EUNIS habitat classification 2017 > R - Grasslands and lands dominated by forbs, mosses or lichens > R3 - Seasonally wet and wet grasslands > R35 - Moist or wet mesotrophic to eutrophic hay meadow

Moist or wet mesotrophic to eutrophic hay meadow

Description (English)

Meadows of moist, sometimes seasonally flooded, nutrient-rich soils on floodplains and in brook-valleys throughout the lowland to submontane belts of Europe. Traditionally cut for hay, though sometimes also lightly grazed in late summer and autumn, the vegetation is often species-rich with a diverse associated invertebrate fauna attracted by the abundance of flowers. Often once part of wider agricultural landscapes with associated pastures, good examples of the habitat now often survive more fragmentarily, and transitions to improved silage grassland on flood-protected land are widespread.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type	code R35
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)	Alluvial meadows of river valleys of the Cnidion dubii	6440	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)	Northern boreal alluvial meadows	6450	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)	Lowland hay meadows (Alopecurus pratensis, Sanguisorba officinalis)	6510	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)	Moist or wet eutrophic and mesotrophic grassland	E3.4	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 Scirpus sylvaticus

Flowering Plants Caltha palustris

Flowering Plants Juncus effusus

Flowering Plants Filipendula ulmaria

Flowering Plants Cardamine pratensis

Flowering Plants Myosotis scorpioides

Flowering Plants Galium uliginosum

Flowering Plants Lotus pedunculatus

Flowering Plants Ranunculus acris

Flowering Plants Alopecurus pratensis

Flowering Plants Cirsium palustre

Flowering Plants Lathyrus pratensis

Ferns Equisetum palustre

Flowering Plants Cirsium rivulare

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
Scirpus sylvaticus		Flowering Plants
Caltha palustris		Flowering Plants
Juncus effusus		Flowering Plants
Filipendula ulmaria		Flowering Plants
Cardamine pratensis		Flowering Plants
Myosotis scorpioides		Flowering Plants
Galium uliginosum		Flowering Plants
Lotus pedunculatus		Flowering Plants
Ranunculus acris		Flowering Plants
Alopecurus pratensis		Flowering Plants
Cirsium palustre		Flowering Plants
Lathyrus pratensis		Flowering Plants
Equisetum palustre		Ferns
Cirsium rivulare		Flowering Plants

Flowering Plants Juncus effusus

Flowering Plants Holcus lanatus

Flowering Plants Filipendula ulmaria

Flowering Plants Ranunculus repens

Flowering Plants Ranunculus acris

Flowering Plants Caltha palustris

Flowering Plants Deschampsia cespitosa

Flowering Plants Myosotis scorpioides

Flowering Plants Galium palustre

Flowering Plants Rumex acetosa

Ferns Equisetum palustre

Flowering Plants Cirsium palustre

Flowering Plants Poa trivialis

Flowering Plants Cardamine pratensis

Flowering Plants Scirpus sylvaticus

Flowering Plants Lotus pedunculatus

Flowering Plants Lathyrus pratensis

Flowering Plants Agrostis stolonifera

Flowering Plants Festuca rubra

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
Juncus effusus		Flowering Plants
Holcus lanatus		Flowering Plants
Filipendula ulmaria		Flowering Plants
Ranunculus repens		Flowering Plants
Ranunculus acris		Flowering Plants
Caltha palustris		Flowering Plants
Deschampsia cespitosa		Flowering Plants
Myosotis scorpioides		Flowering Plants
Galium palustre		Flowering Plants
Rumex acetosa		Flowering Plants
Equisetum palustre		Ferns
Cirsium palustre		Flowering Plants
Poa trivialis		Flowering Plants
Cardamine pratensis		Flowering Plants
Scirpus sylvaticus		Flowering Plants
Lotus pedunculatus		Flowering Plants
Lathyrus pratensis		Flowering Plants
Agrostis stolonifera		Flowering Plants
Festuca rubra		Flowering Plants

Flowering Plants Juncus effusus

Flowering Plants Scirpus sylvaticus

Flowering Plants Deschampsia cespitosa

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
Juncus effusus		Flowering Plants
Scirpus sylvaticus		Flowering Plants
Deschampsia cespitosa		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)	E3.4	Moist or wet eutrophic and mesotrophic grassland	narrower
European Red List of Habitats	E3.4a	Moist or wet mesotrophic to eutrophic hay meadow	same

For relation to plant communities (syntaxa), see Vegetation types

History

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	E3.4	Moist or wet eutrophic and mesotrophic grassland	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	E3.4	Moist or wet eutrophic and mesotrophic grassland	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	E3.4	Moist or wet eutrophic and mesotrophic grassland	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	E3.4	Moist or wet eutrophic and mesotrophic grassland	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811	E3.4	Moist or wet lowland eutrophic and mesotrophic grassland	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712	E2.4	Moist or wet lowland eutrophic and mesotrophic grassland	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905	37.2	Eutrophic humid grasslands	narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997	37.2	Eutrophic humid grasslands	narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996	37.2		narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993	37.2		narrower
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991	37.1		narrower
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991	37.2		narrower
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989	37.2		narrower
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989	37.1		narrower

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Moist or wet mesotrophic to eutrophic hay meadow

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