Contribución al estudio fitosociológico de rodales de Maytenus boaria (Celastráceas) en Mendoza

maytenus boaria forest stands occurring on mendoza mountains are deemed to be threatened relicts. a phytosociological survey of these stands was undertaken in ravines of cordillera frontal. pure forest stands of maitén were observed on slopes, and mixed stands on terraces. pure stands occurred above 1500 m elevation: 1) on shady and sunny slopes of narrow ravines, in cold environment, that belong to the vegetation belt of mulguraea scoparia and colliguaja integerrima; colder conditions on shady slopes are evidenced by the presence of junellia juniperina, bowlesia tropaeolifolia, gutierrezia gilliesii, mutisia subspinosa, ephedra breana, geranium berteroanum and calceolaria pinifolia, and warmer conditions on sunny slopes by schinus fasciculatus, lycium chilense and buddleja mendozensis; 2) on shady slopes in open mountain valleys, in cool environment, where monte species occur: l. chilense, baccharis salicifolia, larrea nitida and proustia cuneifolia; the last three, together with eupatorium buniifolium, indicate water availability in slopes and terraces. mixed forest stands of m. boaria and ochetophila trinervis with rosa rubiginosa, p. cuneifolia and e. buniifolium were surveyed on terraces below 1500 m elevation in cool environments. these are azonal forests that grow in small isolated stands on sites with high water availability.