Phytosociological study of species of Portuguese oak in the Central-South Iberian Peninsula / Estudio fitosociológico de las especies de quejígos en el centro-sur de la península ibérica

So far we have detected 11 types of Portuguese oak forests that are vegetation series heads in the centre and south of the Iberian peninsula; these forests are dominated by Quercus canariensis Lam. or by Q. faginea Lam. (group). All authors accept Q. canariensis and the associations based on this species, which are perfectly delimited from the floristical, ecological, dynamic and biogeographical point of view. Nor does there seem to be any doubt with regard to Q. broteroi (Couthino) Riv.-Mart. & Sáenz, although there is some uncertainty regarding the rank that should be given to this taxon. Some authors accept Q. faginea subsp. alpestris (Boiss.) Maire (Rivas-Martínez & Sáenz, 1991), while others consider it a synonym of Q. faginea Lam. subsp. faginea (Amaral Franco, 1990): it is therefore necessary to study the authenticity of the taxon Q. alpestris Boiss. to confirm the binomen of the associations based on this taxon, and to make any necessary corrections. Nor are there any discrepancies with regard to the associations rich in Q. alpestris, as they present different floristical, ecological, dynamic and biogeographical aspects. However based on the study of the genus Quercus in the centre-south of the Iberian peninsula and southern Italy by the research group at the universities of Évora (Portugal), Jaén (Spain) and Reggio Calabria (Italy), it may be necessary to reformulate the names and redefine the distribution. 1.- Cephalanthero rubrae-Quercetum fagineae Rivas Goday & Borja in Rivas Goday & al 1960 corr. Rivas-Martínez 19722.- Pistacio terebinthi-Quercetum broteroi Rivas Goday et al. 19603.- Arisaro-Quercetum broteroi Br.- Bl., P. Silva & Rozeira 1956 corr. Rivas-Martínez 19754.- Quercetum alpestris-broteroi Pinto-Gomes & Paiva-Ferreira 20055.- Oleo sylvestris-Quercetum alpestris Galán et al. 1999 corr. Rivas-Martínez 20116.- Pyro bourgaeanae-Quercetum broteroi Cano, A. García, J. Torres, Pinto-Gomes, Cano-Ortiz, Montilla, J. Muñoz, L. Ruiz & A. Rodríguez 20027.- Viburno tini-Quercetum alpestris Torres & Cano in Cano & al. 2002 corr. Rivas-Martínez 20118.- Berberido hispanicae-Quercetum alpestris Rivas-Martínez 20119.- Rusco hypophylli-Quercetum canariensis Rivas- Martínez 197510.- Euphorbio monchiquensis-Quercetum canariensis Malato- Beliz et al. 199011.- Doronico plantaginei-Quercetum canariensis Rivas-Martínez & Cano 2011.