Hêtraie

A hêtraie is a Forêt where the Hêtre prevails. Latin fagus , beech, fagea , hêtraie; old French fay ; Breton faou , beech.

The Toponymie offers Faouët (Coast-in Armor) and Faouët (Morbihan), Faymont , Villers-la-Faye , etc

The term fays (delivery fayï ) is in addition also used in Belgium, in particular in Toponymie.

There exist various types of hêtraie according to the ground (calcareous or acid).

Hêtraie-fir plantation on acid ground

Description

Forest mountain of the siliceous solid masses, the hêtraies fir plantations on acid ground, said " acidiphiles" , are dominated by the beech. This last form either of the pure settlements, or of the mixed settlements with the pectinate fir tree. The acidity and the relative dryness of the substrate slow down the decomposition of the litter which accumulates in the parts little or not sloping. Composed of species acidiphiles, the herbaceous layer thus is developed generally little. The most frequent plants such as the flexuous canche, the sheep's fescue and the luzule white-of-snow, grow in small tufts.

Alternatives

This habitat varies especially according to the freshness of the station and the geographical location. The sheep's fescue characterizes the dry stations on the strong slopes. The fern of the beeches and the gaillet with round sheets are typical fresher stations. The saxifrage with sheets in corner is present only on the Lozere Mount. Contrary, the small wintergreen misses there but is not rare in Aigoual. In certain sites, the fir tree prevails, favoured by the cuts of beech or like gasoline of afforestation.

Characteristic flora

Gaillet with round sheets (Gallium rotundifolium), beech (Fagus sylvatica), maïanthème with two sheets (Maïanthemum bifolium), mélampyre of the meadows (Melampyrum pratense), small wintergreen (Pyrola minor).

Flora partner

Remarkable fauna

This habitat is attended by mammals the such stag Elaphe and the marten.

Birds: Around the wood pigeons, Crossbill of the fir trees, Owl of Tengmalm, Circaete Short-toed eagle, capercaillie, Tree creeper, black Peak.

Reptiles: smooth Coronelle, Slow worm, Asp.

Amphibians: Crapaux commun runs, russet-red Frog, mottled Salamander (distributed in a dispersed way).

Insects: Rosalie of the Alps.

Ecological value

Little threatened, the hêtraies-sapinères on acid ground are widespread on the whole of the territory of the National park of the Cevennes. Certain stations of rare plants, located for example in the natural localities of the pectinate fir tree of the Lozere Mount, are of a great financial asset. The groupings rich in houx are interests Community.

Uses

  • Agropastoraux : Sylvopastoralism.
  • Forest S : Sylviculture and exploitation of the wood of beech and fir tree.
  • Traditional : Drive out, mushroom gathering.
  • Tourist : Esthetic interest of the old forests of beeches and fir trees.

Evolution

The hêtraies-fir plantations acidiphiles form the final stage of the vegetable succession in the acid stations of the silicieux solid masses of the territory of the National park of the Cevennes. They result often from old pastures put in defense during great work of afforestation started towards the end of the XIXeme century. Today, the majority of the settlements became ripe and hardly present major change.

Maintenance

This habitat benefits from the current expansion of the forest. It is exploited according to a sylviculture which aims at approaching natural operations. It is desirable to prevent planting any other coniferous tree that the pectinate Sapin. Douglas, spruce, pines black and fir trees not autochtones are, if possible, to exclude. To privilege the settlements irregular and made up of various gasolines is favorable to the insects and the birds. Their processions will grow rich if timberings comprise trees of strong diameter, died or decaying. The natural regeneration of beeches and fir trees must be favoured, as well as the mixture with secondary gasolines. Because of their ecological interest, certain old women hêtraies of Aigoual and Lozere Mount are classified in biological reserves. Other sites, like the stations rich in lichens and the zones of reproduction of the patrimonial birds, also require an adapted forestry management.

See too

Guide of the naturalist Causses the Cevennes written by the National park of the Cevennes

Internal bonds

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