Mountain hay meadow
Description (English)
The typical kind of traditionally-managed meadow on deep, well-drained, mesic soils throughout the mountains of Northern and Central Europe where there is a short cool growing season. There are many local types differing according to regional climate, terrain and farming traditions but the vegetation is typically dominated by mixtures of productive grasses and herbs and can be species-rich with distinctive scarce and rare plants where traditional regimes of mowing, grazing and dunging are maintained. Often once part of wider agricultural landscapes with associated pastures, good examples of the habitat now often survive more fragmentarily and transitions to silage grassland are widespread.
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
| EUNIS habitat type | code R23 |
|---|---|
| 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
Diagnostic species
Constant species
Dominant species
Flowering Plants
Crepis mollis
Flowering Plants
Meum athamanticum
Flowering Plants
Poa chaixii
Flowering Plants
Astrantia major
Flowering Plants
Hypericum maculatum
Flowering Plants
Geranium sylvaticum
Flowering Plants
Phyteuma spicatum
Flowering Plants
Crepis pyrenaica
Flowering Plants
Trisetum flavescens
Flowering Plants
Crocus vernus
Flowering Plants
Phleum alpinum
Flowering Plants
Trollius europaeus
Flowering Plants
Alchemilla vulgaris
Flowering Plants
Leucanthemum vulgare
Flowering Plants
Arabidopsis halleri
Flowering Plants
Pimpinella major
Flowering Plants
Trifolium pratense
Flowering Plants
Campanula serrata
Flowering Plants
Ranunculus acris
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Crepis mollis | Flowering Plants | |
| Meum athamanticum | Flowering Plants | |
| Poa chaixii | Flowering Plants | |
| Astrantia major | Flowering Plants | |
| Hypericum maculatum | Flowering Plants | |
| Geranium sylvaticum | Flowering Plants | |
| Phyteuma spicatum | Flowering Plants | |
| Crepis pyrenaica | Flowering Plants | |
| Trisetum flavescens | Flowering Plants | |
| Crocus vernus | Flowering Plants | |
| Phleum alpinum | Flowering Plants | |
| Trollius europaeus | Flowering Plants | |
| Alchemilla vulgaris | Flowering Plants | |
| Leucanthemum vulgare | Flowering Plants | |
| Arabidopsis halleri | Flowering Plants | |
| Pimpinella major | Flowering Plants | |
| Trifolium pratense | Flowering Plants | |
| Campanula serrata | Flowering Plants | |
| Ranunculus acris | Flowering Plants |
Flowering Plants
Festuca rubra
Flowering Plants
Anthoxanthum odoratum
Flowering Plants
Agrostis capillaris
Flowering Plants
Geranium sylvaticum
Flowering Plants
Trifolium pratense
Flowering Plants
Achillea millefolium
Flowering Plants
Potentilla erecta
Flowering Plants
Hypericum maculatum
Flowering Plants
Dactylis glomerata
Flowering Plants
Rumex acetosa
Flowering Plants
Ranunculus acris
Flowering Plants
Leucanthemum vulgare
Flowering Plants
Phyteuma spicatum
Flowering Plants
Briza media
Flowering Plants
Luzula campestris
Flowering Plants
Leontodon hispidus
Flowering Plants
Lotus corniculatus
Flowering Plants
Plantago lanceolata
Flowering Plants
Nardus stricta
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 rubra | Flowering Plants | |
| Anthoxanthum odoratum | Flowering Plants | |
| Agrostis capillaris | Flowering Plants | |
| Geranium sylvaticum | Flowering Plants | |
| Trifolium pratense | Flowering Plants | |
| Achillea millefolium | Flowering Plants | |
| Potentilla erecta | Flowering Plants | |
| Hypericum maculatum | Flowering Plants | |
| Dactylis glomerata | Flowering Plants | |
| Rumex acetosa | Flowering Plants | |
| Ranunculus acris | Flowering Plants | |
| Leucanthemum vulgare | Flowering Plants | |
| Phyteuma spicatum | Flowering Plants | |
| Briza media | Flowering Plants | |
| Luzula campestris | Flowering Plants | |
| Leontodon hispidus | Flowering Plants | |
| Lotus corniculatus | Flowering Plants | |
| Plantago lanceolata | Flowering Plants | |
| Nardus stricta | Flowering Plants |
Flowering Plants
Festuca rubra
Flowering Plants
Agrostis capillaris
Flowering Plants
Nardus stricta
Flowering Plants
Meum athamanticum
Flowering Plants
Geranium sylvaticum
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 | |
| Agrostis capillaris | Flowering Plants | |
| Nardus stricta | Flowering Plants | |
| Meum athamanticum | Flowering Plants | |
| Geranium sylvaticum | Flowering Plants |
Other classifications
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) | E2.3 | Mountain 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 | E2.3 | Mountain 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 | E2.3 | Mountain hay meadows | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | E2.1 | Permanent mesotrophic pastures and aftermath-grazed meadows | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | E2.3 | Mountain hay meadows | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | E2.3 | Mountain hay meadows | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | E2.1 | Permanent mesotrophic pastures and aftermath-grazed meadows | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | E2.3 | Mountain hay meadows | 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 | E2.3 | Mountain hay meadows | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | E3.3 | Mountain hay meadows | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | E3.1 | Permanent mesotrophic lowland pasture and aftermath-grazed meadow | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 | 38.3 | Mountain hay meadows | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 | 38.1 | Mesophile pastures | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 | 38.1 | Mesophile pastures | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 | 38.3 | Mountain hay meadows | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 | 38.1 | same | ||
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 | 38.3 | same | ||
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 | 38.1 | same | ||
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 | 38.3 | same | ||
| CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991 | 38.3 | same | ||
| CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991 | 38.1 | same | ||
| CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989 | 38.3 | same | ||
| CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989 | 38.1 | same |
