Boreal and arctic acidophilous alpine grassland
Description (English)
Boreal and Arctic acidophilous alpine grasslands, dominated by low graminoids and herbs, characteristic of shallow mostly base-poor soils with thick late snow-lie, occurring through the high mountains of Fennoscandia, Iceland and Scotland.
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
| EUNIS habitat type | code R42 |
|---|---|
| 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
Carex bigelowii
Flowering Plants
Alchemilla alpina
Flowering Plants
Sibbaldia procumbens
Flowering Plants
Festuca vivipara
Mosses & Liverworts
Oligotrichum hercynicum
Flowering Plants
Thalictrum alpinum
Flowering Plants
Salix herbacea
Flowering Plants
Euphrasia officinalis
Flowering Plants
Gnaphalium supinum
Flowering Plants
Carex brunnescens
Flowering Plants
Cassiope hypnoides
Mosses & Liverworts
Racomitrium fasciculare
Mosses & Liverworts
Kiaeria starkei
Mosses & Liverworts
Polytrichastrum alpinum
Flowering Plants
Saussurea alpina
Mosses & Liverworts
Racomitrium heterostichum
Flowering Plants
Cerastium alpinum
Mosses & Liverworts
Pogonatum urnigerum
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Carex bigelowii | Flowering Plants | |
| Alchemilla alpina | Flowering Plants | |
| Sibbaldia procumbens | Flowering Plants | |
| Festuca vivipara | Flowering Plants | |
| Oligotrichum hercynicum | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Thalictrum alpinum | Flowering Plants | |
| Salix herbacea | Flowering Plants | |
| Euphrasia officinalis | Flowering Plants | |
| Gnaphalium supinum | Flowering Plants | |
| Carex brunnescens | Flowering Plants | |
| Cassiope hypnoides | Flowering Plants | |
| Racomitrium fasciculare | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Kiaeria starkei | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Polytrichastrum alpinum | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Saussurea alpina | Flowering Plants | |
| Racomitrium heterostichum | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Cerastium alpinum | Flowering Plants | |
| Pogonatum urnigerum | Mosses & Liverworts |
Flowering Plants
Carex bigelowii
Flowering Plants
Alchemilla alpina
Flowering Plants
Anthoxanthum odoratum
Flowering Plants
Salix herbacea
Flowering Plants
Avenella flexuosa
Flowering Plants
Sibbaldia procumbens
Flowering Plants
Festuca ovina
Flowering Plants
Deschampsia cespitosa
Flowering Plants
Nardus stricta
Flowering Plants
Festuca vivipara
Flowering Plants
Agrostis capillaris
Flowering Plants
Thalictrum alpinum
Flowering Plants
Gnaphalium supinum
Mosses & Liverworts
Polytrichastrum alpinum
Flowering Plants
Galium saxatile
Flowering Plants
Vaccinium myrtillus
Flowering Plants
Thymus praecox
Mosses & Liverworts
Racomitrium lanuginosum
Flowering Plants
Saussurea 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Carex bigelowii | Flowering Plants | |
| Alchemilla alpina | Flowering Plants | |
| Anthoxanthum odoratum | Flowering Plants | |
| Salix herbacea | Flowering Plants | |
| Avenella flexuosa | Flowering Plants | |
| Sibbaldia procumbens | Flowering Plants | |
| Festuca ovina | Flowering Plants | |
| Deschampsia cespitosa | Flowering Plants | |
| Nardus stricta | Flowering Plants | |
| Festuca vivipara | Flowering Plants | |
| Agrostis capillaris | Flowering Plants | |
| Thalictrum alpinum | Flowering Plants | |
| Gnaphalium supinum | Flowering Plants | |
| Polytrichastrum alpinum | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Galium saxatile | Flowering Plants | |
| Vaccinium myrtillus | Flowering Plants | |
| Thymus praecox | Flowering Plants | |
| Racomitrium lanuginosum | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Saussurea alpina | Flowering Plants |
Flowering Plants
Nardus stricta
Flowering Plants
Carex bigelowii
Flowering Plants
Alchemilla alpina
Mosses & Liverworts
Sanionia uncinata
Mosses & Liverworts
Racomitrium lanuginosum
Flowering Plants
Festuca ovina
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Nardus stricta | Flowering Plants | |
| Carex bigelowii | Flowering Plants | |
| Alchemilla alpina | Flowering Plants | |
| Sanionia uncinata | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Racomitrium lanuginosum | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Festuca ovina | Flowering Plants |
Other classifications
History
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | E4.3 | Acid alpine and subalpine grassland | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | E1.7 | Non-Mediterranean dry acid and neutral closed grassland | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | E4.32 | Oroboreal acidocline grassland | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | E4.3 | Acid alpine and subalpine grassland | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | E1.7 | Non-Mediterranean dry acid and neutral closed grassland | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | E4.32 | Oroboreal acidocline grassland | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | E4.3 | Acid alpine and subalpine grassland | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | E1.7 | Non-Mediterranean dry acid and neutral closed grassland | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | E4.32 | Oroboreal acidocline grassland | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | E4.3 | Acid alpine and subalpine grassland | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | E1.7 | Non-Mediterranean dry acid and neutral closed grassland | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | E4.32 | Oroboreal acidocline grassland | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 | E4.2 | Acid alpine and subalpine grassland | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 | E1.7 | Dry, acid closed perennial grassland (Nardo-Galion) | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 | E4.22 | Oroboreal acidocline grasslands | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | E4.2 | Boreal and alpine acid grassland | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | E1.21 | Dry, acid closed perennial grassland (Nardo-Galion) | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | E4.22 | Oroboreal acidocline grasslands | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 | 35.1 | Atlantic closed acidophilous grasslands | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 | 36.3 | Boreo-Alpic acidophilous alpine grasslands | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 | 36.32 | Oroboreal acidocline grasslands | wider | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 | 35.1 | Atlantic closed acidophilous grasslands | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 | 36.3 | Boreo-Alpic acidophilous alpine grasslands | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 | 36.32 | Oroboreal acidocline grasslands | wider | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 | 35.1 | same | ||
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 | 36.3 | same | ||
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 | 36.32 | wider | ||
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 | 35.1 | same | ||
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 | 36.3 | same | ||
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 | 36.32 | wider | ||
| CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991 | 35.1 | same | ||
| CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991 | 36.3 | same | ||
| CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991 | 36.32 | wider | ||
| CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989 | 35.1 | same | ||
| CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989 | 36.3 | same | ||
| CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989 | 36.32 | wider |
