| Within this site, the open karstic plateau is characterised by relatively shallow soils colonised by various grassland, phrygana and pre-desert scrub assemblages. This area in general supports a wide range of flora and fauna that include various reptiles; small mammals, including Atelerix algirus; and various invertebrate groups, including the endemic Armadillidium schmalfussi, Stenosis melitana, Tentyria laevigata leachi and Pimelia rugulosa spp. melitana. The areas from Fuq tal-Gruwa/Ix-Xagħra l-Kbira to Ta' Nanas consist mostly of phrygana and steppic assemblages, which also include flora and fauna of interest, including the endemic molluscs Muticaria macrostoma oscitans, and Trochoidea spratti. The Ta' Nanas area also houses a relatively large but localised population of the sub-endemic Scilla sicula, as well as fairly extensive patches dominated by Brachypodium retusum. The phrygana communities of Ta' Ċenċ extend throughout the northern escarpment that defines the northern boundary of the area, from Fuq tal-Gruwa to Il-Ħamra, extending partly to Il-Qortin iż-Żghir. This habitat type is characterised by Anthyllis hermanniae and labiate shrubs, particularly Thymbra capitata. Anthyllis hermanniae also occurs in other areas, as at Ix-Xagħra l-Kbira, but does not characterise the habitat type, which is mostly typified by various annuals and other plants typical of the Mediterranean xeric grasslands, but also including andropogonid grasses, as Hyparrhenia hirta. These xeric grassland habitats can be found nearly throughout the entire Ta' Ċenċ area, although the status of its distribution and conservation varies. The areas near Il-Qortin iż-Żghir and Ta' Nanas host grasslands in a good conservation status, whereas the grasslands in other areas, such as at Ix-Xagħra and Il-Qortin il-Kbir, are more disturbed. Thermo-Mediterranean and pre-desert scrub communities are particularly well-developed in the area, these being often characterised by dense populations of Euphorbia dendroides. The community within this site represents one of the best examples throughout the Maltese Islands and is deemed to be at a highly favourable conservation status, conferring a high ecological value and uniqueness to this habitat type in the area. This habitat type occurs on the extensive karstic plateau at Il-Qortin il-Kbir, at the headwaters of Wied Sabbara and at Il-Blat ta' Psaila. On the western valley-sides of Wied Sabbara, this habitat type occurs in conjunction with Hypericum aegypticum; such assemblage is usually referred to as phrygana, but requires further studies as to its distinction from pre-desert scrub and other similar habitat types. The temporary rainwater rock pools occur scattered all over the area, depending on karstic depressions and rainfall. Examples of such communities are found in the areas of Ta' l-Għadira, Il-Qortin il-Kbir and Il-Qortin iż-Żghir, and include an array of threatened vascular flora, including chandelier algae/stoneworts (Charophyta species), Elatine gussonei (Annex II Habitats Directive), Damasonium bourgaei, Ranunculus saniculaefolius, and Zannichellia melitensis, fairy shrimps (Branchipus sp./spp.) as well as the amphibian Discoglossus pictus (Annex IV Habitats Directive). Vegetated sea cliffs of the Mediterranean coasts with endemic Limonium spp. and calcareous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation, are both associated with coastal limestone cliffs, and occur as a mosaic of natural habitats throughout the belt of coastal cliffs extending from Ta' Ċenċ to Il-Bajja ta' Mġarr ix-Xini. The cliffs at Ta' Ċenċ support a very important rupestral maritime community with a variety of species that are otherwise rare across the Maltese Islands. Such species include Atriplex lanfrancoi, Cheirolophus crassifolius, Matthiola incana ssp. melitensis and Hyoseris frutescens, all threatened Maltese endemic cliff species. The assemblage is also based on other endemics and species with a restricted distribution in the Mediterranean, including Limonium melitense, Salsola melitensis, Hypericum aegypticum, Crucianella rupestris, Daucus rupestris and Senecio leucanthemifolius. In addition, Coronilla valentina s.l. and Echium sabulicola, two species rare on the national scale, also grow at Ta' Ċenċ and Ras in-Newwiela respectively. In this respect, it should be noted that the cliff of Ta' Ċenċ support the best known population of the Annex II (Habitats Directive) species Cheirolophus crassifolius in the island of Gozo (this species is rare on the island of Gozo). Footpaths in the area in general house an interesting assemblage of plant species, particularly within the area of Wied Sabbara, where Evax pygmaea, Romulea spp., Moraea sisyrinchium, Plantago coronopus s.l., Euphorbia exigua s.l. and Filago cossyrensis occur. |