EUNIS habitat classification 2017 > R - Grasslands and lands dominated by forbs, mosses or lichens > R1 - Dry grasslands > R1A - Semi-dry perennial calcareous grassland (meadow steppe)

Semi-dry perennial calcareous grassland (meadow steppe)

Description (English)

Semi-natural grassland on deeper and not so drought-prone, nutrient-poor, base-rich soils over limestone throughout the lowlands and submontane belts of submediterranean to hemiboreal Europe. Generally closed and dominated by mixtures of graminoids and forbs, often extremely species-rich, with many rare plants and sometimes striking contingents of orchids and varying much across the large range with different sets of continental or submediterranean companions. Dependent on extensive grazing, usually with sheep, or on an annual mowing, and often developed over centuries of traditional pastoralism, contributing to some striking cultural landscapes.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type	code R1A
Relation to	Resolution 4 habitat type (used for designation of Emerald sites)

Legal status

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
Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats	Revised Annex I of Resolution 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention on endangered natural habitats types using the EUNIS habitat classification (year of revision 2010)	Semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates (Festuco-Brometalia) ( * important orchid sites)	6210	Overlap	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]
Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats	Revised Annex I of Resolution 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention on endangered natural habitats types using the EUNIS habitat classification (year of revision 2010)	Nordic alvar and precambrian calcareous flatrocks	6280	Overlap	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]
Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats	Revised Annex I of Resolution 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention on endangered natural habitats types using the EUNIS habitat classification (year of revision 2010)	Eastern sub-mediterranean dry grasslands (Scorzoneratalia villosae)	62A0	Overlap	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]
Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats	Revised Annex I of Resolution 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention on endangered natural habitats types using the EUNIS habitat classification (year of revision 2010)	Perennial calcareous grassland and basic steppes	E1.2	Narrower	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]

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Not available

Indicator species

Diagnostic species

Constant species

Dominant species

Flowering Plants Plantago media

Flowering Plants Trifolium montanum

Flowering Plants Linum catharticum

Flowering Plants Pimpinella saxifraga

Flowering Plants Salvia pratensis

Flowering Plants Centaurea scabiosa

Flowering Plants Cirsium acaulon

Flowering Plants Galium verum

Flowering Plants Briza media

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
Plantago media		Flowering Plants
Trifolium montanum		Flowering Plants
Linum catharticum		Flowering Plants
Pimpinella saxifraga		Flowering Plants
Salvia pratensis		Flowering Plants
Centaurea scabiosa		Flowering Plants
Cirsium acaulon		Flowering Plants
Galium verum		Flowering Plants
Briza media		Flowering Plants

Flowering Plants Lotus corniculatus

Flowering Plants Sanguisorba minor

Flowering Plants Galium verum

Flowering Plants Achillea millefolium

Flowering Plants Plantago lanceolata

Flowering Plants Brachypodium pinnatum

Flowering Plants Briza media

Flowering Plants Euphorbia cyparissias

Flowering Plants Plantago media

Flowering Plants Pimpinella saxifraga

Flowering Plants Poa pratensis

Flowering Plants Bromopsis erecta

Flowering Plants Linum catharticum

Flowering Plants Pilosella officinarum

Flowering Plants Dactylis glomerata

Flowering Plants Helianthemum nummularium

Flowering Plants Carex flacca

Flowering Plants Teucrium chamaedrys

Flowering Plants Hypericum perforatum

Flowering Plants Thymus pulegioides

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
Lotus corniculatus		Flowering Plants
Sanguisorba minor		Flowering Plants
Galium verum		Flowering Plants
Achillea millefolium		Flowering Plants
Plantago lanceolata		Flowering Plants
Brachypodium pinnatum		Flowering Plants
Briza media		Flowering Plants
Euphorbia cyparissias		Flowering Plants
Plantago media		Flowering Plants
Pimpinella saxifraga		Flowering Plants
Poa pratensis		Flowering Plants
Bromopsis erecta		Flowering Plants
Linum catharticum		Flowering Plants
Pilosella officinarum		Flowering Plants
Dactylis glomerata		Flowering Plants
Helianthemum nummularium		Flowering Plants
Carex flacca		Flowering Plants
Teucrium chamaedrys		Flowering Plants
Hypericum perforatum		Flowering Plants
Thymus pulegioides		Flowering Plants

Flowering Plants Brachypodium pinnatum

Flowering Plants Bromopsis erecta

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
Brachypodium pinnatum		Flowering Plants
Bromopsis erecta		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)	E2.5	Meadows of the steppe zone	wider
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012)	E1.2	Perennial calcareous grassland and basic steppes	narrower
European Red List of Habitats	E1.2a	Semi-dry perennial calcareous grassland	same

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

History

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	E2.5	Meadows of the steppe zone	same
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 200308	E2.5	Meadows of the steppe zone	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	E1.2	Perennial calcareous grassland and basic steppes	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	E2.5	Meadows of the steppe zone	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	E2.5	Meadows of the steppe zone	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 199811	E2.5	Meadows of the steppe zone	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712	E1.11	Perennial calcareous grassland	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712	E3.6	Steppe meadows	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905	34.A	Sand steppes	narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905	34.3	Dense perennial grasslands and middle European steppes	narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905	38.6	Steppe meadows	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905	34.9	Continental 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 1997	38.6	Steppe meadows	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996	34.3		narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996	38.6		same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993	38.6		same
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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