Diverse Landscape Plants of Spain: A Comprehensive Overview

The Landscape Plants in Spain

Landscape Plants in Oceanic Climate

Its vegetation includes deciduous forests, heath, and meadows. The forest consists of deciduous trees that lose their leaves in autumn. It has relatively few species that gather to form large masses. The main features are the oak and beech. Under the trees, ferns and mosses grow in shady areas. The heat has been poorly tolerated, and it is very cold. It needs high humidity. It is a mountain tree, and its hardwood is used to make furniture and utensils. The oak does not support hot summers and has a lower tolerance to cold. It requires less moisture, so it is found in lower places. Its hardwood is used for construction, furniture, and boats. In Galicia and the Cantabrian Mountains, the chestnut is a secondary formation that allows for the use of its fruit and wood. Turkey oak forests appear with gall oaks and less tall trees. Currently, extensions have been replanted with eucalyptus (for cellulose).

Moor Vegetation

The moor is a dense thicket of vegetation. Its extensions are more abundant in heather, gorse, and broom. It is a degraded deciduous forest and is typically used as bedding for animals and fertilizer. The meadows are occupied by many extensions of herbaceous vegetation in the ocean scenery.

The Vegetation of Mediterranean Climate

Training Features

a) Evergreen forest: Trees of medium height. Their crowns cast a shadow on the ground to avoid sunstroke.

• a.1) The oak is the most characteristic tree that fits all types of soils. Its hard and durable wood is used for woodworking and tools, and its fruit is used to feed livestock.
• a.2) The cork oak needs mild winters and some moisture. Its very hard wood is used for carrying barges, and its bark is used for cork.
• a.3) The pine is a secondary plant that adapts to extreme conditions.

Thicket Vegetation

b) The thicket is a forest degradation caused by human activity. Characteristic types include:

• Macchia: Very dense shrubbery. Species include jara, broom, and heather.
• Garriga: Shrubbery and low bushes. Species include rosemary and thyme.
• Estepa: Low grass mixed with low shrubs. Species include palmetto, thyme, and espartal.

The Vegetation of Shore

On the banks of the rivers, the vegetation is very damp, leading to different traits. The riverine forests consist of species such as willow (with roots in water), ash, and elm. This vegetation has been reduced due to human activity.

The Vegetation of the Canary Islands

Due to its insular situation, the vegetation is of great importance and includes relics. The plant floors are categorized as follows:

• Floor Basal: Shrubs such as tababiba.
• Middle Level: Palms with high humidity.
• Floor Termocanario: Laurel forests (very dense) and Fayal, heather (degradation from above).
• Floor Canary: Canary Island pine.
• Floor Supracanario: Floristic richness.