27F6

F. Shrub communities

Sub-Mediterranean garrigue

Relationships with habitat classifications. EUNIS: F6.43 Thracian garrigue; F6.66 Balkan peninsula supra-Mediterranean garrigue; PAL. CLASS.: 32.C3 Thracian garrigue, 32.66 Balkan Peninsula supra-Mediterranean garrigue.

Conservation status. None.

Category. Nearly Threatened [NT – B1 C2 D2 E1 F1 G1 I L1].

General characteristics. The habitat encompasses xerophilic, open shrub communities of Mediterranean type (0,3–1 m high) dominated by Cistus incanus and Cistus salvifolius. They represent one of the latest stages of degradation of the mixed xerothermic oak forests and pseudomaquis in areas with transitional-Mediterranean climate. They differ from the typical Mediterranean garrigue by the prevalence of deciduous species and the absence of typical Mediterranean species. The bedrock is mainly silicate, but sometimes these coenoses can occur also on limestone. The communities occupy flat to slightly slanting (5–10º) places, mostly with southern exposure or exposure with southern component. Their projective cover is relatively low (40–60%). The horizontal structure is uneven – C. incanus and C. salvifolius make patches of different size, among which herbaceous coenoses develop with perennial herbs, and many terrophytes and geophytes. The sub-Mediterranean garrigues very often form complex phytocoenoses at the peripheries of open forests of Quercus pubescens and Q. frainetto and sclerophilic scrubland dominated by Quercus coccifera and Phillyrea latifolia etc. In many places they exist as shrub complexes with strongly open forest coenoses of Quercus pubescens and Q. frainetto or with sclerophilic scrub dominated by Juniperus oxycedrus, Paliurus spina-christi, Phillyrea latifolia, Quercus coccifera etc.

The communities of Cistus incanus are more widely distributed. This is a small shrub with elliptical leaves and large rose flowers. It forms a main layer 0,3–1 m high and low projective cover depending on the grazing intensity. Single, depressed plants of some typical Mediterranean and sub-Mediterranean trees and shrubs also occur such as Asparagus acutifolius, Carpinus orientalis, Jasminum fruticans, Juniperus oxycedrus, Osyris alba, Phillyrea latifolia, Pistacia terebinthus, Pyrus elaeagrifolia, Quercus coccifera, Rhus coriaria etc. The species composition varies according to the eco-geographic conditions, but accompanying species of higher abundance are Aristella bromoides (= Stipa bromoides), Bothriochloa ischaemum , Briza maxima, Bromus squarrosus, Chrysopogon gryllus, Dianthus gracilis, D. pinifolius, Festuca valesiaca, Genista carinalis, Hypericum olympicum, Oryganum vulgare subsp. hirtum, Poa bulbosa, Salvia tomentosa, Satureja coerulea, S. pilosa, Teucrium polium, Thymus atticus, T. striatus, T.zygioides, Trifolium cherleri etc. Agrostis castellana, Anemone pavonina, Asparagus verticillatus, Asphodeline liburnica, Bellardia trixago, Bromus squarrosus, Campanula lingulata, C. phrygia, Carduus candicans, Carlina corymbosa, C. lanata, Carthamus lanatus,Centaurea rutifolia, Cleistogenes serotina, Convolvulus cantabrica, Crocus olivieri, Crupina crupinastrum, Echinaria capitata, Echium plantagineum, Euphorbia myrsinites, Filago eriocephala, Hypericum cerastoides, H. rumeliacum, Hypochoeris cretensis, Linaria pelisseriana, Logfia minima, Lotus aegaeus, L. angustissimus, Medicago disciformis, M. minima, M. orbicularis, Neatostema apulum, Parentucellia latifolia,P. latifolia, Petrorhagia prolifera, Plantago bellardii, Psilurus incurvus, Romulea bulbocodium, Rostraria cristata, Sanguisorba minor, Scilla autumnalis, Silene subconica, Teucrium chamaedrys, Trifolium angustifolium, T. arvense, T. cherleri, T. hirtum, T. lappaceum, T. subterraneum, Verbascum orientale, Xolanthes guttatus, Ziziphora capitata,etc. occur also very often.

The communities with and sometimes dominated by Cistus salvifolius have very limited distributions in the coastal parts of Strandzha Mts. – Silistar locality, and the hilly areas near Kosti village – mainly in Pirena locality and Uzunbudzhak and Silkosiya Strict Nature Reserves. Apart from the typical Mediterranean species (the shrubs Asparagus acutifolius, Erica arborea, Jasminum fruticans, Osyris alba and herbs Anemone pavonia,Anthoxanthum aristatum, Briza maxima, Centaurium maritimum,Cytinus clusii, Hymenocarpus circinatus, Medicago disciformis, Ornithopus compressus, Verbascum bugulifolium) Aira elegantissima, Anthemis tinctoria, Brachypodium pinnatum, Chrysopogon gryllus, Cynosurus echinatus, Dorycnium graecum, Echium plantagineum,Gastridium ventricosum, Hypericum cerastoides, H. montbretii, Hypochoeris glabra, Linaria pelisseriana, Linum corymbulosum, Poa bulbosa, Psilurus incurvus, Stachys  thracica, Teesdalia coronopifolia, Teucrium polium, Trifolium purpureum, Xolanthes guttatus etc. also participate in the composition of these coenoses. Syntaxonomically these communities most probably belong to two associations so far know only from R Macedonia: Calicotomo-Cistetum villosae (Cistio-Hyperidon bithynici, Poterietalia spinosi and Cisto-Micromerietea julianae) and Diantho-Cistetum incani (Trifolion cherleri, Astragalo-Potenilletalia, Festuco-Brometea).

Characteristic taxa.

Distribution in Bulgaria. South Black Sea coast, southern slopes of Ograzhden Mts, southern parts of Struma river valley, Belasitsa Mts. and Slavyanka Mts., Central (Ardino, Zlatograd towns), and East Rhodopi Mts., Strandzha Mts.; from sea level up to 700 (900) m alt.

Conservation importance. Rare and endangered species such as Anemone pavonina, Asphodeline liburnica, Campanula phrygia, Carlina lanata, Cistus salvifolius, Crocus olivieri, Cytinus clusii, Erica arborea, Hymenocarpus circinatus, Romulea bulbocodium, Stachys thracica, Verbascum bugulifolium etc. and fungi of conservation importance (Arachnopeziza aurelia, Urnula craterium) participate in the composition of these coenoses.

Threats. Restoration of forest communities, unregulated grazing and ruderalization, exploitation of inert materials and planting of non-typical coniferous species.

Conservation measures taken. The localities of the habitat are within the borders of Strandzha Nature Park, Silistar and Pirena Protected Sites, Uzunbudzhak and Silkosiya Strict Nature Reserves as well as in sites of the European Ecological Network NATURA 2000.

Conservation measures needed. Detailed phytocoenological studies and monitoring of the habitats.

References. Jordanoff 1939; Stoyanov & Achtarov 1951a; Micevski & Matevski 1984.

Author: Chavdar Gussev


Sub-Mediterranean garrigue (distribution map)