JBCLM | 2010-2025
24. Garrigue of the Abenuj mountain range (Tobarra)
Home to a unique endemic species, the Abenuj cattail
Garrigue is a dense shrub formation dominated by sclerophyllous, spiny shrubs, highly adapted to the aridity of dry or semi-arid Mediterranean climates on calcareous soils. This habitat is widespread in the region.
In the Botanical Garden, a thermophilic garrigue has been recreated, which is the habitat of Sideritis serrata, a globally endemic rabogato from the Sierra de Abenuj (Tobarra, Albacete). This species is critically endangered and has an active recovery plan in Castilla-La Mancha.
The recreation includes typical Mediterranean thermophilic species widely distributed in many ecosystems, such as rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), another rabogato (Sideritis bourgaeana), Jerusalem sage (Phlomis crinita), prickly juniper (Juniperus oxycedrus), Phoenician juniper (Juniperus phoenicea), blackthorn (Rhamnus lycioides), Mediterranean buckthorn (Rhamnus alaternus), white cistus (Cistus albidus), mastic (Pistacia lentiscus), joint-pine (Ephedra fragilis), and horehound (Ballota hirsuta).
