EUNIS habitat classification 2017 > N - Coastal habitats > N1 - Coastal dunes and sandy shores > N19 - Atlantic coastal Calluna and Ulex heath

Atlantic coastal Calluna and Ulex heath

Description (English)

Heath on stable, decalcified, sharply-draining dune sands along the warmer, more humid Atlantic coast of Europe, dominated by Calluna vulgaris, Erica spp., Ulex spp. or other low spiny legumes, often with a strong contingent of grasses and sedges. Persistent where wind-exposure or light grazing prevent succession to scrub or woodland.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type code N19
Relation to Resolution 4 habitat type (used for designation of Emerald sites)

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Not available

Indicator species

Diagnostic species
Constant species
Dominant species
Flowering Plants Erica cinerea
Flowering Plants Calluna vulgaris
Flowering Plants Scilla verna
Flowering Plants Carex arenaria
Flowering Plants Ulex europaeus
Flowering Plants Danthonia decumbens

Diagnostic species occur concentrated in the habitat in question, but are absent or rare in other habitats. They are good positive indicators of the habitat, but they do not need to occur in every location of the habitat.

Species scientific name English common name Species group
Erica cinerea Flowering Plants
Calluna vulgaris Flowering Plants
Scilla verna Flowering Plants
Carex arenaria Flowering Plants
Ulex europaeus Flowering Plants
Danthonia decumbens Flowering Plants
Flowering Plants Calluna vulgaris
Flowering Plants Erica cinerea
Flowering Plants Carex arenaria
Flowering Plants Agrostis capillaris
Flowering Plants Potentilla erecta
Flowering Plants Festuca ovina
Flowering Plants Danthonia decumbens
Flowering Plants Lotus corniculatus
Flowering Plants Hypochaeris radicata
Flowering Plants Anthoxanthum odoratum
Flowering Plants Ulex europaeus
Mosses & Liverworts Dicranum scoparium
Flowering Plants Viola riviniana
Flowering Plants Pilosella officinarum
Flowering Plants Leontodon saxatilis
Flowering Plants Plantago lanceolata
Flowering Plants Dactylis glomerata
Flowering Plants Jasione montana

Constant species occur frequently in the habitat, but they may include generalist species that are also frequent in other habitats.

Species scientific name English common name Species group
Calluna vulgaris Flowering Plants
Erica cinerea Flowering Plants
Carex arenaria Flowering Plants
Agrostis capillaris Flowering Plants
Potentilla erecta Flowering Plants
Festuca ovina Flowering Plants
Danthonia decumbens Flowering Plants
Lotus corniculatus Flowering Plants
Hypochaeris radicata Flowering Plants
Anthoxanthum odoratum Flowering Plants
Ulex europaeus Flowering Plants
Dicranum scoparium Mosses & Liverworts
Viola riviniana Flowering Plants
Pilosella officinarum Flowering Plants
Leontodon saxatilis Flowering Plants
Plantago lanceolata Flowering Plants
Dactylis glomerata Flowering Plants
Jasione montana Flowering Plants
Flowering Plants Calluna vulgaris
Flowering Plants Erica cinerea
Flowering Plants Ulex europaeus
Flowering Plants Ulex minor
Flowering Plants Erica vagans

Dominant species are those that often reach high cover in the habitat, thus determining the habitat physiognomy.

Species scientific name English common name Species group
Calluna vulgaris Flowering Plants
Erica cinerea Flowering Plants
Ulex europaeus Flowering Plants
Ulex minor Flowering Plants
Erica vagans Flowering Plants

Please note that a maximum of 20 species of each indicator category is shown.

Other classifications

Classification Code Habitat type name Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) B1.5 Coastal dune heaths narrower
European Red List of Habitats B1.5b Atlantic coastal Calluna and Ulex heath same
For relation to plant communities (syntaxa), see Vegetation types

History

Classification Code Habitat type name Relationship type Comment
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 B1.5 Coastal dune heaths same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 B1.5 Coastal dune heaths same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 B1.5 Coastal dune heaths same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 B1.5 Coastal dune heaths same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 B1.5 Coastal dune heaths same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 16.24 Heather brown dunes narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 16.23 Crowberry brown dunes narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 16.23 Crowberry brown dunes narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 16.24 Heather brown dunes narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 16.23   narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 16.24   narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 16.23   narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 16.24   narrower
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991 16.24   narrower
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991 16.23   narrower
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989 16.24   narrower
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989 16.23   narrower
European Environment Agency (EEA)
Kongens Nytorv 6
1050 Copenhagen K
Denmark
Phone: +45 3336 7100

Engineered by: EEA Web Team

Template version: EEA Plone KGS 19.4.17

Template updated on 22 April 2019 12:33 from version 19.4.15

Creative Commons Attribution License Site usage Code for developers

The European Environment Agency (EEA) is an agency of the European Union.
Legal notice EU flag