FORESTS IN GREECE,    FORESTS IN EUROPE

In order to describe vegetation in Greece, we should accept that there is a certain distribution of vegetation according to altitudinal zones related to climate changes from the warm Mediterranean regions to cooler environments of high altitudes. The zones are generally poorly defined, and vegetation tends to vary in a more mosaic-like pattern.

Attempts have been made to characterize Greek vegetation by major altitudinal zones:
-    the thermo-mediterranean (up to c. 400 m)
-    the meso-mediterranean  (c. 400-700 m)
-    the supra-mediterranean (c. 700-1 800 m)
-    the montane Mediterranean (c. 1 800-2 200 m)
-    the supra-forest zone (c. 2 200-2 917 m) 

Mediterranean evergreen forest. At low altitudes, the dominant species of evergreen broadleaved are Ceratonia siliqua, Pistacia lentiscus, Olea europaea, Arbutus sp., Quercus coccifera, Quercus ilex, Erica sp., etc.
Forests of Pinus halepensis, Pinus brutia, occur in patches in the coastal lowlands and occasionally up to ca 800m. The forests are rather open, and have a shrub layer of evergreen species, such as Juniperus phoenicea, Quercus coccifera, Phillyrea latifolia, Calicotome villosa, Erica arborea, E. manipuliflora.  Cupressus sempervirens is native in Crete (up to ca 1 800 m) and the East Aegean islands and is commonly naturalized elsewhere in the country. 

Macchie or maquis. The term “macchie” or “maquis” is used for a dense sometimes impenetrable, scrub vegetation, generally 1.5-3.5 m tall and largely composed of hard-leaved evergreen species such as Quercus ilex, Arbutus unedo, A. adrachne, Laurus nobilis, Myrtus communis, Erica arborea, Pistacia lentiscus, Phillyrea latifolia, etc. Macchie also contains some deciduous shrubs such as Cercis siliquastrum, Cotinus coggygria, Ostrya carpinifolia and Pistacia terebinthus.

Phrygana. The term "phrygana" is used for an open dwarf scrub dominated by low, often cushion-shaped, aromatic, spiny or grey-leaved shrub. In islands and degraded evergreen broadleaved forests, (as a result of long and frequent fires) there are areas covered by “phrygana”, with dominating species of Cistus sp., Sarcopoterium spinosum, Coridothymus capitatus, Euphorbia acanthothamnus, Saturejia sp., Anthyllis hermanniae, Micromeria juliana.  

Deciduous forest. Quercus pubescens and Q. frainetto are the most widespread species of deciduous oaks generally occurring in the hills and lower mountain slopes between c. 300 and 800m, in the more continental parts of the country. Other deciduous trees and shrubs commonly found in this zone are Q. cerris, Ostrya carpinifolia, Carpinus sp., Fraxinus sp., Acer sp., Coryllus sp., Tilia sp., Aesculus hippocastanum etc.
Well-developed natural forests of Castanea sativa occur locally in central and northern Greece.
 
Montane coniferous forest. Extensive coniferous forests, dominated by either Pinus nigra, or by Abies occur on the mainland at altitudes between ca 600 and 1,800m. The genus Abies is represented by the endemic A. cephalonica in the south,  A. x borisii-regis in central Greece, and A.alba locally in the north.  Pinus sylvestris forms forest locally on non-calcareous mountains in the north.
In the same zone, broadleaved deciduous Fagus sylvatica and Fagus orientalis form pure stands on the richer and deeper soils.
In higher altitudes, over 1,800 m., there are forests such as Juniperus foetidissima and Pinus heldreichii. In northern Greek borders and at medium altitudes, we can also meet forest sections of Betula pendula, Larix decidua, Pinus peuce and Picea abies species. 

Subalpine and alpine communities. The timberline is generally formed by Pinus or Abies, in northern Greece sometimes by Fagus, and on Crete by Cupressus. Over ca 2,000-2,200 m the areas are covered from species of low-growing shrubs such as Juniperus communis ssp. nana, Astragalus sp., Daphne oleoides, Acantholimon echinus, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Vacinium sp., etc. 

Lowland cliff vegetation. Limestone cliffs and to some extent also cliffs of siliceous rocks, especially in Aegean region, are of great botanical interest, with a specialized flora called “chasmophytes”. The chasmophytes are generally long-lived, woody-based perennials.  

Riparian vegetation. Streambeds at low altitudes are generally lined by trees of Platanus orientalis, Nerium oleander, Vitex agnus-castus and at higher altitudes Salix sp., Alnus glutinosa, Fraxinus angustifolia, Populus sp., etc.

The distribution of the areas for the main forest species is presented in the below Table.

Distribution of the areas for the main forest species