Querco cocciferae-Juniperetum turbinatae

Querco cocciferae-Juniperetum turbinatae

The climax vegetation (permanent community) of sea-cliffs is the juniper

community Querco cocciferae-Juniperetum turbinatae. Although the two namegiving

taxa are dominant in the community, Asparagus aphyllus, Olea europaea var. sylvestris, Rubia peregrina var. longifolia, Rhamnus alaternus, etc. can also

be found (table XI). It is an endemic community of Portugal and can be found

from the Mondego cape to the Algarve (COSTA et al., 1994). The theoretical

climatic climax is not achieved on the sea cliffs due to the drying effect of strong

winds despite the high annual rainfall in these environments.