European dry heaths

Description (English)

Mesophile or xerophile heaths on siliceous, podsolic soils in moist Atlantic and sub-Atlantic climates of plains and low mountains of Western, Central and Northern Europe.
The following subtypes are included:
Pal. 31.21 Submontane Vaccinium-Calluna heaths. Calluno-Genistion pilosae p. (Vaccinion vitis-idaeae p.): Vaccinio myrtilli-Callunetum s.l. i.a.
Heaths rich in Vaccinium spp., usually with Calluna vulgaris, of the northern and western British Isles, the Hercynian ranges and the lower levels of the Alps, the Carpathians, the Pyrenees and the Cordillera Cantabrica.
Pal. 31.22 Sub-Atlantic Calluna-Genista heaths. Calluno-Genistion pilosae p.
Low Calluna heaths often rich in Genista, mostly of the Germano-Baltic lowlands. Similar formations occurring in British upland areas, montane zones of high mountains of the western Mediterranean basin and high rainfall Adriatic influenced areas are most conveniently listed here.
Pal. 31.23 Atlantic Erica-Ulex heaths. Ulicenion minoris; Daboecenion cantabricae p.; Ulicion maritimae p.
Heaths rich in gorse (Ulex) of the Atlantic margins.
Pal. 31.24 Ibero-Atlantic Erica-Ulex-Cistus heaths. Daboecenion cantabricae p.; Ericenion umbellatae p., Ericenion aragonensis; Ulicion maritimae p.; Genistion micrantho-anglicae p.
Aquitanian heaths with rock-roses. Iberian heaths with numerous species of heathers (notably Erica umbellata, Erica aragonensis) and brooms, rock-roses and often Daboecia. When the rock-roses and other Mediterranean shrubs become dominant they should be classified under sclerophyllous scrubs (Pal. 32).
Pal. 31.25 Boreo-Atlantic Erica cinerea heaths.