EUNIS habitat classification 2017 > R - Grasslands and lands dominated by forbs, mosses or lichens > R4 - Alpine and subalpine grasslands > R41 - Snow-bed vegetation

Snow-bed vegetation

Description (English)

Vegetation on skeletal, sometimes humic, soils developed beneath late-lying snow patches in Arctic and subarctic lowlands, boreal mountains and temperate high mountains of Central and Southern Europe. Dominated by grasses, sedges, herbs and cryptogams, the species composition depends on regional climate, altitude, bedrock and soil type, and sometimes includes endemics, particularly in Southern Europe.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type	code R41
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)	Siliceous alpine and boreal grasslands	6150	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)	Alpine and subalpine calcareous grasslands	6170	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]

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Not available

Indicator species

Diagnostic species

Constant species

Dominant species

Flowering Plants Veronica alpina

Flowering Plants Gnaphalium supinum

Flowering Plants Salix herbacea

Flowering Plants Sibbaldia procumbens

Flowering Plants Saxifraga androsacea

Flowering Plants Gnaphalium hoppeanum

Flowering Plants Cardamine alpina

Flowering Plants Carex pyrenaica

Flowering Plants Cerastium cerastoides

Flowering Plants Luzula alpinopilosa

Flowering Plants Poa alpina

Flowering Plants Alchemilla pentaphyllea

Flowering Plants Ranunculus alpestris

Flowering Plants Sedum alpestre

Flowering Plants Leucanthemopsis alpina

Flowering Plants Ranunculus crenatus

Flowering Plants Alchemilla fissa

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
Veronica alpina		Flowering Plants
Gnaphalium supinum		Flowering Plants
Salix herbacea		Flowering Plants
Sibbaldia procumbens		Flowering Plants
Saxifraga androsacea		Flowering Plants
Gnaphalium hoppeanum		Flowering Plants
Cardamine alpina		Flowering Plants
Carex pyrenaica		Flowering Plants
Cerastium cerastoides		Flowering Plants
Luzula alpinopilosa		Flowering Plants
Poa alpina		Flowering Plants
Alchemilla pentaphyllea		Flowering Plants
Ranunculus alpestris		Flowering Plants
Sedum alpestre		Flowering Plants
Leucanthemopsis alpina		Flowering Plants
Ranunculus crenatus		Flowering Plants
Alchemilla fissa		Flowering Plants

Flowering Plants Poa alpina

Flowering Plants Salix herbacea

Flowering Plants Gnaphalium supinum

Flowering Plants Veronica alpina

Flowering Plants Sibbaldia procumbens

Flowering Plants Silene acaulis

Flowering Plants Luzula alpinopilosa

Flowering Plants Leucanthemopsis alpina

Flowering Plants Ranunculus alpestris

Flowering Plants Saxifraga oppositifolia

Flowering Plants Cerastium cerastoides

Flowering Plants Saxifraga stellaris

Flowering Plants Saxifraga androsacea

Flowering Plants Sedum alpestre

Flowering Plants Myosotis alpestris

Flowering Plants Geum montanum

Flowering Plants Ranunculus glacialis

Flowering Plants Arabis alpina

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
Poa alpina		Flowering Plants
Salix herbacea		Flowering Plants
Gnaphalium supinum		Flowering Plants
Veronica alpina		Flowering Plants
Sibbaldia procumbens		Flowering Plants
Silene acaulis		Flowering Plants
Luzula alpinopilosa		Flowering Plants
Leucanthemopsis alpina		Flowering Plants
Ranunculus alpestris		Flowering Plants
Saxifraga oppositifolia		Flowering Plants
Cerastium cerastoides		Flowering Plants
Saxifraga stellaris		Flowering Plants
Saxifraga androsacea		Flowering Plants
Sedum alpestre		Flowering Plants
Myosotis alpestris		Flowering Plants
Geum montanum		Flowering Plants
Ranunculus glacialis		Flowering Plants
Arabis alpina		Flowering Plants

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

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)	E4.1	Vegetated snow-patch	same
European Red List of Habitats	E4.1	Vegetated snow patch	same

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

History

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	E4.1	Vegetated snow-patch	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	E4.1	Snow-patch grassland	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	E4.1	Snow-patch grassland	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	E4.1	Snow-patch grassland	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811	E4.1	Snow-patch grassland	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712	E4.1	Snow-patch grassland habitats	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905	36.1	Part of Snow-patch communities	wider
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997	36.1	Part of Snow-patch communities	wider
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996	36.1		wider
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993	36.1		wider
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991	36.1		wider
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989	36.1		wider

Write to us

Call us

Sections