The flora[nb 1] of the Massif Central is rich and diverse. This diversity can be explained by the massif's large surface area, its position at the intersection of different climatic zones, and its geological variety. The plants that can be found in the very wet western part are not the same as those found in the drier eastern part, and the difference is even greater with the species that can be found in the southern part (Causses, Cévennes), which are subject to marked Mediterranean influences. This spatial component is not the only one involved, since exposure, altitude, and the nature of the substrate are also determining factors. For example, there is the classic contrast between south-facing and north-facing slopes (adret and ubac), and the differences in vegetation between acidic soils (granite) and basic soils (limestone or basalt). Although the altitude of the Massif Central is low compared to other mountain ranges such as the Alps or the Pyrenees, there is a clear range of vegetation, from Mediterranean vegetation to sub-alpine grassland (as in the Cévennes). Generally speaking, in most of the Massif Central, there are four distinct levels of vegetation:
- a lowland level up to 500 m altitude (well represented in Limagne);
- a hill level (up to 900 m altitude over most of the massif, except in the north-west where this limit is lower);
- a mountainous zone (up to 1,500 m altitude);
- a subalpine zone (above 1,500 m altitude).
In the Cévennes, the plain level can be described as the "Mediterranean level". These limits can obviously vary according to exposure (lower on the north-facing slopes).
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