Checklist of plant communities of Iberian Peninsula, Balearic and Canary Islands to suballiance level

Abstract

A check-list of the higher syntaxa (from class to suballiance) of vascular plant communities recognized in Spain and continental Portugal is presented. 72 classes, 134 orders, 370 alliances and 98 suballiances have been accepted for the territory studied (Iberian Peninsula, Balearic and Canary Islands). Classes are arranged in nine major and twenty secondary ecological groups, according to a modification of the classical Braun-Blanquet's criterion of phytosociological progression. Structure, dynamics and environmental factors, along with floristic composition, were the main criteria to separate the higher ranks (classes and orders), while edaphic and biogeographical criteria became prominent for lower ranks (alliances and suballiances). All names were checked for nomenclatural accuracy, and lists of synonyms and references concerning the names are given. The following new syntaxa are proposed: Adenocarpion decorticantis, Agropyro pectinati-Lygeion sparti, Arbuto unedonis-Laurion nobilis, Astragalenion massiliensis, Avenello ibericae-Pinion ibericae, Brassicion oleraceae, Daboecion cantabricae, Erico mackaianae-Sphagnion papillosi, Genisto versicoloris-Juniperion hemisphaericae, Geranio purpurei-Cardaminenea hirsutae, Halodulo wrightii-Thalassietea testudinum, Helichrysion picardi, Juniperetalia hemisphaericae, Junipero intermediae-Pinion catalaunicae, Launaeion cervicornis, Lemno minoris-Hydrocharition morsus-ranae, Minuartio-Festucion curvifoliae, Mucizonion sedoidis, Nicotiano glaucae-Ricinion communis, Onobrychidenion hispanicae, Pinion uncinatae, Pruno prostratae-Juniperion sabinae, Ridolfion segetum, Rielletalia helichophyllae, Rielletea helicophyllae, Riellion helicophyllae, Roemerion hybridae, Salicion canariensis, Saturejo-Coridothymenion, Saxifrago umbrosae-Abietenion albae, Selaginello denticulatae-Anogrammion leptophyllae, Sideritidenion bourgaeanae, Smyrnienion olusatri, Stauracanthion boivinii, Stipo giganteae-Agrostietea castellanae, Suaedion verae, Teucrio-pyrenaici-Bromion erecti, Vaccinio microphylli-Juniperetalia nanae, Valeriano longiflorae-Petrocoptidenion crassifoliae.