Heavy-metal grassland in Western and Central Europe
Description (English)
Short open sward with a distinctive metallophyte component, occurring on shallow, skeletal soils over natural rock exposures with heavy metals in western and Central Europe, on mine spoil or ground contaminated by dust and waters from such sources. Typically it occurs in small patches in the landscapes, colonising slowly and sustained by the extreme environment. Sometimes it is dependent on grazing by wild herbivores that maintain early successional stages that are richer in cryptogams.
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
| EUNIS habitat type | code R1S |
|---|---|
| Relation to | Annex I habitat types (EU Habitats Directive) |
| 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
Flowering Plants
Viola calaminaria
Flowering Plants
Noccaea caerulescens
Flowering Plants
Minuartia verna
Fungi
Cladonia furcata
Fungi
Cladonia pyxidata
Mosses & Liverworts
Weissia controversa
Flowering Plants
Campanula rotundifolia
Flowering Plants
Silene vulgaris
Flowering Plants
Pimpinella saxifraga
Flowering Plants
Arabidopsis halleri
Fungi
Cladonia macilenta
Flowering Plants
Euphrasia stricta
Flowering Plants
Rumex acetosa
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Viola calaminaria | Flowering Plants | |
| Noccaea caerulescens | Flowering Plants | |
| Minuartia verna | Flowering Plants | |
| Cladonia furcata | Fungi | |
| Cladonia pyxidata | Fungi | |
| Weissia controversa | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Campanula rotundifolia | Flowering Plants | |
| Silene vulgaris | Flowering Plants | |
| Pimpinella saxifraga | Flowering Plants | |
| Arabidopsis halleri | Flowering Plants | |
| Cladonia macilenta | Fungi | |
| Euphrasia stricta | Flowering Plants | |
| Rumex acetosa | Flowering Plants |
Flowering Plants
Minuartia verna
Flowering Plants
Silene vulgaris
Flowering Plants
Festuca ovina
Flowering Plants
Campanula rotundifolia
Flowering Plants
Agrostis capillaris
Flowering Plants
Rumex acetosa
Fungi
Cladonia pyxidata
Flowering Plants
Pimpinella saxifraga
Fungi
Cladonia furcata
Flowering Plants
Viola calaminaria
Flowering Plants
Thymus pulegioides
Flowering Plants
Avenella flexuosa
Flowering Plants
Plantago lanceolata
Flowering Plants
Noccaea caerulescens
Mosses & Liverworts
Ceratodon purpureus
Flowering Plants
Potentilla erecta
Flowering Plants
Polygala vulgaris
Flowering Plants
Molinia caerulea
Flowering Plants
Lotus corniculatus
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Minuartia verna | Flowering Plants | |
| Silene vulgaris | Flowering Plants | |
| Festuca ovina | Flowering Plants | |
| Campanula rotundifolia | Flowering Plants | |
| Agrostis capillaris | Flowering Plants | |
| Rumex acetosa | Flowering Plants | |
| Cladonia pyxidata | Fungi | |
| Pimpinella saxifraga | Flowering Plants | |
| Cladonia furcata | Fungi | |
| Viola calaminaria | Flowering Plants | |
| Thymus pulegioides | Flowering Plants | |
| Avenella flexuosa | Flowering Plants | |
| Plantago lanceolata | Flowering Plants | |
| Noccaea caerulescens | Flowering Plants | |
| Ceratodon purpureus | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Potentilla erecta | Flowering Plants | |
| Polygala vulgaris | Flowering Plants | |
| Molinia caerulea | Flowering Plants | |
| Lotus corniculatus | Flowering Plants |
Flowering Plants
Festuca ovina
Flowering Plants
Minuartia verna
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 | |
| Minuartia verna | Flowering Plants |
Other classifications
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) | E1.B | Heavy-metal grassland | same |
| European Red List of Habitats | E1.B | Heavy-metal grassland in Western and Central Europe | same |
History
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | E1.B | Heavy-metal grassland | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | E1.B | Heavy-metal grassland | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | E1.B | Heavy-metal grassland | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | E1.B | Heavy-metal grassland | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 | E1.B | Lowland heavy-metal grassland | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | E1.4 | Lowland heavy-metal grassland | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 | 34.2 | Heavy metal grasslands | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 | 34.2 | Heavy metal grasslands | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 | 34.2 | same | ||
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 | 34.2 | same | ||
| CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991 | 34.2 | same | ||
| CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989 | 34.2 | same |
