Moist or wet oligotrophic grassland

English name: Moist or wet oligotrophic grassland

Description (English)

Grasslands on wet, nutrient-poor, often peaty soils, of the boreal, nemoral and steppe zones. Includes coarse acid grassland dominated by Molinia caerulea and shorter wet heathy grasslands with Juncus squarrosus, Nardus stricta and Scirpus cespitosus.

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

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type code E3.5
Bern Convention Resolution 4 habitat type (used for designation of Emerald sites)
Relation to Annex I habitat types (EU Habitats Directive)

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Name Definition Alternatives Reftext
Molinion caeruleae Koch 1926 Wet grass-rich unfertilised meadows at low-altitudes of temperate Europe Juncion acutiflori Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl. et al. 1947; Molinio-Juncion acutiflori Duvigneaud 1949; Junco subuliflori-Molinion Westhoff in Westhoff et Den Held 1969; Polygono bistortae-Juncion acutiflori de Foucault et Géhu 1980; Juncion acutiflori Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl. et Tüxen 1952 Schaminee et al, 2012
Nardo-Juncion squarrosi (Oberd. 1957) Passarge 1964 Hygrophilous oligotrophic meadows on peaty soils of subatlantic regions of Western and Central Europe Juncion squarrosi Oberd. 1978 Schaminee et al, 2012
Caricion fuscae Koch 1926 Fen meadows with dominating sedges and forbs on non-calcareous soils of temperate Europe and high-altitudes of Mediterranean Caricion canescenti-fuscae Nordhagen 1936 nom. mut. propos.; Agrostio caninae-Caricion curtae Julve 1993; Anagallido tenellae-Juncion bulbosi Br.-Bl. 1967; Calamagrostion neglectae Palczynski 1975; Carici-Nardion V. Randelovic 1998; Carici-Narthecion scardici Horvat 1936; Caricion canescenti-fuscae Nordhagen ex Tx. 1937; Caricion canescenti-goodenowii Nordhagen 1936; Caricion canescenti-goodenowii Nordhagen 1937; Caricion nigrae Koch 1926 nom. mut. propos.; Comaro palustris-Juncion effusi Passarge 1999; Drepanocladion exannulati Krajina 1933; Drepanocladion exannulati Krajina 1934; Eriophorion scheuchzeri Hadac 1939; Narthecion scardici Horvat 1936; Narthecion scardici Horvat 1960; Narthecion scardici Horvat ex Lakušic 1968; Narthecion scardici Horvat ex Lakušic 1970; Ranunculo-Caricion fuscae Passarge 1978; Rhynchosporion albae Koch 1926 nom. dubium propos.; Sphagnion teretis Succow 1974; Caricion canescenti-nigrae Nordhagen ex Tx. 1937 nom. mut. propos.; Anagallido tenellae-Juncion acutiflori Br.-Bl. 1967 nom. corr. propos.; Caricion curto-nigrae (Koch 1926) Westhoff et Den Held 1969; Parvocaricion canescentis-fuscae Duvigneaud et Vanden Berghen 1945; Caricion canescenti-nigrae Nordhagen 1936 nom. mut. propos. Schaminee et al, 2012

Species mentioned in habitat description

Flowering Plants Juncus squarrosus
Flowering Plants Molinia caerulea
Flowering Plants Nardus stricta
Flowering Plants Scirpus cespitosus
Species scientific name English common name Species group
Juncus squarrosus Flowering Plants
Molinia caerulea Flowering Plants
Nardus stricta Flowering Plants
Scirpus cespitosus Flowering Plants

Other classifications

Classification Code Habitat type name Relationship type
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 200112 37.3 Oligotrophic humid grasslands same
CORINE Land Cover 3.2.1. Natural grassland n/a
Phase 1 habitat classification (UK) 1993 B11 Acid grassland: unimproved overlap
Phase 1 habitat classification (UK) 1993 B12 Acid grassland: semi-improved overlap
Phase 1 habitat classification (UK) 1993 B5 Marsh/marshy grassland overlap
Biodiversity Broad Habitat Classification (UK) 8 Acid grassland overlap
Biodiversity Broad Habitat Classification (UK) 11 Fen, marsh and swamp overlap
Milieux Naturels de Suisse 1998 2.3.1 Prairie à molinie narrower
For relation to plant communities (syntaxa), see Vegetation types

History

Classification Code Habitat type name Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 E3.5 Moist or wet oligotrophic grassland same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 E3.5 Moist or wet oligotrophic grassland same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 E3.5 Moist or wet oligotrophic grassland same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 E3.5 Moist or wet oligotrophic grassland same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 E3.5 Moist or wet oligotrophic grassland same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 E2.5 Moist or wet acid or oligotrophic grassland same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 37.3 Oligotrophic humid grasslands same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 37.3 Oligotrophic humid grasslands same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 37.3   same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 37.3   same
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991 37.3   same
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989 37.3   same
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