Oceanic to subcontinental inland sand grassland on dry acid and neutral soils
Description (English)
Moderately open to closed grassland on nutrient-poor sandy soils, mostly acid to neutral though sometimes calcareous, on plains, river terraces and cliffs through the lowlands and submontane belts of temperate Europe. Narrow-leaved, tussocky graminoids dominate, associated herbs can be numerous and more open swards can have rich annual and cryptogam floras. Across the wide range, there is considerable variety among the dominants and companions, and the extreme topoclimate can provide a western outpost for steppe elements.
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
| EUNIS habitat type | code R1P |
|---|---|
| Relation to | Resolution 4 habitat type (used for designation of Emerald sites) |
Legal status
Relation to other habitat types mentioned in legal instruments
Vegetation types
Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)
Not availableIndicator species
Mosses & Liverworts
Brachythecium albicans
Flowering Plants
Trifolium arvense
Flowering Plants
Cerastium semidecandrum
Flowering Plants
Pilosella officinarum
Flowering Plants
Rumex acetosella
Flowering Plants
Jasione montana
Flowering Plants
Corynephorus canescens
Mosses & Liverworts
Polytrichum piliferum
Mosses & Liverworts
Ceratodon purpureus
Flowering Plants
Artemisia campestris
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Brachythecium albicans | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Trifolium arvense | Flowering Plants | |
| Cerastium semidecandrum | Flowering Plants | |
| Pilosella officinarum | Flowering Plants | |
| Rumex acetosella | Flowering Plants | |
| Jasione montana | Flowering Plants | |
| Corynephorus canescens | Flowering Plants | |
| Polytrichum piliferum | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Ceratodon purpureus | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Artemisia campestris | Flowering Plants |
Flowering Plants
Rumex acetosella
Flowering Plants
Pilosella officinarum
Flowering Plants
Agrostis capillaris
Flowering Plants
Trifolium arvense
Flowering Plants
Hypochaeris radicata
Flowering Plants
Jasione montana
Flowering Plants
Achillea millefolium
Mosses & Liverworts
Ceratodon purpureus
Flowering Plants
Plantago lanceolata
Flowering Plants
Artemisia campestris
Flowering Plants
Corynephorus canescens
Flowering Plants
Festuca ovina
Mosses & Liverworts
Polytrichum piliferum
Flowering Plants
Sedum acre
Flowering Plants
Cerastium semidecandrum
Flowering Plants
Potentilla argentea
Flowering Plants
Arenaria serpyllifolia
Flowering Plants
Hypericum perforatum
Flowering Plants
Thymus serpyllum
Flowering Plants
Poa pratensis
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rumex acetosella | Flowering Plants | |
| Pilosella officinarum | Flowering Plants | |
| Agrostis capillaris | Flowering Plants | |
| Trifolium arvense | Flowering Plants | |
| Hypochaeris radicata | Flowering Plants | |
| Jasione montana | Flowering Plants | |
| Achillea millefolium | Flowering Plants | |
| Ceratodon purpureus | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Plantago lanceolata | Flowering Plants | |
| Artemisia campestris | Flowering Plants | |
| Corynephorus canescens | Flowering Plants | |
| Festuca ovina | Flowering Plants | |
| Polytrichum piliferum | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Sedum acre | Flowering Plants | |
| Cerastium semidecandrum | Flowering Plants | |
| Potentilla argentea | Flowering Plants | |
| Arenaria serpyllifolia | Flowering Plants | |
| Hypericum perforatum | Flowering Plants | |
| Thymus serpyllum | Flowering Plants | |
| Poa pratensis | Flowering Plants |
Flowering Plants
Festuca ovina
Flowering Plants
Pilosella officinarum
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 ovina | Flowering Plants | |
| Pilosella officinarum | Flowering Plants |
Other classifications
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) | E1.9 | Open non-Mediterranean dry acid and neutral grassland, including inland dune grassland | narrower |
| European Red List of Habitats | E1.9a | Oceanic to subcontinental inland sand grassland on dry acid and neutral soils | same |
History
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | E1.9 | Non-Mediterranean dry acid and neutral open grassland, including inland dune grassland | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | E1.9 | Non-Mediterranean dry acid and neutral open grassland, including inland dune grassland | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | E1.9 | Non-Mediterranean dry acid and neutral open grassland, including inland dune grassland | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | E1.9 | Dry, open perennial and annual siliceous grassland, including inland dune grassland | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 | E1.9 | Dry, open perennial and annual siliceous grassland | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | E1.22 | Dry, open perennial and annual siliceous grassland | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 | 35.2 | Medio-European open siliceous grasslands | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 | 35.2 | Medio-European open siliceous grasslands | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 | 35.2 | same | ||
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 | 35.2 | same | ||
| CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991 | 35.2 | same | ||
| CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989 | 35.2 | same |
