Open woodlands of juniper (
Juniperus thurifera) and evergreen holm oak (
Quercus rotundifolia) are the characteristic plant community, extending up to the treeline at approximately 3200 meters. The critically endangered
Moroccan cypress (
Cupressus atlantica) has been reduced to a few hundred trees scattered in the western portion of the range. Thorny and cushion shrubs cover the ground, including
Cytisus balansae, Erinacea anthylis, Prunus prostrata, and
Astragalus armatus. Denser stands of oaks and junipers have an understory of shade-loving shrubs including
Fraxinus dimorpha, Lonicera arborea, Crataegus lacinata, Buxus sempervirens, and
Berberis vulgaris australis, interspersed with the tall shrubs
Juniperus oxycedrus and
Ephedra nebrodensis and herbaceous plants
Cephalantera rubra, Helleborine latifolia, Festuca triflora, and
Festuca rubra. Open grasslands cover ridgelines, and extend from the treeline to the summits, interspersed with areas of bare rock. These high meadows are adapted to strong winds and alpine conditions, and include
Avena montana, Festuca mairei, Festuca alpina, and
Ranunculus geraniifolius. At lower elevations, the juniper and oak woodlands transition to evergreen broadleaf forests, which extend up to 2800 meters elevation on humid north-facing slopes, and xeric conifer forests extend from 1500 meters elevation up to 3100 meters on drier south-facing slopes. ==Fauna==