F164
Caucasian Oriental beech forests (Fagus sylvatica subsp. orientalis) with Carpinus betulus, partly with Picea orientalis, without evergreen understorey, partly alternating with oak-hornbeam forests (Carpinus betulus, Quercus iberica)
Description
Oriental beech stands, often with dominant Fagus sylvatica subsp. orientalis or mesophilous with additions of deciduous tree species (Carpinus betulus, Tilia begoniifolia, Tilia cordata, Acer platanoides, Acer pseudoplatanus, Acer cappadocicum, Acer trautvetteri, Ulmus glabra, Castanea sativa, Corylus colurna). The species assemblages change depending on region and altitude. The tree layer varies greatly in age for the most part. 180-250 year-old stands are 20-40 m high (depending on altitude and site conditions). The maximum age of the individual trees is 350-400 years, the maximum height 50-52 m. A shrub undergrowth is usually absent, but is formed in places by Corylus avellana and Sambucus nigra, more rarely by Staphylea pinnata, and in some climatically moister areas also by Rhododendron luteum and Vaccinium arctostaphylos. Rubus species are represented everywhere, and not infrequently achieve dominance. The herb layer is relatively species deficient, and is completely absent in some forms. Central European species are relatively common, and spring geophytes are also present.
Tree Layer
Fagus sylvatica subsp. Orientalis (Common Beech), with alternating admixture of Carpinus betulus (Hornbeam), Tilia begoniifolia (Common Linden), Tilia cordata (Common Linden), Acer platanoides (Field Maple), Acer pseudoplatanus (Field Maple), Acer cappadocicum (Field Maple), Acer trautvetteri (in high altitudes) (Field Maple), Ulmus glabra (Elm), Quercus iberica (Sessile Oak), Castanea sativa (in low altitudes on siliceous rock) (Horse Chestnut), Fraxinus excelsior (Common Ash), Taxus baccata (Yew)
Common Beech, with alternating admixture of Hornbeam, Common Linden, Field Maple, Elm, Sessile Oak, Common Ash, Yew and Horse Chestnut on low altitudes.
Shrub Layer
Corylus colurna (Hazel), Corylus avellana (Hazel), Sambucus nigra (Elder), Staphylea pinnata (wild_shrub), Rubus hirtus (blackberry_bush), Rubus caucasicus (blackberry_bush), locally Rhododendron luteum (wild_shrub), Vaccinium arctostaphylos (Fruiting Blackthorn Bush), Philadelphus caucasicus (English Elm Bush)
Oak, Apple, Alder, Willow and Downy Willow saplings
Lianas
No detail
Herb Layer
Festuca drymeja (bottle_sedge), Galium odoratum (sweet_woodruff), Dryopteris filix-mas (fern_1, bracken, fern), Athyrium filix-femina (fern_1, bracken, fern), Pachyphragma macrophyllum (sweet_woodruff), Euphorbia macroceras (wood_horsetail), Circaea lutetiana (sweet_woodruff), Impatiens noli-tangere (buttercups), Polygonatum orientale (lily_of_the_valley), Cardamine quinquefolia (ABSENT), Cardamine bulbifera (autumnal_dwarf_birch), Paris incompleta (sweet_woodruff), Vicia crocea, Lathyrus laxiflorus (sweet_woodruff), Primula woronowii (wild_parsley), Cephalanthera longifolia (lily_of_the_valley), Poa nemoralis (lush_grass), Melica uniflora (lush_grass), Luzula forsteri (deergrass)
Forest of Neldoreth and forests in Dorwinion
