EUNIS habitat classification 2017 > R - Grasslands and lands dominated by forbs, mosses or lichens > R1 - Dry grasslands > R1B - Continental dry grassland (true steppe)

Continental dry grassland (true steppe)

Description (English)

Steppe and steppe-like grassland on mostly base-rich soils over limestones, of varying depth and stoniness, occurring through the lowland to submontane belts of continental Europe. Dominated by plants adapted to long periods of summer drought, mostly tall tussock grasses and perennial forbs, it shows wide variation in species composition and particular topographic location across the substantial range. In more extreme situations, the grasslands are natural, but they often sustain extensive grazing.
Remark: This habitat also includes many dry grasslands that are not

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type	code R1B
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)	* Sub-Pannonic steppic grasslands	6240	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)	* Pannonic loess steppic grasslands	6250	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)	* Ponto-sarmatic steppes	62C0	Wider	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 Festuca valesiaca

Flowering Plants Stipa capillata

Flowering Plants Bothriochloa ischaemum

Flowering Plants Medicago falcata

Flowering Plants Salvia nemorosa

Flowering Plants Artemisia austriaca

Flowering Plants Eryngium campestre

Flowering Plants Verbascum phoeniceum

Flowering Plants Galatella villosa

Flowering Plants Centaurea stoebe

Flowering Plants Potentilla argentea

Flowering Plants Falcaria vulgaris

Flowering Plants Nonea pulla

Flowering Plants Taraxacum serotinum

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
Festuca valesiaca		Flowering Plants
Stipa capillata		Flowering Plants
Bothriochloa ischaemum		Flowering Plants
Medicago falcata		Flowering Plants
Salvia nemorosa		Flowering Plants
Artemisia austriaca		Flowering Plants
Eryngium campestre		Flowering Plants
Verbascum phoeniceum		Flowering Plants
Galatella villosa		Flowering Plants
Centaurea stoebe		Flowering Plants
Potentilla argentea		Flowering Plants
Falcaria vulgaris		Flowering Plants
Nonea pulla		Flowering Plants
Taraxacum serotinum		Flowering Plants

Flowering Plants Festuca valesiaca

Flowering Plants Eryngium campestre

Flowering Plants Medicago falcata

Flowering Plants Stipa capillata

Flowering Plants Bothriochloa ischaemum

Flowering Plants Galium verum

Flowering Plants Artemisia austriaca

Flowering Plants Teucrium chamaedrys

Flowering Plants Poa pratensis

Flowering Plants Plantago lanceolata

Flowering Plants Potentilla argentea

Flowering Plants Poa bulbosa

Flowering Plants Euphorbia cyparissias

Flowering Plants Centaurea stoebe

Flowering Plants Thymus pulegioides

Flowering Plants Achillea millefolium

Flowering Plants Asperula cynanchica

Flowering Plants Koeleria pyramidata

Flowering Plants Koeleria macrantha

Flowering Plants Falcaria vulgaris

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
Festuca valesiaca		Flowering Plants
Eryngium campestre		Flowering Plants
Medicago falcata		Flowering Plants
Stipa capillata		Flowering Plants
Bothriochloa ischaemum		Flowering Plants
Galium verum		Flowering Plants
Artemisia austriaca		Flowering Plants
Teucrium chamaedrys		Flowering Plants
Poa pratensis		Flowering Plants
Plantago lanceolata		Flowering Plants
Potentilla argentea		Flowering Plants
Poa bulbosa		Flowering Plants
Euphorbia cyparissias		Flowering Plants
Centaurea stoebe		Flowering Plants
Thymus pulegioides		Flowering Plants
Achillea millefolium		Flowering Plants
Asperula cynanchica		Flowering Plants
Koeleria pyramidata		Flowering Plants
Koeleria macrantha		Flowering Plants
Falcaria vulgaris		Flowering Plants

Flowering Plants Festuca valesiaca

Flowering Plants Bothriochloa ischaemum

Flowering Plants Stipa capillata

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
Festuca valesiaca		Flowering Plants
Bothriochloa ischaemum		Flowering Plants
Stipa capillata		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)	E1.2	Perennial calcareous grassland and basic steppes	narrower
European Red List of Habitats	E1.2b	Continental dry steppe	same

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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Sections

Continental dry grassland (true steppe)

Description (English)

Quick facts

Legal status

Relation to other habitat types mentioned in legal instruments

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Indicator species

Other classifications

History