Gymnocarpo decandri nueva serie climatófila jandiense inframediterránea hiperárida de matos de costaIn memoriam de Pierre Quezel, botánico francés

Abstract

A new climatophilous inframediterranean hyper-arid vegetation series of coastal shrubs of Jandia Gymnocarpos decandrus ( Gymnocarpo decandri sigmetum) is described. It is situated on the slopes of the westernmost part of the Jandia mountains, build of basalts of the first (Miocene) eruption cycles. From there, this vegetation extends eastwards along the whole extent of playa de Cofete to Punta de Playa Larga (Fuerteventura). Also, two new syntaxons are described, the syntaxon of nomenclatural reference Gymnocarpetum decandri , an association which forms the head series and, as a substitution phase, a new pasture of perennial grasses Tetrapogono villosi-Cenchretum ciliaris. This vegetation type may have had a former wider and more continuous distribution, occupying the complete hyper-arid coastal zone of Jandia, but currently it is very' fragmented on the south-eastern (leeward) coast due to urbanisation and intensive grazing. Detailed studies concerning the structure and dynamics of the populations should be done, especially in comparison with areas of lower grazing pressure, in order to obtain precise knowledge about the real danger posed to the long-term survival of this vegetation by the strong impact of the herbivores.