A flora survey of a geological park in the Mediterranean region

Résumé En

The Barrocal Park is a 40-ha geological park located at the edge of the city of Castelo Branco, Portugal, that features diverse granite land-forms. The Barrocal Park is integrated into the classified territories of the Naturtejo UNESCO Global Geopark and the Tejo|Tajo Internacional Transboundary Biosphere Reserve. The present study aimed to characterize the spontaneous flora of the Barrocal Park. The Köppen-Geiger climate classification of this region is Csa. The Barrocal landscape is characterized by fragments of climat-ophilic forests of Quercus pyrenaica , associated with rocky granite outcrops. In the subserial stages, Adenocarpus lainzii , Adenocarpus complicatus , Cistus ladanifer , Cistus inflatus , Cytisus striatus , Cytisus multiflorus , Halimium umbellatum and Lavandula pedunculata predominate. The Arisaro simorrhini-Quercetum pyrenaicae association is the only climatophilic series present in the study area. The plant communities comprise 132 plant species belonging to 108 genera and 45 families. The dominant Raunkiaer life form is therophytes (45.5%), followed by hemicryptophytes (22.7%), and geophytes (12.9%). Eight species are endemic to the Iberian Peninsula, Adenocarpus lainzii , Antirrhinum graniticum , Asphodelus serotinus , Cytisus multiflorus , Digitalis thapsi , Ferula communis subsp. catalaunica , Ornithogalum concinnum and Sedum arenarium . Four invasive species were identified. Some of the native species have great potential as ornamental plants. Despite its main geoheritage value, the Barrocal park can also be valued for its spontaneous flora.