THE SCRUBLAND OF LIMESTONE-DERIVED DECARBONATED SOILS OF THE WESTERN IBERIAN PENINSULA

In the present article, the proposal of a new suballiance, Lavandulo luisieri-Cistenion albidi, is presented, constituted by chamaephytic and nanophanerophytic communities in eroded decarbonated soils derived from limestones (leptosols, chromic luvisols and cambisols) in the dry to lower hyperhumid, thermo-mesomediterranean bioclimatic levels. It is distributed throughout the western Iberian Peninsula in the Coastal Lusitan-Andalusian and Lusitan-Extremadurean biogeographical territories. It is positioned in the Ulici argentei-Cistion ladaniferi, Lavanduletalia stoechadis, Cisto-Lavanduletea. The new associations Anthyllido maurae-Ulicetum jussiaei, Sedo albi-Cistetum crispi and Thymetum congesti are also described.