EUNIS habitat classification 2012 amended 2019 > E - Grasslands and lands dominated by forbs, mosses or lichens > E1 - Dry grasslands > E1.2 - Perennial calcareous grassland and basic steppes

Perennial calcareous grassland and basic steppes

English name: Perennial calcareous grassland and basic steppes

Description (English)

Perennial grasslands, often nutrient-poor and species-rich, on calcareous and other basic soils of the nemoral and steppe zones and of adjacent parts of the subboreal and submediterranean zones. Includes the calcareous grasslands of central and western Europe, alvar grasslands of the Baltic region, and basic grasslands of the steppe zone. Vegetation communities of Festuco-Brometea.

Source:
EUNIS habitat classification
Interpretation Manual of the habitats targeted by Resolution No. 4

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type	code E1.2
Bern Convention	Resolution 4 habitat type (used for designation of Emerald sites)
Relation to	Annex I habitat types (EU Habitats Directive)

Legal status

Mentioned in the following international legal instruments and agreements

Legal text	Annex	More information
Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats (Bern Convention)	Revised Annex I of Resolution 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention on endangered natural habitats types using the EUNIS habitat classification (year of revision 2014)	https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc....ckColorLogged=FDC864 Resolution No. 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention lists endangered natural habitats requiring specific conservation measures [and the designation of Areas of Special Conservation Interest (ASCIs) forming the Emerald network]

Relation to other habitat types mentioned in legal instruments

Legal text	Annex	Name in legal text	Code in legal text	Habitat type relationship	More information
Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora - consolidated version 01/01/2007	Annex I: natural habitat types of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation	Rupicolous pannonic grasslands (Stipo-Festucetalia pallentis)	6190	Wider	http://ec.europa.eu/environm...rective/index_en.htm
Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora - consolidated version 01/01/2007	Annex I: natural habitat types of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation	Semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates (Festuco-Brometalia) (* important orchid sites)	6210	Wider
Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora - consolidated version 01/01/2007	Annex I: natural habitat types of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation	Sub-Pannonic steppic grasslands	6240	Wider
Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora - consolidated version 01/01/2007	Annex I: natural habitat types of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation	Pannonic loess steppic grasslands	6250	Wider
Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora - consolidated version 01/01/2007	Annex I: natural habitat types of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation	Pannonic sand steppes	6260	Wider
Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora - consolidated version 01/01/2007	Annex I: natural habitat types of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation	Nordic alvar and precambrian calcareous flatrocks	6280	Wider
Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora - consolidated version 01/01/2007	Annex I: natural habitat types of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation	Ponto-Sarmatic steppes	62C0	Wider

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Name	Definition	Other names	Reference
Adonido vernalis-Stipion tirsae Didukh 1983 nom. inval.	Crimean steppe grasslands and dwarf-scrub at low altitudes of eastern Crimean Mts.		Schaminee et al, 2012
Pimpinello-Thymion zygoidi Dihoru et Donita 1970	Rocky steppic dwarf-shrub rich grasslands of Dobrogea and northeastern Bulgaria		Schaminee et al, 2012
Bromion erecti Koch 1926	Meso-xerophytic basiphilous grasslands in sub-oceanic regions of Western and Central Europe	Bromion erecti Br.-Bl. 1931; Bromion erecti Br.-Bl. 1936; Meso-Festucion Oberd. 1941; Meso-Festucion Oberd. in Krausch 1962; Mesobromion (Br.-Bl. et Moor 1938) Zoller 1954; Mesobromion Oberd. 1949; Seslerio-Mesobromion (Oberd. 1957) Theurillat in Theurillat et Beguin 1985	Schaminee et al, 2012
Veronico multifidae-Stipion ponticae Didukh 1983 nom. inval.	Crimean steppe grasslands and dwarf-scrub northern piedmonts, southeast and central regions of Crimean Mts.		Schaminee et al, 2012
Helictotricho desertori-Stipion rubentis Toman 1969	Continental subxeric steppes of northern Kazakhstan and South Urals region	Scorzonero austriacae-Koelerion sclerophyllae Solomeshch et al. 1994; Aconopogonion alpini Yamalov et Mirkin 2010; Galio-Onosmion simplicissimae Saitov 1989; Orostachyion spinosae Saitov 1989; Lathyro pallescentis-Helictotrichion schelliani Solomeshch et al. 1994; Aconopogonion alpini Yamalov et Zhirnova in Yamalov et al. 2012	Schaminee et al, 2012
Filipendulo vulgaris-Helictotrichion pratensis Dengler et Löbel in Dengler et al. 2003	Meso-xerophilous basiphilous grasslands of southern Baltic alvars and related habitats of northwestern Russia, Denmark and northern Germany	Helianthemo-Globularion Br.-Bl. 1963 nom. dubium p.p.; Anthyllido-Artemision campestris Sunding in Marker 1969	Schaminee et al, 2012
Brachypodion phoenicoidis Br.-Bl. ex Molinier 1934	Submediterranean steppic neutro-basiphikous grasslands on deep mesic soils of Ligurian and Tyrrhenian seaboards	Brachypodion phoenicoidis Br.-Bl. 1931	Schaminee et al, 2012
Carici humilis-Androsacion tauricae Didukh 1983 nom. inval.	Crimean rocky meadow steppes of higher altitudes of eastern Crimean Mts.		Schaminee et al, 2012
Artemisio-Kochion Soó 1964	Relict tardigragal xerophytic relict loess steppes of Pannonian region	Agropyro-Kochion Soó 1959	Schaminee et al, 2012
Gentianello amarellae-Helictotrichion pratensis Royer ex Dengler in Mucina et al. 2009	Meso-xerophilous basiphilous grasslands of northwestern Europe	Gentianello amarellae-Avenulion pratensis Royer 1991; Gentiano amarellae-Avenulion pratensis Royer ex Julve 1993	Schaminee et al, 2012
Stipo-Poion xerophilae Br.-Bl. et Tx. ex Br.-Bl. 1949	Steppic basiphilous fescue and feather grasslands of deep intramontane valleys of Alps	Stipo-Poion molineri Br.-Bl. et Tx. ex Br.-Bl. 1949 nom. mut. propos.; Astragalo-Poion concinnae Br.-Bl. et Tx. 1943; Poo-Festucion vallesiacae Knapp 1942; Stipo-Poion carniolicae Br.-Bl. 1961; Stipo-Poion xerophilae Br.-Bl. et Tx. 1943; Stipo-Poion perconcinnae Br.-Bl. 1961 corr. Julve 1993	Schaminee et al, 2012
Stipion lessingianae Soó 1947	Xeric feather grass and fescue stepeps on deep soils in Transsylvania, Moldova and southwestern Ukraine	Jurineo arachnoideae-Euphorbion stepposae (Dobrescu 1971) Coldea et Sarbu in Coldea 2012; Ceratocarpo-Euphorbion stepposae Mititelu 1970	Schaminee et al, 2012
Tanaceto achilleifolii-Stipion lessingianae Royer ex Lysenko et Mucina 2013	Continental temperate grassl-steppes of dry steppe zone of Volga and Ural River basins	Tanaceto achilleifolii-Artemision santonicae Demina 2011; Tanaceto achilleifolii-Stipion lessingianae Royer 1991	Schaminee et al, 2012
Bassio-Artemision austriacae Solomeshch in Mirkin et al. 1986	Disturbed semi-ruderal steppic grasslands in steppe zone of Ukraine and southeastern Russia	Helictotricho-Ceratocarpion arenarii Saitov 1989	Schaminee et al, 2012
Artemisio marschalliani-Elytrigion intermedii Korotchenko et Didukh 1997	Disturbed semi-ruderal steppic grasslands in forest-steppe zone of Ukraine		Schaminee et al, 2012
Potentillo splendentis-Brachypodion pinnati Br.-Bl. 1967	Meso-xerophilous neutro-basiphilous supratemperate grasslands of submediterranean northern Spain and Pyrenees	Diantho monspessulani-Teucrion pyrenaici Julve in Rameau et al. 1993; Teucrio pyrenaici-Bromion erecti Rivas-Mart., Fernández-González et Loidi 1999; Centaureo nemoralis-Brachypodion pinnati (Br.-Bl. 1967) Géhu et Costa 1974; Festuco-Brachypodion pinnati Nègre 1969; Onobrychidion hispanicae Royer 1991; Bromo erecti-Teucrion pyrenaici Rivas-Mart., Fernández-González et Loidi in Loidi, Biurrun et Herrera 1997; Potentillo montanae-Brachypodion rupestris Br.-Bl. 1967 corr. Rivas-Mart. et al. 2001; Bromo erecti-Teucrion pyrenaici Rivas-Mart. et Costa 1998; Diantho monspessulani-Teucrion pyrenaici Julve 1993; Potentillo montanae-Brachypodion rupestris Br.-Bl. 1967 corr. Rivas-Mart. et al. 2002	Schaminee et al, 2012
Cirsio-Brachypodion pinnati Hadac et Klika in Klika et Hadac ex Klika 1951	Meso-xerophytic basiphilous grasslands in sub-continental regions of Central and southeastern Europe	Carici humilis-Bromion erecti Redžic 1991; Carici humilis-Bromion erecti Redžic 1999; Cirsio acauli-Bromion erecti Redžic 1991; Cirsio acauli-Bromion erecti Redžic 1999; Danthonio-Brachypodion Boscaiu 1970; Danthonio-Festucion sulcatae Csurös et al. 1961; Danthonio-Stipion stenophyllae Ghisa 1947; Danthonio-Stipion stenophyllae Soó 1947; Danthonio-Stipion stenophyllae Soó 1949; Danthonio-Stipion tirsae Soó 1949 corr. 1971; Festucion sulcatae Soó 1929; Festucion sulcatae Soó 1938; Thymo comosi-Festucion sulcatae Pop 1968; Cirsio-Brachypodion pinnati Hadac et Klika in Klika et Hadac 1944; Thymo comosi-Festucion rupicolae Pop 1968 nom. mut. propos.	Schaminee et al, 2012
Caricion stenophyllae Golub et Saveleva 1991	Subhaline steppe grasslands around limans of Lower Volga region in semi-desert zone		Schaminee et al, 2012
Chrysopogono-Danthonion Kojic 1957	Dry grasslands on deep soils over siliceous bedrocks in colline to submontane belts of south-central Balkans		Schaminee et al, 2012
Stipion korshinskyi Toman 1969	Continental temperate xeric steppe of semi-desert zone of northwestern Kazakhstan and neighbouring regions of Russia		Schaminee et al, 2012
Diplachnion serotinae Br.-Bl. 1961	Warm-tenperate acidophilous steppic grasslands of precipitation-rich insubrian summer-rainfall climate on southern rims of Alps		Schaminee et al, 2012
Centaurion sumensis Golub et Uzhametskaya 1992	Continental relict rocky steppes of Middle Volga valley		Schaminee et al, 2012
Agropyrion pectinati Golub et Uzhametskaya 1991	Subhaline steppe grasslands of Middle Volga region in steppe zone		Schaminee et al, 2012
Festucion sulcatae Soó 1930	Subcontinental fescue steppic grasslands of Central Europe, Dobrogea and Ukraine	Astragalo-Stipion Knapp 1944; Caricion humilis-albae Gams 1936; Festuco-Stipion capillatae (Klika 1931) Krausch 1962; Eu-Festucion valesiacae Br.-Bl. et Tx. 1943; Festucion rupicolae Soó 1940 nom. mut. propos.; Festucion valesiacae Klika 1931; Festucion valesiacae-sulcatae Eggler 1952; Festuco-Stipion capillatae Krausch 1959; Verbasco austriaci-Achilleion nobilis Smetana et Derbolyuk 1999	Schaminee et al, 2012
Artemisio tauricae-Festucion Korzhenevsky et Klyukin 1991	Subsaline steppe grasslands on ancient mud-volcanic clay sub-saline deposits of Kerch Peninsula		Schaminee et al, 2012
Polygalo mediterraneae-Bromion erecti (Biondi et al. 2005) Di Pietro et al. 2013	Dry grasslands on deep soils over siliceous bedrocks in colline to submontane and lower montane belts of Apennines		Schaminee et al, 2012
Artemisio albae-Dichanthion ischaemi X. Font ex Rivas-Mart. et M.L. López in Rivas-Mart. et al. 2002	Meso-supratemperate acidophilous steppic grasslands of piedmonts and intramontane valleys of Pyrenees	Artemisio albae-Dichanthion ischaemi X. Font in Rivas-Mart. et al. 2001; Xerobromion acidophile X. Font 1989; Xerobromion thermofile X. Font 1989	Schaminee et al, 2012

Species mentioned in habitat description

Not available

Other classifications

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 200112	34.3	Dense perennial grasslands and middle European steppes	narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 200112	34.9	Continental steppes	narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 200112	34.A	Sand steppes	narrower
CORINE Land Cover	3.2.1.	Natural grassland	n/a
Phase 1 habitat classification (UK) 1993	B31	Calcareous grassland: unimproved	not defined
Phase 1 habitat classification (UK) 1993	B32	Calcareous grassland: semi-improved	not defined
Biodiversity Broad Habitat Classification (UK)	7	Calcareous grassland	wider
Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Habitats (UK)	12	Lowland calcareous grassland	overlap
Milieux Naturels de Suisse 1998	4.2	Pelouses sèches thermophiles	same
Biotopes of Slovakia 1996	3440000	Xerotermné travobylinné biotopy na spraši	n/a

For relation to plant communities (syntaxa), see Vegetation types

History

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	E1.2	Perennial calcareous grassland and basic steppes	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	E1.2	Perennial calcareous grassland and basic steppes	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	E1.2	Perennial calcareous grassland and basic steppes	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	E1.2	Perennial calcareous grassland and basic steppes	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811	E1.2	Perennial calcareous grassland	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712	E1.11	Perennial calcareous grassland	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905	34.3	Dense perennial grasslands and middle European steppes	narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905	34.9	Continental steppes	narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905	34.A	Sand steppes	narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997	34.9	Continental steppes	narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997	34.A	Sand steppes	narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997	34.3	Dense perennial grasslands and middle European steppes	narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996	34.3		narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993	34.3		narrower
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991	34.3		narrower
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989	34.3		narrower

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