Plant Life in Spain: Habitats, Vegetation, and Flora
Vegetation and Flora in Spain
The vegetation, or flora, is the set of plant species in an area. Factors that influence vegetation include plant formations, physical factors like climate (temperature and precipitation), relief (altitude), soil type, and human impact. In Spain, plant communities form distinct landscapes.
Siberian Floristic Region
The Siberian floristic region is characterized by deciduous heath and grassland.
Deciduous Forest
Deciduous forests feature tall trees with straight trunks, smooth bark, and large leaves that fall in autumn. The understory contains ferns and mosses. These trees tolerate cold well but require high humidity and are often found in mountainous areas with calcareous soil. Their hard wood is used for furniture and utensils. They are typically found on the coast.
Oak Trees
Oak trees do not tolerate hot summers and have reduced cold tolerance, requiring less moisture. They are found at lower altitudes, grow slowly, and their hard wood is used for construction, furniture, and boat building in Cantabria. Secondary vegetation includes oak terrain, allowing the use of its fruit and wood. Other species include ash, elm, and hazel. Over time, deciduous forests have been replaced by fast-growing trees like pine and eucalyptus, which can acidify and impoverish the soil and are more prone to burning.
Landa
Landa is a dense shrubland with abundant gorse, heather, and broom. It often appears as a result of deciduous forest degradation and is used for animal bedding and fertilizer.
Meadows
Meadows are herbaceous vegetation that covers large areas.
Mediterranean Vegetation
Mediterranean vegetation is characterized by evergreen forests with medium-height trees, non-straight trunks, and evergreen branches forming globural shapes with large canopies.
Cork Trees
The most characteristic tree is drought-resistant, with very hard and tough wood, found in Sierra Morena. Cork trees need some moisture, with winters receiving more than 500 mm of rain per year, and prefer siliceous soils. They have very hard wood and are found in Castellón.
Pine Trees
Pine trees are a secondary vegetation type adapted to extreme heat, cold, moisture, and aridity, and are spread by human activity.
Thicket
Thicket is not a climax vegetation but a result of forest degradation. It has three types:
- Macchia: Shrubs more than two meters high, including rock brenz and broom.
- Garriga: Low-lying bushes and shrubs, with rosemary.
- Steppe: Grasses mixed with low, thorny bushes.
Riverside Vegetation
On riverbanks, the soil is moist. Riverside forests consist of alder, poplar, and ash, which are fast-growing softwoods. Their extension is reduced due to human activities like cultivation and urbanization.
Mountain Vegetation
Mountain vegetation varies with altitude and orientation. Scrub forests are common.
Alpine Mountain (Pyrenees)
- Flat baseline (1200-2400 m): Abetp, black pine, and wild trees.
- Alpine zone (2400-3000 m): Grasses with a short growing season due to snow.
- Nival zone (above 3000 m): Snow remains all year, and vegetation is nonexistent.
The basement floor is occupied by the forest of its own climate. The supraforestal floor includes small shrubs. The top is called meadows.
Canary Islands Vegetation
The Canary Islands have extraordinarily rich vegetation with African and Mediterranean influences.
Plant Zones
- Basement floor (sea level to 300-500 m): Arid scrub.
- Middle ground (200-800 m): Influenced by temperature and humidity.
- Termocanario floor (800-1200 m): Vegetation adapted to mists, including alder.
- Canary floor (1200-2200 m): Higher areas with other species.
- Supracanario floor (above 2200 m): Present in Tenerife and La Palma, characterized by strong nudity.