Phytosociological analysis of Prunus lusitanica communities in the Iberian Peninsula and South of France

Abstract

The relict communities of Prunus lusitanica are globally threatened, mainly by climatic and anthropic factors. Solid knowledge about floristic composition and serial dynamics provides a valuable basis for the implementation of management and conservation measures. This article focuses on peculiar communities that occur in hydric-compensated areas of the Iberian Peninsula and south of France, a submediterranean ecotonal area. A hierarchical cluster analysis allowed to identify two new syntaxa. For the first time an association of Prunus lusitanica, Lonicero periclymeni-Prunetum lusitanicae ass. nova, is reported for France, representing the mature stage of a minoriseries of vegetation, attributed to Lonicerion periclymeni. The discovery of populations of P. lusitanica in valleys embedded in the Municipality of Mação (Portugal), represent the new association Smilaco asperae-Prunetum lusitanicae ass. nova, enriched by thermophilous taxa. This relict association occurs in the South Beira District and corresponds to the southern limit of the natural distribution area in mainland Portugal, integrated in the suballiance Fraxino angustifoliae-Ulmenion minoris. Additional notes on the occurrence of P. lusitanica in other areas of the Iberian Peninsula are provided.

Keywords:

• Chorology
• laurel forest
• geobotany
• phytosociology
• Pyrenees
• relict communities
• southwestern Europe
• vegetation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Annex I

Syntaxonomical scheme (according to Mucina et al., 2016):

CRATAEGO-PRUNETEA Tüxen 1962

Prunetalia spinosae Tüxen 1952

 Astrantio-Corylion avellanae Passarge 1978

  Polysticho setiferi-Coryletum avellanae prunetosum lusitanicae O. de Bolòs 1956

 Pruno-Rubion radulae Weber 1974

  Lonicero periclymeni-Prunetum lusitanicae ass. nova hoc loco

ALNO GLUTINOSAE-POPULETEA ALBAE P. Fukarek et Fabijanic 1968

Alno-Fraxinetalia excelsioris Passarge 1968

 Fraxino-Quercion roboris Passarge 1968

  Frangulo alni-Prunetum lusitanicae C. Lopes, J.C. Costa, Lousã & Capelo in J.C. Costa, C. Lopes, Capelo & Lousã 2000

  Luzulo henriquesii-Prunetum lusitanicae Honrado, P. Alves, Lomba, Torres & B. Caldas 2007

  Smilaco asperae-Prunetum lusitanicae ass. nova hoc loco

  Viburno tini-Prunetum lusitanicae Ladero 1976

Additional information

Funding

This work is funded by National Funds through FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology under the Project UIDB/05183/2020. We acknowledge of the European Commission’s LIFE program, through the Life-Relict Project – Preserving Continental Laurissilva Relicts (NAT/PT/000754).