Nova interpretació del bosc de roure pènol (Quercus robur) del territori catalanístic septentrional

Abstract

We propose a new phytosociological and physiognomic interpretation of the forests of pedunculate oak and narrow-leaved ash forests, situated in the plain of La Selva and in the Alt Maresme area (northern Catalanidic territory, NE Iberian Peninsula), which we have denominated as ash forest in association with Carex remota (Carici remotae-Fraxinetum oxycarpae; Pedrotti 1970 corr. Pedrotti 1992). Furthermore, taking into account floristic, ecological and geographical criteria, we have created two new natural habitats for the Catalan CORINE Manual: 44.461+ Alluvial mixed forests with Quercus robur, Fraxinus angustifolia and Ulmus minor of the northern Catalanidic territory and 44.462+ Alluvial Fraxinus angustifolia-dominated forests, often with Ulmus minor and Quercus pubescens, of the northern Catalanidic territory. We ascribe these two habitats to the following Habitat of Community Interest: 91F0 Riparian mixed forest of Quercus robur, Ulmus laevis and Ulmus minor, Fraxinus excelsior or Fraxinus angustifolia along the great rivers (Ulmenion minoris). Both habitats are areas of very high conservational interest and subject to a high level of threat. Finally, we have modified the view held thus far of the potential vegetation in the plain of La Selva, and situate the ash forest with remote sedge in a catenal arrangement among alder groves with Lamium flexuosum (Lamio-Alnetum glutinosae) and acidophilous oak forests of Quercus canariensis (Carici-Quercetum canariensis).