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Malagasy Montane Scrub Macrogroup | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Malagasy Montane Scrub Macrogroup
Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description: This macrogroup encompass the ericoid thicket habitats (WWF Madagascar Ericoid Thickets ecoregion) of Madagascar's four major massifs: Tsaratanana, Marojejy, Ankaratra and Andringitra. There is considerable daily and seasonal fluctuation in the temperature of these montane areas. Snow has been recorded during the cold season on the southernmost massif, the Andringitra, and the temperature can fall as low as -11°C. Rainfall is probably more than 2500 mm per year on the wetter eastward-facing slopes of these massifs, but is considerably less in the rainshadow on the western slopes. The basic geology of the massifs is metamorphic and igneous Precambrian basement rocks. Thin, nutrient-poor soils overlay these rocks. The ericoid thicket vegetation starts at 2000 m elevation, with few exceptions. It is dominated by the Asteraceae (<i>Psiadia, Helichrysum, Stoebe, Stenocline</i>), Ericaceae (<i>Erica, Agauria, Vaccinium</i>), Podocarpaceae (<i>Podocarpus</i>), Rhamnaceae (<i>Phylica</i>), and Rubiaceae plant families. A wide diversity of lichens and bryophytes are represented. Small, damp peat-filled depressions harbor specialized, endemic plants, while rock outcrops host a drought-tolerant flora including <i>Aloe, Kalanchoe, Helichrysum</i>, and <i>Sedum madagascariense</i> (Crassulaceae). 
Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:40757-{04F31EB5-0F44-4634-8E4A-8A86908B1EA8}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 01-May-2019 to: ongoing
      Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.861751 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: M453
  Scientific: Malagasy Montane Scrub Macrogroup