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Current state of the Prunetalia spinosae communities
in the centre and south of the Iberian Peninsula
(Spain, Portugal)
Ana Cano-Ortiz a , Carlos Pinto-Gomes b , Ricardo Quinto-Canas b , Carlos Vila-Viçosa b ,
Alfonso Rodríguez-Torres c & Ma Manuela Redondo d
a Dpto. Sostenibilidad Interr. Ingeniería y Recursos SL, Madrid, Spain
b Dpto. Paisaje, Ambiente y Ordenación, Universidad de Évora, Portugal
c Dpto. Botánica, Facultad de Ciencias del Medio Ambiente, UCLM, Toledo, Spain
d Dpto. Análisis Geográfico Regional y Geografía Física, Universidad Complutense,
Madrid, Spain
Version of record first published: 02 Aug 2012
To cite this article: Ana Cano-Ortiz, Carlos Pinto-Gomes, Ricardo Quinto-Canas, Carlos Vila-Viçosa, Alfonso Rodríguez-
Torres & Ma Manuela Redondo (2012): Current state of the Prunetalia spinosae communities in the centre and south of the
Iberian Peninsula (Spain, Portugal), Acta Botanica Gallica, 159:2, 211-221
To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/12538078.2012.696934
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Current state of the Prunetalia spinosae communities in the centre and south of the Iberian
Peninsula (Spain, Portugal)
L’état actuel des communautés spinosae Prunetalia dans le centre et le sud de la péninsule
ibérique, Péninsule (Espagne, Portugal)
Ana Cano-Ortiz
a
*, Carlos Pinto-Gomes
b
, Ricardo Quinto-Canas
b
, Carlos Vila-Viçosa
b
, Alfonso Rodríguez-Torres
c
and
M
a
Manuela Redondo
d
a
Dpto. Sostenibilidad Interr. Ingeniería y Recursos SL, Madrid, Spain;
b
Dpto. Paisaje, Ambiente y Ordenación, Universidad de Évo-
ra, Portugal;
c
Dpto. Botánica, Facultad de Ciencias del Medio Ambiente, UCLM, Toledo, Spain;
d
Dpto. Análisis Geográfico Regio-
nal y Geografía Física, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
Abstract: This paper re-examines the Rhamno-Prunetea class in the centre and south of the Iberian Peninsula, especially
in Andalusia. The paper also deals with the alliances Pruno-Rubion ulmifolii Lonicero-Berberidion hispanicae in the
south of the Iberian Peninsula, and Berberidion vulgaris (Berberidenion seroi) in the area of Cuenca. Our analysis of
225 relevés arranged in 22 phytosociological tables helped us to re-organize the available information and subsequently
propose three associations and two subassociations: Clematido vitalbae-Rosetum micranthae nova; Berberido hispani-
cae-Buxetum sempervirentis nova; Roso siculae-Berberidetum hispanicae Mota nova subas. prunetosum ramburii Mota
nova; Lonicero arboreae-Rhamnetum cathartici Martínez-Parras and Molero 1983 subas. prunetosum ranburii nova. As
a result of the study, a total of 18 syntaxa with the rank of association and four with the rank of subassociation are pro-
posed for the south of the Iberian Peninsula.
Keywords: Andalusia; association; bramble patches; thorny thicket.
Résumé: Nous révisons la classe Rhamno-Prunetea dans le centre-sud de la Péninsule Ibérique en nous occupant surtout
de l’Andalousie. Nousétudions les alliances de Pruno-Rubion ulmifolii, Lonicero-Berberidion hispanicae du sud ibérique
et de Berberidion vulgaris (Berberidenion seroi) dans les territoires de Cuenca. L’analyse de 225 inventaires présentes
dans les 22 tables phytosociologiques nous permets de réorganiser l’information et de proposer trois associations et deux
subassociations: Clematido vitalbae-Rosetum micranthae nova; Berberido hispanicae-Buxetum sempervirentis nova; Roso
siculae-Berberidetum hispanicae Mota nova suabas. prunetosum ramburii Mota nova; Lonicero arboreae-Rhamnetum
cathartici Martínez-Parras et Molero 1983 subas. prunetosum ranburii nova. Comme conséquence de ces études nous
fournissons pour le sud ibérique 18 syntaxons avec le rang d’association et 4 avec celui de subassociation.
Mots clés: Andalousie; association; Épinaie; ronceraie
Introduction
The territory under study is located in the centre and
south of Spain and Portugal. The paper provides a gen-
eral analysis of the Rhamno-Prunetea class, which is
widely distributed throughout the territory, particularly in
the mountainous areas. The class is not as frequent in
the warmer zones of Andalusia, where it is usually found
in the form of bramble patches of Lonicero hispanicae-
Rubetum ulmifolii. Whereas the bramble patch communi-
ties have been included in the Pruno-Rubion ulmifolii
(subal. Rosenion carioti-pouzinii) alliance, the thorny
thickets have been included in the Lonicero-Berberidion
hispanicae alliance. All of these bramble patch and
thorny thicket communities have already been studied by
authors such as Asensi, Rivas-Martínez, G. López, Mole-
ro, Ríos, Valle, Peinado, Gómez-Mercado, etc., but there
have been few general approaches to the vegetation of
the south of the Iberian Peninsula, where the description
of syntaxa is still a matter of contention. A general sur-
vey of the class is, consequently, badly needed, at least
for the south of the Iberian Peninsula.
Material and methods
This paper analyses 16 associations of bramble patch,
thorny thicket and box tree scrub, 14 of them in the south
of the Iberian Peninsula in combination with Ligustro vul-
garis-Berberidetum seroi and Berberido-buxetum semper-
*Corresponding author. Email: ana@interra.es
Acta Botanica Gallica: Botany Letters
Vol. 159, No. 2, June 2012, 211–221
Société botanique de France
ISSN 1253-8078 print/ISSN 2166-3408 online
Copyright Ó2012 Société botanique de France
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/12538078.2012.696934
http://www.tandfonline.com
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virentis in the area of Cuenca. A total of 362 species
(rows) by 225 relevés (columns) are compared to obtain a
general cluster with the different groups. Particular atten-
tion is paid to the Andalusian box tree scrubs of the Par-
que Natural de Cazorla, Segura, Las Villas and Sierra
Pandera. The source material used has been taken either
from our own relevés or from the published relevés of
other authors (López 1976; Arnaiz 1979; Asensi and
Rivas-Martínez 1979; Rivas-Martínez et al. 1980, 2002;
Martínez-Parras and Molero Mesa 1982, 1983; Peinado,
Moreno and Velasco 1983; Martínez-Parras, Peinado and
Alcaraz 1987; Valle Gómez Mercado and Mota 1988;
Gómez Mercado and Valle 1988; Mota Poveda 1990;
Alcaraz et al. 1991; Torres Cordero 1997; Inocencio,
Alcaraz and Ríos 1998; Ríos Ruiz, Alcaraz and Valdés
2003) (Figure 1).
The study area essentially corresponds to Andalusia
(Spain) and the south of Portugal. However, for compara-
tive purposes, other studies describing associations in the
centre of the Iberian Peninsula are also used in our analy-
sis. The various habitats of Rhamno-Prunetea tend to be
located in environments ranging from the thermomediter-
ranean to oromediterranean belts, always on either sili-
ceous or basic soils. Except for some habitats found in
gullies, all the other habitats are located in sites with a
subhumid–humid ombroclimate. For our biogeographical
analysis we have followed Rivas-Martínez (2007).
Results and discussion
Statistical analysis
The cluster generated for the 16 habitats reveals that some
groups are clearly separated from each other, whereas oth-
ers are less so. Some of the more clearly defined habitats
in our cluster analysis are: Rubo ulmifolii-Resetum cor-
ymbiferae,Rosetum micrantho-agrestis,Rubetum caesio-
canescentis,Lonicero arborece-Rhamnetum cathartici etc.
Meanwhile, many of the relevés recorded as Crataego
monogynae-Loniceretum arborece,Lonicero splendidae-
Buxetum sempervirentis,Cleamtido campaniflorae-
Rubetum ulmifolii,Rubo ulmifolii-Coriarietum myrtifoliae
and even some of Rosetum micrantho-agrestis, appear to
belong to different groups. As far as the relevés with box
trees are concerned, they form a large group, with different
subgroups. In this respect, the relevés with box trees in
Andalusia appear separated from those of Cuenca. Never-
theless, in the cluster, relevés 202, 203, 204 and 205 in
table 16 by López (1976) appear close to the Andalusian
relevés with box trees. This is because those relevés do
not include Berberis vulgaris subsp. seroi, a differential
taxon of Berberido-Buxetum sempervirentis Rivas-Martí-
nez and G. López in López (1976).
A closer look at the cluster reveals nine groups (G
1
to G
9
), with some that are particularly well defined.
Group G
1
, which is very homogeneous, corresponds to
Rubo-Rosetum corymbiferae (rel. 1–21). By contrast,
group G
2
is hetereogeneous (rel. 81–209) and comprises
two subgroups. Cluster relevés 81–180 belong to G
21
.
Here we find a first package P
1
(81–176) made up of
five relevés: on the one hand, 81, 82, 85 and 86, from
table 3 as published by Peinado, Moreno and Velasco
(1983), such as Clematido campaniflorae-Rubetum ulmi-
folii; on the other, relevé 185, taken in Molina de Don
Benito, Alcalá del Júcar (Albacete), which also appears
in P
1
and was included by Ríos Ruiz, Alcaraz and Vald-
és (2003) in Rosetum micrantho-agrestis on account of
its fragmentary character, given that it has none of the
characteristic species of the association, namely, Rosa
micrantha,Rosa agrestis. Considerably closer to these
five relevés there are some samples (207–215) from the
original table (62, rel. 1–9) by Rivas-Martínez et al.
(1980), which belong to Lonicero hispanicae-Rubetum
Figure 1. Location of the study area.
Figure 1. Emplacement de la surface étudiée.
212 A. Cano-Ortiz et al.
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ulmifolii. Samples 173–176 from table 57 (rel. 7–10), as
published by Ríos Ruiz, Alcaraz and Valdés (2003), are
also included in this package P
1
. Relevés (81–176)
should all really be ascribed to Lonicero ulmifolii-Rube-
tum ulmifolii. The second package, P
2
, of subgroup G
21
comprises the cluster relevés 156–180, which have been
included in the associations Rubo ulmifolii-Coriarietum
myrtifoliae subas. nerietosum oleandri of table 55 (rel.
1–6) as provided by Ríos Ruiz, Alcaraz and Valdés
(2003). Samples 188 to 180 correspond to relevés from
table 56 of Ríos Ruiz, Alcaraz and Valdés (2003), such
as Rosetum micrantho-agrestis. These relevés do not
belong to this association. On the contrary: they repre-
sent a cold variant within Rubo ulmifolii-Coriarietum
myrtifoliae, which acts as a transition formation with the
mesomediterranean and supramediterranean Rosetum
micrantho-agrestis community from La Mancha. Finally,
subgroup G
22
comprises samples 83 and 84 of table 3
(rel. 3–4), as published by Peinado, Moreno and Velasco
(1983). These belong to Clematido campaniflorae-Rube-
Table 1. As. Berberido hispanicae-Buxetum sempervirentis.
Tableau 1. As. Berberido hispanicae-Buxetum sempervirentis.
Altitude in m 1=10 130 110 100 120 110 140 138 132 130 162 135 120
Surface in m
2
200 200 400 400 200 200 300 200 150 180 200 200
Cover rate% 70 80 60 70 60 90 90 90 70 75 60 80
Average height of veg. (m.) 2 2 2 21111.51.51.50.91.5
Slope% 5 10 10 10 5 - 25 25 20 25 25 10
Orientation NW NW N S S - N N N N N NW
Relevé no. 1 2 3 45678 91011 12
Characteristic ass. of upper units
Buxus sempervirens 3 4333555 3 4 3 4
Berberis hispanica 1 2223222 1 2 1 1
Amelanchier ovalis 1 . .1211 . 1 2 . +
Crataegus monogyna 3 2 + 1 +. . + + 2 2 + .
Helleborus foetidus + 1+++ . .1 . + . +
Rhamnus saxatilis ++ ...+ .. .+ . .
Lonicera arborea 1 .+.+..1 . . .1
Daphne laureola subsp. latifolia ...+..+.++ 3 .
Rosa sicula ....11.. .+ . .
Prunus spinosa ...+1...+ . . .
Rosa micranha . ..2 ....+ . . .
Prunus prostrata . ..2 .... .1 . .
Prunus mahaleb . .....1 .... .
Lonicera splendida 1 .......... .
Companions ..
Acer monspessulanum 22+11+12 ... .
Quercus rotundifolia 122 .2 ..1 1 . . +
Conopodium ramosum + .....+ .... .
Cytisus reverchonii +...1..1 ... .
Ulex parviflorus .2+ .....1 . . .
Bupleurum spinosum .1.+..+.... .
Erinacea anthyllis ...11 ... .+ . .
Ononis aragonensis . . . .111 . . 1 . .
Brahcypodium sylvaticum +...+..+ ... .
Quercus alpestris 2 ....+... . .+ 1
Pistacia terebinthus . .+ ........+
Echinospartium boissieri ....+..1 1 . .1
Sorbus aria ...2.11.... .
Paeonia broteroi . ......1 . . . .
Hormatophylla spinosa . ....+ .. .1 . .
Genista cinerea subsp. speciosa + ......1 . . . .
Thymus mastichina .+ . .+ . . . . + . +
Thymus orospedanus ....+.+.... .
Thymus gracilis 1 .....+ ....+
Festuca scariosa . ....... .1 . .
Brachypodium retusum + .......+ . . .
Rhamnus myrtifolius . ......1 .+ 1 .
Juniperus phoenicea . ....... . .1 1
Aphyllantes monspeliensis . ....... . .+ .
Antirrhinum graniticum subsp. boissieri . .....+ .... .
Acinos alpinus subsp. meridionalis . .....1 .... .
Sites: 1, 2. Cerro Quemado (Campillo Arenas). 3. La Cornicabra (Carchelejo). .4, 7. Altar (Los Villares). 5, 6, 8, 9, 10. Sierra de Pandera. 11, 12.
Sierra de las Cuatro Villas.
Emplacements: 1, 2. Cerro Quemado (Campillo Arenas). 3. La Cornicabra (Carchelejo). .4, 7. Altar (Los Villares). 5, 6, 8, 9, 10. Sierra de Pandera.
11, 12. Sierra de las Cuatro Villas.
Acta Botanica Gallica: Botany Letters 213
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Table 2. Synthetic analysis of the tables under study.
Tableau 2. Analyse sintétique des tables étudiées.
Association no. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
Rosa canina V IV . III . III III V III IV III I III III I I III II III II I .
Crataegus monogyna IV V 2 IV . IV . V V V . . II V V I V I V IV I III
Rubus ulmifolius V IV . V . V . II . II II . V II I V V V . . V .
Rosa pouzinii V IV . . . . I IV IV III III . II V I . . . I I . .
Lonicera periclymenum subsp.hispanica II I . I . III . IV III V . . . . . I III II . I V .
Berberis hispanica . .2 IV .VVVVVV IV . . . .V . .V
Rosa corymbifera V ..II..........III .II .....
Rosa micrantha V V 2 I . . . . . . . . . . I I II IV II . . I
Prunus spinosa IV II . . . . . II . IV II . . I III . I . . . . I
Lonicera etrusca II . + . . . . . . . III . . III I . . . I I . .
Tamus communis I I . . . III . . . . I . IV . . II I . . . I .
Clematis vitalba . . . I . . . . . III . . III . . IV III III I . . .
Rhamnus saxatilis ..+ .II .........V ...III .II
Lonicera arborea ....II .V ...VII .V ....IV ..II
Amelanchier ovalis . . . . . . . . II I II II II . III . . . I II . III
Rosa cariotii IVIV....................
Rosa andegavensis III....................
Bryonia dioica II....I..........I....
Rosa tomentosa III....................
Rhamnus cathartica I............II........
Rosa tomentosa subsp. scabriuscula I.....................
Rosa agrestis .V.............I.II....
Ligustrum vulgare .I.......II..IIVI......
Cornus sanguinea .I............III.......
Rosa nitidula .I.V...........III....
Rhus coriaria ..1............ .
Arum orientale subsp.lucanum ..1............ .
Crataegus laciniata ..4III............I.....
Prunus prostrata ..+.II...III............I
Rubus canescens ...V..................
Rubus sect.Corylifolii ...IV..................
Prunus insititia ...III............I.....
R.ulmifolius x R.canescens ...III..................
Viburnum lantana ...II.....V...IV.......
Rubus caesius ...I...........I.III....
Rosa sicula ....V.............I..I
Prunus ramburii ....III...II..V......II...
Clematis campaniflora .....V................
Rhamnus catharticus ......V...............
Crataegus monogyna subsp.brevispina ....III.V...VV..........
Prunus mahaleb .......IV..........I..I
Rosa spinosissima .......IIIII....I........
Lonicera implexa .................I....
Prunus domestica .................I....
214 A. Cano-Ortiz et al.
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tum ulmifolii, which includes the type relevé, whereas
relevé 209 is included in group G
2
because of its frag-
mentary character.
G
3
is made up of relevés 160–183. These have been
interpreted as belonging to Rubo ulmifolii-Coriarietum
myrtifoliae,Rosetum micrantho-agrestis and Rubo-
Rosetum corymbiferae. This latter has already been
described for the mesomediterranean and supramediterra-
nean Castilian-Leonese plateau. According to its ecologi-
cal and floristic profile, Group G
3
does not correspond to
the associations in which the relevés have been included.
Consequently, we propose the new Clematido vitalbae-
Rubetum ulmifolii association. Group G
4
(rel. 68–73) is
clearly defined and corresponds to Rubetum caesio-
canescentis.G
5
(rel. 162–166) corresponds to a section of
table 55, rel. 7–11, as published by Ríos Ruiz, Alcaraz
and Valdés (2003), described for lower, Iberian-Levan-
tine, thermomediterranean and mesomediterranean areas
and included in Rubo ulmifolii-Coriarietum myrtifoliae.
Cluster relevés of group G
6
(rel. 139–145) belong to
Lonicero splendidae-Buxetum sempervirentis, an associa-
tion described in Cazorla by Gómez Mercado and Valle
(1988) (table 3, rel. 1–9).
The association described by Arnaiz (1979) (Table 2,
rel. 1–31) as Rosetum micrantho-agrestis for the meso-
and supramediterranean Celtiberian-Alcarrean and
Manchean Sectors comprises rels. 36–62 of group G
7
in
the cluster.
G
8
is a complex group with five subgroups (G
81
–
G
85
) made up of rels. 67–206. Relevé 67, the original
and only one of Berberido hispanicae-Crataegetum laci-
niatae in existence, was made in the Cortijo del Pocico,
Siles (Jaén). The association was described by Alcaraz
et al. (1991) for Alcaracensean and Manchean-Espunens-
ean territories. The sample constitutes group G
81
with
153, 154, 155, which belong to the association Ligustro
vulgaris-Berberidetum seroi, described by López (1976)
for the site of Tragacete (mountain ranges of Cuenca).
Subgroup G
82
(rels. 74–137) is made up of three kinds
of relevés: 74 to 80 belong to Roso siculae-Berberidetum
hispanicae berberidetosum hispanicae and prunetosum
ramburii, described by Mota Poveda (1990) for the
oromediterranean belt of the Betic province; 127 to 137
belong to Cotoneastro granatensis-Prunetum ramburii,
described by Martínez Parras and Molero Mesa (1983)
for the eastern section of the Betic province; finally, rele-
vés 198, 199, 200 made by Martínez-Parras, Peinado
and Alcaraz (1987) for the oromediterranean belt of
Sierra de Baza and ascribed to the association Crataego-
Loniceretum arborece are also included in this small
subgroup. All the relevés of subgroup G
82
(127–137)
must be ascribed to Cotoneastro granatensis-Prunetum
ramburii, described by Martínez-Parras and Molero Mesa
(1983). Samples 87, 88, 89, ascribed to Lonicero arbo-
reae-Rhamnetum cathartici by Martínez Parras and
Molero Mesa (1982), belong to subgroup G
83
. The box
tree scrubs growing in the Subbetic sector and those
recorded by López (1976) in the mountain ranges of
Lonicera splendida ........V..IIII.....III..I
Cotoneaster granatensis ........I..II.I....I...
Berberis seroi ..............V....III..
Vitis vinifera subsp. sylvestris .....III..........III..I.
Rosa pimpinellifolia .........I....I.......
Rosa rubiginosa ...........IV..........
Buxus sempervirens ............V......V.V
Rosa stylosa var.nevadensis .............II........
Rhamnus infectoria .............II........
Lonicera xylosteum .............IIIII....II..
Coriaria myrtifolia ...............V......
Nerium oleander ...............I......
Prunus avium ................II....
Prunus x fruticans .................I....
Rosa deseglisei .................I....
Rosa villosa ..................I...
Rhamnus alpina ...................II..
Acta Botanica Gallica: Botany Letters 215
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Figure 2. Statistical analysis (cluster).
Figure 2. Analyse statistique (cluster).
216 A. Cano-Ortiz et al.
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Figure 2. (Continued).
Acta Botanica Gallica: Botany Letters 217
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Cuenca as Berberido seroi-Buxetum semperivirenstis
belong to subgroups G
84
and G
85
. Due to the absence of
Berberis seroi in the Subbetic sector, these box tree
scrubs can be clearly divided into two subgroups.
Finally, Group G
9
comprises four subgroups
(G
91
–G
94
), which represent different associations. Sub-
group G
91
(rel. 90–96) clearly belongs to the association
Pruno mahalebo-Berberidetum hispanicae.G
92
is made
up of a group of relevés (98–101), all belonging to Loni-
cero splendidae-Berberidetum hispanicae. Relevés 122
to 150, that is subgroup G
93
, belong to Crataego mono-
gynae-Loniceretum arborece. All the relevés of this
group were made in the province of Jaén and near the
city of Granada. They belong to the Subbetic and Grana-
dine-Almijarensean Sectors. Subgroup G
93
is very close
to G
92
because a large number of relevés were made in
the Sierra de Alfacar (Granada), which is on the bound-
ary line between the Subbetic Sector and the Granadine-
Almijarensean Sector. Subgroup G
94
includes relevés
110–121, all made in the Cazorlensean unit and belong-
ing to the association Viburno lanatanae-Berberidetum
australis, described by Valle, Gómez Mercado and Mota
(1988) (Table 3, rels. 1–15). In this case, the relevés of
the type association are separate from those of the subas-
sociation rubetosum canescentis, also described by the
same authors (Figure 2).
Phytosociological analysis
The study of the order Prunetalia spinosae Tüxen 1952
(Rhamno-Prunetea spinosae Rivas Goday and Borja ex
Tüxen 1962) deals with 16 associations of bramble
patch, thorny thicket and Buxus sempervirens communi-
ties growing in the centre and south of the Iberian Penin-
sula. Of the 14 associations recorded by different authors
in Andalusia, 12 occur in the biogeographical sectors of
the Betic province and only two in the Marianic-
Monchiquensean Sector (Lusitan-Extremadurean Subpro-
vince). These habitats are included in Annexe 1 of the
Directive 92/43/EEC under the code number 5110. The
best represented habitats are the bramble patches of
Lonicero hispanicae-Rubetum ulmifoliae Rivas-Martínez,
Costa, Castroviejo and E. Valdés 1980, Lonicero splendi-
dae-Berberidetum hispanicae Asensi and Rivas-Martínez
1979 and Crataego monogynae-Loniceretum arborece O.
Bolòs 1954. On the other hand, the least represented
habitats in Andalusia are those of Berberido hispanicae-
Crataegetum laciniatae Ríos and Alcaraz in Alcaraz,
P. Sánchez, De la Torre, Ríos and J. Álvarez 1991, (an
association very close to Ligustro vulgaris-Berberidetum
seroi, from which it differs in the presence of Berberis
hispanica), Rubetum caesio-canescentis Rivas-Martínez,
T. E. Díaz, Fernández-González, Izco, Loidi, Lousa and
Penas 2002, Clematido campaniflorae-Rubetum ulmifolii
Peinado and Velasco in Peinado, G. Moreno and A.
Velasco 1983 and the box tree scrub of Buxus sempervi-
rens, which has been included in the association Berberi-
do-Buxetum sempervirentis Rivas-Martínez and G. López
in López (1976), described for the mountain ranges of
Cuenca (López 1976), but from which it differs because
of the absence of Rhamnus alpina (despite the fact that
this species spreads as far as the northeastern Betic zones
of Andalusia) (Blanca et al. 2009) and Berberis vulgaris
subsp. seroi, which in the Betic territories is replaced by
Berberis hispanica.
Whereas Berberido-Buxetum sempervirentis
Rivas-Martínez and G. López in López (1976) represents
the rim of the gall-oak grove of Cephalanthero rubrae-
Quercetum fagineae Rivas-Martínez in Rivas Goday et al.
1960 corr. Rivas-Martínez 1972, the new box tree com-
munity proposed as Berberido hispanicae-Buxetum sem-
pervirentis nova (Table 1, rels. 1–12, typus rel.10),
represents the rim of forests of Dapho latifoliae-Aceretum
granatensis Rivas-Martínez 1965 and the gall-oak grove
of Berberido hispanicae-Quercetum alpestris Rivas-
Martínez 2010. The box tree scrubs described by López
(1976) for the mountain ranges of Cuenca are character-
ized by the presence of Berberis vulgaris subsp. seroi.
However, this taxon is absent in the relevés 2, 4 and 6 of
table 16 (rel. 1–6), as published by this author. For this
reason, groups G
4
and G
5
are very close in the cluster.
Nevertheless, there are enough floristic, biogeographical
and dynamic differences to support Berberido-Buxetum
sempervirentis and the new syntaxon proposed (Figure 3).
The cluster analysis (Figure 2) reveals a group, G
3
,
relevés (160–183), which Ríos Ruiz, Alcaraz and Valdés
(2003) included in the associations Rubo ulmifolii-Coria-
rietum myrtifoliae,Rosetum micrantho-agrestis,Rubo
ulmifolii-Rosetum corymbiferae, (table 55, rel. 5; table
56, rel. 2, 6, 7, 11 and 13; table 57, rel. 1–6). However,
an inspection of these tables clearly reveals that these
relevés do not belong to the associations to which they
were previously ascribed on account of the ecological,
floristic and dynamic differences involved. Consequently,
we propose the association Clemátido vitalbae-Rosetum
micranthae nova, which is dominated by Rubus ulmifo-
lius,Clematis vitalba and Rosa micrantha. This new
association differs from Rosetum micrantho-agrestis
because of the presence of Clematis vitalba and the
absence of Rosa agrestis, and in mesomediterranean
environments it constitutes the vegetal rim of Rubio
tinctorum-Populetum albae (in the Manchean Sector). As
the typus relevé we have opted for relevé 6 of table 56
as published by Ríos Ruiz, Alcaraz and Valdés (2003).
In subgroup G
82
there are two packages of relevés P
1
(74–80) described by Mota Poveda (1990) as Roso sicu-
lae-Berberidetum siculae subas. prunetosum ramburii
but still not validly published (CPN, art. 1 and 2). The
presence of Rosa sicula and the absence of Rosa myria-
cantha del Rosetum myriacantho-siculae make it differ-
ent from Lonicero splendidae-Berberidetum hispanicae.
This association, described for the oromediterranean belt
of the Betic province, represents the rim of calcicolous
Betic pine and savine forests, a distinctive feature when
compared with the rest of the thorny thickets described
for the mesomediterranean and supramediterranean belts.
Consequently, we support the association Roso siculae-
218 A. Cano-Ortiz et al.
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Berberidetum hispanicae Mota nova. For that purpose,
we take as the typus relevé number 3 of table 67 (rels.
1–3) by Mota Poveda (1990). Likewise, we support the
subas. prunetosum ramburii Mota nova, with relevé 5 as
its typus relevé (table 67, rels. 4–7) by Mota Poveda
(1990). This subassociation represents a transitional form
towards Lonicero splendidae-Berberidetum hispanicae.
The package cluster relevés P
2
(127–137) all belong to
Lonicero splendidae-Berberidetum hispanicae.
The statistical analysis revealed that the association
Cotoneastro granatensis-Prunetum ramburii, described
by Martínez-Parras and Molero Mesa (1983), is sepa-
rated from the relevés belonging to Lonicero splendidae-
Berberidetum hispanicae, as described by Asensi and
Rivas-Martínez (1976). Relevés 10–11 of Table 2, pro-
vided by Martínez-Parras and Molero Mesa (1983), and
the relevé made by these same authors between Puerto
de la Ragua and Laroles (not included in that table) are
characterized by the presence of Adenocarpus decorti-
cans,Genista baetica and Halimium viscosum (whose
edaphic optimum takes place in an acid pH) and the
basophilous endemic plant Prunus ranburii. For this
reason we prefer not to synonymize these thornland
neutro-basophilous communities with the Lonicero splen-
didae-Berberidetum hispanicae association, described by
its authors as being clearly calcicolous. However, the rest
of the samples shown in Table 2 and taken on calcareous
substrates should indeed be synonymized with Lonicero
splendidae-Berberidetum hispanicae, as Rivas-Martínez
et al. (2002) suggest, because there are no floristic differ-
ences between these two syntaxa. The thorny thicket
vegetation of relevés 10 and 11 (see Table 2) and the
sample taken in Puerto de la Ragua grow on slate out-
crops whose richness in bases is the result of a capillar-
ity-induced ascent as a result of a high potential
evapotranspiration. From a dynamic point of view, this
thorny thicket represents a degraded state of the forests
of Adenocarpo decorticantis-Quercetum pyrenaicae
Martínez-Parras and Molero 1983 subas. aceretosum
granatensis Martínez-Parras and Molero 1983. For the
Nevadensian Sector we propose the subas. prunetosum
ranburii nova. As typus relevé we take relevé 10 of
Table 2 by Martínez-Parras and Molero Mesa (1983),
and we consider it to be subordinated to the Lonicero
arboreae-Rhamnetum cathartici thorny thicket.
Conclusions
Two new associations, Clematido vitalbae-Rosetum
micrantha and Berberido hispanicae-Buxetum sempervi-
rentes are proposed here. The association described by
Mota Poveda (1990), namely, Roso siculae-Berberidetum
hispanicae, and the subas. prunetosum ramburii are vali-
dated, and for the neutro-basophilous areas of the Nevad-
ensian Sector we propose the subas. prunetosum ranburii
nova as being subordinated to Lonicero arborece-Rham-
netum cathartici. With the information collected from 225
relevés from 22 phytosociological tables generated by dif-
ferent authors, we conduct a comparative and synthetic
analysis (Table 2) and propose a new syntaxonomical
scheme for the centre and south of the Iberian Peninsula.
Syntaxonomical scheme
Rhamno-Prunetea Rivas Goday and Borja ex Tüxen
1962
Prunetalia spinosae Tüxen 1952
Berberidion vulgaris Br.- Bl. 1950
Berberidenion seroi Rivas-Martínez, Loidi and Arnaiz
1986
Figure 3. Biogeographical location of the Berberido hispanicae-Buxetum sempervirentis association.
Figure 3. Emplacement biogéographique de l’association Berberido hispanicae-Buxetum sempervirentis
Acta Botanica Gallica: Botany Letters 219
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Ligustro vulgaris-Berberidetum seroi Rivas-Martínez
and G. López in G. López 1976 corr. Rivas-Martínez
et al. 2002
Amelanchiero-Buxenion (O. Bolòs and Romo in
Romo 1989) I. Soriano and Sebastià 1990
Berberido-Buxetum sempervirentis Rivas-Martínez
and G. López in G. López 1976
Pruno-Rubion ulmifolii O. Bolòs 1954
Pruno-Rubenion ulmifolii
Rubetum caesio-canescentis Ríos and Alcaraz in
Rivas-Martínez et al. 2002
Rubo ulmifolii-Coriarietum myrtifoliae O. Bolòs 1954
nerietosum oleandri Costa, Peris, Figuerola and Stü-
bing 1985
Rosenion carioti-pouzinii Arnaiz ex Loidi 1989
Clematido campaniflorae-Rubetum ulmifolii Peinado and
VelascoinPeinado,G.MorenoandA.Velasco1983
Lonicero hispanicae-Rubetum ulmifolii Rivas-
Martínez, Costa, Castroviejo and E. Valdés 1980
Rosetum micrantho-agrestis Rivas-Martínez and
Arnaiz in Arnaiz 1979
Rubo ulmifolii-Rosetum corymbiferae Rivas-Martínez
and Arnaiz in Arnaiz 1979
Clematido vitalbae-Rosetum micranthae ass. nova
Lonicero-Berberidion hispanicae O. Bolòs 1954
Berberido hispanicae-Crataegetum laciniatae Ríos
and Alcaraz in Alcaraz, P. Sánchez, De la Torre, Ríos
and J. Álvarez 1991
Lonicero arboreae-Rhamnetum catharticae Martínez-
Parras and Molero 1983
prunetosum ranburii subas nova
Lonicero splendidae-Berberidetum hispanicae Asensi
and Rivas-Martínez 1979
(syntax. syn. Cotoneastro granatensis-Prunetum ram-
burii Martínez-Parras and Molero 1983)
Pruno mahalebo-Berberidetum hispanicae Asensi and
Rivas-Martínez 1979
Rosetum myriacantho-siculae Ríos, P. Sánchez and
Alcaraz in Alcaraz, P. Sánchez, De la Torre, Ríos and
J. Álvarez 1991
Viburno lantanae-Berberidetum australis F. Valle,
Gómez-Mercado and Mota 1988
rubetosum canescentis F. Valle, Gómez-Mercado and
Mota 1988
Lonicero splendidae-Buxetum sempervirentis Gómez-
Mercado and F. Valle 1992
Berberido hispanicae-Buxetum sempervirentis ass.
nova
Roso siculae-Berberidetum hispanicae Mota ass. nova
prunetosum ramburii Mota subas. nova
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Appendix. Numbering of relevés in the cluster analysis
and relations with the relevés in the tables used.
Annexe. Numérotation des inventaires dans le cluster et
son rapport avec les inventaires des tables utilisées.
1 (rels. 1–35). Rubo ulmifolii-Rosetum crymbiferae
Rivas-Martínez and Arnaiz in Arnaiz 1979 (Arnaiz
1979, Table 1 rels. 1–35)
220 A. Cano-Ortiz et al.
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2 (rel. 36–66). Rosetum micraniho-agrestis Rivas-
Martínez and Arnaiz in Arnaiz 1979 (Arnaiz 1979,
Table 2 rels. 36–66)
3 (rel. 67). Berberido hispanicae-Crataegetum
laciniatae Ríos et Alcaraz in Alcaraz, P. Sánchez,
De la Torre, Rios and J. Álvarez 1991 (Alcaraz
et al. 1991, typus rel. page 58)
4 (rels. 68–73). Rubetum caesio-canescentis Rivas-
Martínez Ríos and Alcaraz in Rivas-Martínez et al.
2002 (Rivas-Martínez et al. 2002, Table 84 rels.
1–7)
5 (rels. 74–80). Rosa siculae-Berberidetum hispanicae
(Mota 1990, Table 67 rels. 1–3 subas.
berberidetosum hispanicae, rels. 4–7 subas.
prunetosum ramburii)
6 (rels. 81–86). Clemati campaniflorae-Rubetum
ulmifolii Peinado and A. Velasco in Peinado, G.
Moreno and A. Velasco 1983 (Peinado, Moreno and
Velasco 1983, Table 3 rels. 1–6)
7 (rels. 87–89). Lonicero arboreae-Rhamnetum
catharticae Martínez-Parras and Molero 1983
(Martínez-Parras and Molero Mesa 1983, Table 3
rels. 1–3)
8 (rels. 90–97). Pruno mahalebo-Berberidetum
hispanicae Asensi and Rivas-Martínez 1979 (Asensi
and Rivas-Martínez 1979, Table 4 rels. 1–8)
9 (rels. 98–106). Lonicero splendidae-Berberidetum
hispanicae Asensi and Rivas-Martínez 1979 (Asensi
and Rivas-Martínez 1979, Table 3 rels. 1–9)
10 (rels. 107–121). Viburno Lantanae-Berberidetum
australis F. Valle, Gómez-Mercado and Mota 1988
(Valle, Gómez-Mercado and Mota 1988, Table 3
rels. 1–15)
11 (rels. 122–126). Crataego monogynae-Loniceretum
arboreae O. Bolòs 1954 (Martínez-Parras and
Molero Mesa 1983, Table 1 rels. 1–5)
12 (rels. 127–138). Cotoneastro granatensis-Prunetum
ramburii Martínez-Parras and Molero 1983
(Martínez-Parras and Molero Mesa 1983, Table 2
rels. 1–12)
13. (rels. 139–147). Lonicero spendidae-Buxetum
sempervirentis Gómez-Mercado and F. Valle 1992
(Gómez-Mercado and Valle 1992, Table 3
rels. 1–9)
14 (rels. 148–152) Crataego monogynae-Loniceretum
arboreae O. Bolòs 1954 (Asensi and Rivas-Martínez
1979, Table 2 rels. 1–5)
15 (rels. 153–155). Ligustro vulgaris-Berberidetum
seroi Rivas-Martínez and G. López in G. López
1976 corr. Rivas-Martínez et al. 2002 (G. López
1976, Table 15 rels. 1–3)
16 (rels. 156–166). Rubo ulmifolii-Coriarietum
myrtifoliae O. Bolòs 1954 subas. nerietosum
oleandri Costa, Peris, Figuerola and Stübing 1985
(Ríos Ruiz, Alcaraz and Valdés 2003, Table 55 rels.
1–11)
17 (rels. 167–176). Rubo ulmifolii-Rosetum
corymbiferae Rivas-Martínez and Arnaiz in Arnaiz
1979 (Ríos Ruiz, Alcaraz and Valdés 2003, Table 57
rels. 1–10)
18 (rels. 177–190). Rosetum micrantho-agrestis Rivas-
Martínez and Arnaiz in Arnaiz 1979 (Ríos Ruiz,
Alcaraz and Valdés 2003, Table 56 rels. 1–14)
19 (rels. 191–200). Crataego monogynae-Loniceretum
arboreae O. Bolòs, 1954 (Martínez-Parras, Peinado
and Alcaraz 1987, Table 3 rels. 1–10)
20 (rels. 201–206). Berberido-Buxetum sempervirentis
Rivas-Martínez and G. López in G. López 1976 (G.
López 1976, Table 16 rels. 1–6)
21 (rels. 207–215). Lonicero hispanicae-Rubetum
ulmifolii Rivas-Martínez, Costa, Castroviejo and E.
Valdés 1980 (Rivas-Martínez et al. 1980, Table 62
rels. 1–9)
22 (rels. 216–225). Berberido hispanicae-Buxetum
sempervirentis nova (Table 1 rels. 1–10)
Acta Botanica Gallica: Botany Letters 221
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