biological diversity and tropical forests in tunisia - PART

Much of the Krournirie/~ogods has been degraded from the climax
vegetation type. Where the cork oak forest has been cleared, a maquis of
heather (~ricaceae) forms (ONUPAA 1985). The charactertstic species of the
heather maquis include (~uenot 1965):
Erica arborea Briza maxima
Cistus monspeliensis Koeleria pubescens
Calycotome villosa Trifolium campestre
Pistacia lentiscus Festuca coerulescens
Arbutus unedo Cynosurus echinatus
Plantago serraria Bellis silvestris
Hypochaeris radicata Ampelodesma maurktantca
or, there may be a variant typified by:
Erica scoparka Tuberaria vulgaris
Lavandula stoechas Pteridium aquilicum
Halimiam halimifolium Hedysarum coronarius
On the lower slopes of the Kroumirie, especially at the edges of the
racgeS, the maquis are more likely to include:
Olea europaea oleaster Chrysanthemum paludosum
Pistacia lentiscus Mentha pulegium
Myrtas cornrumis Romulea linaresii
Genista ferox Centaurium spicatum
Juccus baf ocias Gaudica fragilis
Cichoriam intybus pumilum
or Lavacdula variacts. On drained soils, the following species are found:
Calycotome villosa Avena alba var. barbata
Genista tricuspidata Hyparrhenia hirta
Trif olium angustifolium
Ic the Mogods, the maquis are still dominated by and Pistacia
(0lea-lentiscus maquis), but the other associated species are often quite
differect from those of the Kroumirie. Common associations include:
Jasminum fruticans Stellaria media
Rubus ulmifolius Arum media
Asparagus albus Arisarum vulgare
Galactites tomentosa Ambrosia babsii
Cynosurus echknatus Allium chanaemoly
Urtica pilulifera Silybum marianum
Cerastium glomeratum Cirsium scabrum
Influences. The species composition and vegetation cover of the
Kro;unirie/~ogods have been changed from the original vast oak forests by
timber harvesticg; clearicg for cultivatioc, pasture acd homes; gathericg
of firewood, forage, medicical acd edible plact prodacts; acd macipulation