Plant Life: Deciduous Forests, Mediterranean Flora, and Mountain Vegetation
Plant Life Across Diverse Regions
Deciduous Forests: Galicia to the Pyrenees
- Deciduous Forest: Dense, tall trees with flat, deciduous leaves. Often monospecific, dominated by oak and beech.
- Man-made Forests: Chestnut, pine, and eucalyptus plantations.
- Atlantic Scrub (Landa): Replaces degraded deciduous forests, characterized by gorse and heather.
- Marcescent Forest: Formed by oaks. Semi-deciduous leaves that dry in the fall but remain until late winter.
Mediterranean Region Vegetation
Found in the Mediterranean region, Balearic Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla. Characterized by summer dryness.
- Sclerophyllous Forest (Evergreen): Adapted to arid climates with small, leathery leaves and deep roots. Dominated by oak with a rich understory.
- Dehesa: Combines forest use with agriculture and pastoral activities, typically featuring oak meadows.
- Cork Oak Forests: Require more moisture than regular oak and are less cold-tolerant.
- Other Mediterranean Forest Species: Carob and wild olive.
- Man-Introduced Formations: Pine forests (stone pine, Aleppo pine, and resin pine).
Mediterranean Scrub
Results from the regression of Mediterranean forests due to human activity.
- Maquis: Dense and tall scrub (strawberry trees, brambles, broom).
- Garrigue: Less dense and lower scrub (rosemary, thyme).
- Steppe: Characteristic of the semiarid zone of the southeast and some dry interior areas (esparto grass and palmetto).
Vegetation of the Macaronesian Region (Canary Islands)
Combines Mediterranean species with tropical and Atlantic influences. Vegetation varies with altitude:
- Baseline (0-400m): Arid scrub with African influences and introduced species like prickly pear and agave.
- Intermediate (400-800m): More moisture allows the growth of dragon trees and Canary palms.
- Montane Termocanario: Lower temperatures and humidity lead to green forests of fayal laurel and heather.
- Meso Montane Canary (up to 2000m): Dry conditions favor pine forests with dense thickets.
- High Peaks (above 2000m): Arid climate, frequent frosts, and scarce vegetation with high mountain brush.
Riparian Vegetation (Riverbanks)
Special vegetation due to soil moisture near rivers, forming riparian forests of deciduous and hydrophilic species.
- Shoreline: Demanding species like alder and willow.
- Further Inland: Poplars, cottonwoods, and elms with a varied undergrowth.
Riparian forests have high ecological value for their flora and fauna.
Mountain Vegetation
Vegetation changes with altitude due to temperature and rainfall variations.
- Basement Floor (up to 800m): Vegetation similar to montane plains.
- Montane (up to 2000m): Higher temperatures and decreased rainfall. Species adapted to humidity and low temperatures like beech, fir, and alpine pine.
- Pinsapo (up to 2200m): Herbaceous vegetation.
- Nival Meadows (above 3000m): Only in the highest mountains, with moss and lichen.