Yew woods in the northwest Iberian Peninsula

Abstract

The description of Habitat 9580* of the Natura 2000, namely in the Iberian NW, needs more phytosociological information to facilitate its interpretation. Until now, this interpretation is done mainly by listing the numerous syntaxes with confirmed presence of Taxus baccata. By the lack of relevés of Taxus communities as the interpretation of the yew woods as simple faciations of the surrounding forests, this interpretation becomes inconsequent, as in most cases, correspond to more or less isolated individuals within other communities and not to true yew woods, i.e. (co)dominated by Taxus baccata (Habitat 9580*). Based on a DiffVal analysis of 33 relevés from the NW Iberian Peninsula of yew communities it was possible to differentiate and classify three new forest communities (co)dominated by Taxus baccata. In the Lusitanian territories are distinguished the Juresian Eryngio juresiani-Taxetum baccatae subass. typicum, and the very rare Eryngio juresiani-Taxetum baccatae subass. loniceretosum hispanicae from Serra da Estrela; while in the W Cantabrian region, yew communities are clearly differentiable from the Lusitanian ones, the name Corylo avellanae-Taxetum baccatae is proposed.