Balearic Vegetation

Home , Arenaria balearica, Balearic Islands, Cyclamen balearicum, Hypericum balearicum, Paeonia cambessedesii, Smilax aspera

Plant Formations in the Balearic BioProvince

Peter Martin Rhind

Balearic Evergreen Oak Forests Like much of the Mediterranean, the natural plant formation, is evergreen oak forest dominated by Quercus ilex (holm oak) although today Pinus halepensis (aleppo pine) is probably the most common tree on the islands. Other tree species include Arbutus unedo strawberry tree, while the shrub layer comprises Asparagus acutifolius, Daphne gnidium (Mediterranean mezereon), Erica arborea (tree heather), Phillyrea latifolia and the near endemic Rhamnus ludovici-salvatoris (Rhamnaceae). The ground layer includes another species, Cyclamen balearicum (Myrsinaceae), that was originally thought to be endemic, but this species has since been recorded in the south of France.

Balearic Olive Woods The dominant tree here is Olea europaea var. silvestris (wild olive) and Ceratonia silique (carob). Typical shrubs include Cneorum tricoccon, Euphorbia dendroides (tree spurge), Ephedra fragilis (joint-pine) and Chamaerops humulis (dwarf fan palm) may also be present. Ground layer species typically include Arum pictum, Asparagus albus and A. stipularis.

Balearic Rosemary Garrigue The main shrubs in this formation include Rosmarius officinalis (rosemary) and Erica multiflora. Rosemary can be found from sea level to the top of the highest mountain, but the endemic variety palaui is confined to the mountains. Other important shrubs include Anthyllus cytisoides, Globularia alypum, Lavendula dentata and the endemic Genista lucida (Fabaceae). Characteristic herbaceous species include Gladiolus illyricus and various ‘insect’ orchids such as Ophrys tenthredinifera sawfly orchid and O. bombylifera bumblebee orchid. Endemics include Smilax aspera var. balearica (Liliaceae).

Balearic Mountain Garrigue Most Balearic endemics occur in this zone. The endemic shrubs Hypericum balearicum (Hypericaceae) or Teucrium subspinosum (Lamiaceae) are two of the most conspicuous species. Other endemics include Astragalus balearica (Fabaceae), Crocus cambessedesii (Iridaceae), Digitalis dubia (Scrophulariaceae), Helleborus foetidus var. balearicus (Ranunculaceae), Paeonia cambessedesii (Paeoniaceae), Pastinaca lucida (Apiaceae), Phlomis italica, Scutellaria balearica and Teucrium asiaticum (Lamiaceae) and Santolina chamaecyparissus subsp. magonica (Asteraceae). A common trait of Balearic endemics is the purple colour of under-leaf surfaces.

Balearic Inland Cliffs and Mountain Rocks The calcareous cliffs of the Balearic BioProvince support a wealth of endemic species well protected from herbivorous browsers. These cliffside plants can be roughly divided into three communities characterized by the dominance of: 1 the endemic Hippocrepis balearica (Fabaceae), 2 the endemic Pimpinella tragium var. balearica (Apiaceae) and Potentilla caulescens, and 3 the endemic Sibthorpia africana (Scrophulariaceae) and Arenaria balearica. Despite its name the latter is not a Balearic endemic, but has a Tyrrhenian distribution. The endemic taxa found in one of more of these communities include Arenaria grandiflora var. glabrescens (Caryophyllaceae), Brassica balearica (Brassicaceae), Bupleurum barceloi (Apiaceae), Carex rorulenta (Cyperaceae), Crepis triasii, Helichrysum ambiguum (Asteraceae), Cephalaria sqamiflora subsp. balearica (Dipsacaceae), Erodium reichardii (Geraniaceae), Galium crespianum (Rubiaceae), Copyright © 2010 Peter Martin Rhind Globularia cambessedesii (Globulariaceae), Ilyex aquifolium form balearica (Aquifoliaceae), Lonicera pyrenaica subsp. majoricensis (Caprifoliaceae) and the fern Asplenium majoricum (Aspleniaceae). In the shadier, more humid parts of the mountains, where the soil is deeper and where snow tends to remain on the ground for long periods, the rare endemic white primrose Primula vulgaris subsp. balearica (Primulaceae) can be found, while on shady, usually north facing walls the endemic Viola jaubertiana (Violaceae) occurs. Majorca’s northwest mountain range provides habitat for a number of rare endemics including Aristolochia bianorii (Aristolochiaceae), Euphorbia fontqueriana and Euphorbia maresii (Euphorbiaceae) Genista acanthoclada subsp. balearica (Fabacaceae), Ligustrum lucidum subsp. huteri (Oleaceae), Pimpinella bicknelli (Apiaceae), Ranunculus wegleri (Ranunculacaceae), Thymus richardii subsp. richardii (Lamiaceae) and Urtica atrovirens subsp. bianorii (Urticaceae). In Minorca they include Apium bermejoi (Apiaceae), a species only discovered in 1981, Lysimachia minoricensis (Primulaceae) and Vicia bifoliolata (Fabaceae). Lysimachia minoricensis, was thought extinct, but recently re-discovered in various private gardens. Finally, noteworthy endemics or near endemics in the uplands of Ibiza include Carduncellus dianius (Asteraceae), Genista dorycnifolia (Fabaceae) and Silene hifacensis (Caryophyllaceae). The latter two appear to have a few localities on the Spanish mainland.

Balearic Coastal Cliff Vegetation In terms of botanical interest the coastal cliffs of the Balearic Islands closely follows the mountain flora. On the seaward fringe, the maritime vegetation is characterized by the presence of Crithmum maritimum Rock Samphire and species of Limonium sea lavender. In the case of the latter there are over twenty species and almost half are endemic. The most maritime of the endemics is Limonium caprariense - other endemics include L. biflorum and L. majoricum (Plumbaginaceae). A little further inland, the endemic Launaea cervicornis (Asteraceae) usually becomes the main species. This is a spiny ‘pin cushion’ plant which occasionally shares this habitat with three other endemic ‘pin cushion’ species: Anthyllis fulgurans, A. hermanniae var. hystrix (Fabaceae) and Senecio rodriguezii (Asteraceae). Naufraga balearica is also confined to a small area of sea cliffs. The species (and genus) was originally thought to be endemic to this BioProvince, but in 1981 it was discovered in Corsica. In Minorca the endemic maritime shrubs Daphne rodriguezii (Thymelaeaceae) and Philyrea media var. rodriguezii (Oleaceae) occur in sheltered situations.

Balearic Sand Dunes Balearic sand dunes are typical of much of the Mediterranean. On the foredunes Elytrigia juncea and Sporobolus pungens are the main sand binding grasses. Somewhat further inland on the mobile dunes Ammophila arenaria subsp. arundinacea becomes the main grass species. In the more stable dunes beyond the mobile dunes a scrub community dominated by Crucianella maritima often develops with species such as Helichryson stoechas, Pancratium maritima sea daffodil and Teucrium belion. A less common species of this zone is the endemic dwarf shrub Thymelaea myrtifolia (Thymelaeaceae).

Further information required.

References

Bonner, A. 1985. Plants of the Balearic Islands. Editorial Moll. Palma De Mallorca.

Parrack, J. D. 1973. The Naturalist in Majorca. David & Charles, Newton Abbot

Polunin, O & Smythies, B. E. 1973. Flowers of South-West Europe - a field guide. Oxford University Press.

Smythes, B. E. 1984. Flora of Spain and the Balearic Islands - Checklist of vascular plants. Englera 3(1). Veroffentlichungen aus dem Botanischen Garten und Botanischen Museum. Berlin - Dahlem.

Snogerup, S. 1985. The Mediterranean islands. In: Plant Conservation in the Mediterranean. Ed. C. Gómez-Campo. Dr W. Junk Publishers.