The Vegetation of the Island of Šipan

Quercetea ilicis class in the island of Šipan is represented by three associations: Orno-Quercetum ilicis, Erico-Calicotometum villosae and Erico-Cistetum cretici. Orno-Quercetum ilicis association, the climazonal community of the eastadriatic eumediterranean zone takes in the island of Sipan the very form of holm oak forest (O. - Q. i. typicum) and the form of myrtle maquis (O. - Q. i. myrtetosum) which is widespread. The allepo pine forest on the base of myrtle maquis (O. - Q. i. m. pinosum halepensis) has developed in some small areas. Erico-Calicotometum villosae and Erico-Cistetum cretici associations belong to the vegetation of open underbrushes (garigue). Erico-Calicotometum villosae association is typical of the southern part of the zone. In the island of Sipan it most often develops in neglected olive-groves. Erico-Cistetum cretici association is distributed in the middle and sporadically in the southern part of the zone. In the island of Sipan this community compared to Erico-Calicotometum villosae association occupies more degraded and open places. Nowadays the distribution of the vegetation of Quercetea ilicis class in the island of Sipan (Fig. 1) is connected with a constant anthropogenic influence. The greatest part of the island has been deforested and cultivated. In recent years the population has decreased and some distant cultivated parts have been neglected. It facilitates the progressive succesion in larger areas of the island