Low and medium altitude hay meadow
Description (English)
The most common and widespread kind of traditionally managed meadow in deeper, well-drained mesic soils throughout the lowlands and foothills of temperate Europe, with many local types differing according to regional climate, terrain and mowing traditions. Typically dominated by mixtures of productive grasses and herbs, it can be very species-rich with distinctive scarce and rare plants where traditional regimes of mowing, grazing and manuring are maintained. Often once part of wider agricultural landscapes with associated pastures, it is now widely transformed by shifts to silage production and transitions to intensive silage grasslands are commonplace.
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
| EUNIS habitat type | code R22 |
|---|---|
| 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
Trisetum flavescens
Flowering Plants
Ranunculus acris
Flowering Plants
Rumex acetosa
Flowering Plants
Crepis biennis
Flowering Plants
Leucanthemum vulgare
Flowering Plants
Trifolium pratense
Flowering Plants
Arrhenatherum elatius
Flowering Plants
Plantago lanceolata
Flowering Plants
Achillea millefolium
Flowering Plants
Poa pratensis
Flowering Plants
Alopecurus pratensis
Flowering Plants
Lathyrus pratensis
Flowering Plants
Centaurea jacea
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Trisetum flavescens | Flowering Plants | |
| Ranunculus acris | Flowering Plants | |
| Rumex acetosa | Flowering Plants | |
| Crepis biennis | Flowering Plants | |
| Leucanthemum vulgare | Flowering Plants | |
| Trifolium pratense | Flowering Plants | |
| Arrhenatherum elatius | Flowering Plants | |
| Plantago lanceolata | Flowering Plants | |
| Achillea millefolium | Flowering Plants | |
| Poa pratensis | Flowering Plants | |
| Alopecurus pratensis | Flowering Plants | |
| Lathyrus pratensis | Flowering Plants | |
| Centaurea jacea | Flowering Plants |
Flowering Plants
Plantago lanceolata
Flowering Plants
Dactylis glomerata
Flowering Plants
Festuca rubra
Flowering Plants
Achillea millefolium
Flowering Plants
Trifolium pratense
Flowering Plants
Rumex acetosa
Flowering Plants
Anthoxanthum odoratum
Flowering Plants
Ranunculus acris
Flowering Plants
Poa pratensis
Flowering Plants
Trifolium repens
Flowering Plants
Arrhenatherum elatius
Flowering Plants
Agrostis capillaris
Flowering Plants
Lotus corniculatus
Flowering Plants
Leucanthemum vulgare
Flowering Plants
Galium mollugo
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Plantago lanceolata | Flowering Plants | |
| Dactylis glomerata | Flowering Plants | |
| Festuca rubra | Flowering Plants | |
| Achillea millefolium | Flowering Plants | |
| Trifolium pratense | Flowering Plants | |
| Rumex acetosa | Flowering Plants | |
| Anthoxanthum odoratum | Flowering Plants | |
| Ranunculus acris | Flowering Plants | |
| Poa pratensis | Flowering Plants | |
| Trifolium repens | Flowering Plants | |
| Arrhenatherum elatius | Flowering Plants | |
| Agrostis capillaris | Flowering Plants | |
| Lotus corniculatus | Flowering Plants | |
| Leucanthemum vulgare | Flowering Plants | |
| Galium mollugo | Flowering Plants |
Flowering Plants
Festuca rubra
Flowering Plants
Arrhenatherum elatius
Flowering Plants
Agrostis capillaris
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 rubra | Flowering Plants | |
| Arrhenatherum elatius | Flowering Plants | |
| Agrostis capillaris | Flowering Plants |
Other classifications
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) | E2.2 | Low and medium altitude hay meadows | wider |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) | E2.1 | Permanent mesotrophic pastures and aftermath-grazed meadows | narrower |
| European Red List of Habitats | E2.2 | Low and medium altitude hay meadow | same |
History
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | E2.1 | Permanent mesotrophic pastures and aftermath-grazed meadows | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | E2.2 | Low and medium altitude hay meadows | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | E2.1 | Permanent mesotrophic pastures and aftermath-grazed meadows | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | E2.2 | Low and medium altitude hay meadows | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | E2.2 | Low and medium altitude hay meadows | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | E2.1 | Permanent mesotrophic pastures and aftermath-grazed meadows | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | E2.2 | Coarse permanent grassland and tall herbs, usually mown but little grazed | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | E2.1 | Permanent mesotrophic pastures and aftermath-grazed meadows | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 | E2.1 | Permanent mesotrophic lowland pastures and aftermath-grazed meadows | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 | E2.2 | Coarse permanent grassland and tall herbs, usually mown but little grazed | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | E3.2 | Coarse permanent grassland, usually mown but little grazed | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | E3.1 | Permanent mesotrophic lowland pasture and aftermath-grazed meadow | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 | 38.1 | Mesophile pastures | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 | 38.2 | Lowland and collinar hay meadows | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 | 38.2 | Lowland and collinar hay meadows | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 | 38.1 | Mesophile pastures | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 | 38.1 | same | ||
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 | 38.2 | same | ||
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 | 38.1 | same | ||
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 | 38.2 | same | ||
| CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991 | 38.2 | same | ||
| CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991 | 38.1 | same | ||
| CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989 | 38.2 | same | ||
| CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989 | 38.1 | same |
