THYME-BRUSHWOOD COMMUNITIES (TOMILLARES) OF SEMIARID SOUTH-EASTERN SPAIN

The small brushwoods (''tomillares'') of the semiarid zones of SE Spai n, dominated by suffruticose chamephytes and nanophanerophytes, are ve ry rich in endemic and Iberian-Mauritanian plants which are only found in this part of the European continent. These plant communities, whic h constitute a particular phytosociological order (Anthyllidetalia ter niflorae), were studied by carrying out 165 releves and by reference r e another 141 from the literature. One synthetic table was made up and our 165 releves were submitted to multivariate analysis (CA). Three a lliances were recognized within the order: Thyme moroderi-Sideritidion leucanthae (11 associations), Sideritidion bourgeanae (3 associations and 1 plant community)and Anthyllido terniflorae-Salsolion papillosae (4 associations). The alliance Thymomoroderi-Sideritidion leucanthae includes thyme-brushwoods of the Almeriense and Alicantine-Murcian (Me ridional-Murcian and Alicantine subsectors) sectors, present on loamy, rocky and sandy soils, mainly from the Inframediterranean Semiarid to the Thermomediterranean Dry belts. The alliance Anthyllido-Salsolion papillosae includes thyme-brushwoods of subsaline marry soils and coas tal zones affected by salt rain due to sea breeze. These plant communi ties are present at the Inframediterranean Semiarid and Thermomediterr anean Semiarid belts of the Murcian-Almeriense biogeographical provinc e. The alliance Sideritidion bourgeanae includes thyme-brushwoods on l oamy and marly soils, at the Mesomediterranean Semiarid and Mesomedite rranean Dry bioclimatic belts. These plant communities are present in the Murcian-Almeriense province (just at the Septentrional-Murcian sub sector) and in the Murcian-Manchegan subsector (Castilian-Maestracense -Manchegan province).