Coniferous

Predominantly Aleppo pine forests (Pinus halepensis) occur at low altitudes, primarily on sedimentary soils in semi-arid zones, although they are also found in all the forested regions of the country. Aleppo pine is generally mixed with holm oak and Phoenician juniper, and such stands take three different forms, depending on geographical zone. On the driest soils in the coastal and subcoastal zones (humid and subhumid climates), it is found in association with Phoenician juniper, mastic, kermes oak (Quercus coccifera), wild olive, Cistus sp., etc. In the Tell mountains, it occurs with Quercus ilex, Pistacia terebinthus, Juniperus oxycedrus, etc. In the drier mountain zones (Saharan Atlas), the undergrowth is abundant and other species are added to those of the preceding type (phillyrea [Phillyrea angustifolia], Crataegus monogyna, etc.).

Predominantly maritime pine forests (Pinus pinaster) are natural forests found in the northeast of the country (the Kabylie region). Maritime pine colonizes degraded cork oak stands, and its undergrowth is in fact identical with that of cork oak forests.

Predominantly Atlas cedar forests (Cedrus atlantica) occur as scattered islands at higher altitudes (the central Tell, Kabylie and Aurès regions) in humid to subhumid zones, and may have two forms, depending on conditions. The humid form is closed, with an undergrowth of holm oak, and the associated species are mainly Juniperus oxycedrus, Fraximus dimorpha, Ilex aquifolium, Quercus faginea and Cytisus sp. Other species -mountain juniper (Juniperus thurifera), Sorbus aria, yew, Montpellier maple (Acer monspessulanum), etc.- appear in relatively arid zones.

last updated: Wednesday, September 27, 2006