlantic, Daphne laureola and Buxus sempervirens in the south-west while Hedera helix is the commonest liana overall with Lonicera alpigena and L. nigra in the Alps, Dinarides and Carpathians. The herb layer is here often species-rich with a predominance overall of shade-tolerant mesophytes, many of them shared with mixed broadleaved forests of the nemoral zone (G1Aa Carpinus & Quercus mesic deciduous woodland): Galium odoratum, Milium effusum, Mycelis muralis, Lamiastrum galeobdolon, Pulmonaria obscura, Scrophularia nodosa, Viola reichenbachiana, Poa nemoralis, Athyrium filix-femina and Dryopteris filix-mas. On more base-rich soils, Mercurialis perennis, Hordelymus europaeus, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Bromus benekenii, Euphorbia amygdaloides, Asarum europaeum, Lathyrus vernus, Sanicula europaea, Actaea spicata, Paris quadrifolia, Melica uniflora are frequent. Typical spring geophytes include Anemone nemorosa, A. ranunculoides, Allium ursinum, Corydalis cava, C. solida and Ranunculus ficaria with Hyacinthoides non-scripta in the Atlantic zone. In the more continental parts of central Europe, Carex digitata, C. umbrosa, Galium sylvaticum, Melica nutans, Campanula trachelium, Neottia nidus-avis and Vicia sepium are typical, while in montane stands, Polygonatum verticillatum, Senecio ovatus, Prenanthes purpurea and Stellaria nemorum are differential. At the upper altitudinal limit, Ranunculus platanifolius, Cicerbita alpina, Petasites albus, Athyrium distentifolium, Geranium sylvaticum, Senecio nemorensis and in the Alps and neighbouring mountains, Adenostyles alliariae, Veratrum album, Saxifraga rotundifolia, Viola biflora, Luzula luzulina, Astrantia major and Polystichum lonchitis. Thermophilous beech forests of this type, found in higher zonation belts in southern Europe or in locally warmer situations elsewhere, are especially species-rich and may have extensive thermophilous shrub layer, though the particular flora varies much according to the region and the altitude.

Synthesis of Red List assessment

Confidence in the assessment

Pressures and threats