Boreo-alpine fern snowbed grassland

English name: Boreo-alpine fern snowbed grassland

Description (English)

Acidophilous snowbed communities of alpine and arcto-alpine levels of the Fennoscandian mountains, of Iceland and of the Scottish Highlands dominated by ferns, characteristic of screes with prolonged snow cover, related to the tall-herb communities of unit E5.5. Cryptogramma crispa, Athyrium distentifolium (Athyrium alpestre), Athyrium filix-femina, Dryopteris expansa (Dryopteris assimilis) or Dryopteris filix-mas can dominate the communities. Galium saxatile, Calamagrostis purpurea, Barbilophozia floerkii, Polytrichum alpinum are among the associates.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type code E4.14

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Not available

Species mentioned in habitat description

Ferns Athyrium distentifolium
Ferns Athyrium filix-femina
Ferns Cryptogramma crispa
Ferns Dryopteris assimilis
Ferns Dryopteris expansa
Ferns Dryopteris filix-mas
Flowering Plants Galium saxatile
Species scientific name English common name Species group
Athyrium distentifolium Ferns
Athyrium filix-femina Ferns
Cryptogramma crispa Ferns
Dryopteris assimilis Ferns
Dryopteris expansa Ferns
Dryopteris filix-mas Ferns
Galium saxatile Flowering Plants

Other classifications

Classification Code Habitat type name Relationship type
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 200112 36.1125 Boreo-alpine fern snowbed communities source
CORINE Land Cover 3.3.3. Sparsely vegetated areas n/a
National Vegetation Classification (UK) U18 Cryptogramma crispa-Athyrium distentifolium snow-bed narrower
For relation to plant communities (syntaxa), see Vegetation types

History

Classification Code Habitat type name Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 E4.14 Boreo-alpine fern snowbed grassland same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 E4.14 Boreo-alpine fern snow-bed grassland same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 E4.14 Boreo-alpine fern snow-bed grassland same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 E4.14 Boreo-alpine fern snow-bed communities same
European Environment Agency (EEA)
Kongens Nytorv 6
1050 Copenhagen K
Denmark
Phone: +45 3336 7100