Violion caninae grasslands (Nardetea strictae) in the North and North—West of Spain

Abstract

This paper is a phytosociological study of the associations included in the Violion caninae alliance which occur in the Eurosiberian Region of the north and north—west of the Iberian Peninsula (Cantabrian-Atlantic and Orocantabric chorological subprovinces). For this purpose we have taken into consideration the composition, distribution and comparative analysis of the respective synthetic tables from the associations presented in the area. In the more oceanic mountains of Galicia, this type of vegetation adopts the form of acido—philous pasture land clearly located below an altitude of 1,000 m and directly related both to the high rainfall rates of these ranges and the pressure induced by the free grazing of horses all the year round. The study illustrates the relationships between the alliance associations growing in the north and north—west of the Iberian Peninsula and a new association (Galio viviani—Danthonietum decumbentis) is described. We extend the concept of Violion caninae to include the Cantabrian—Atlantic and British—Atlantic associations growing on the mesotemperate and supratemperate belts which belong to the Agrostienion curtisii suballiance.