EUNIS habitat classification 2017 > R - Grasslands and lands dominated by forbs, mosses or lichens > R4 - Alpine and subalpine grasslands > R43 - Temperate acidophilous alpine grassland

Temperate acidophilous alpine grassland

Description (English)

Grassland and dwarf chamaephyte vegetation on skeletal and shallow soils over predominantly siliceous bedrocks in the alpine belt throughout the temperate mountains of Europe, typical of the highest summits and ridges, often very exposed to strong winds and largely blown clear of snow in the winter.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type	code R43
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 Pyrenean Festuca eskia grasslands	6140	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)	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)	Oro-Moesian acidophilous grasslands	62D0	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)	Acid alpine and subalpine grassland	E4.3	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 Trifolium alpinum

Flowering Plants Potentilla aurea

Flowering Plants Geum montanum

Flowering Plants Carex curvula

Flowering Plants Agrostis rupestris

Flowering Plants Poa alpina

Flowering Plants Veronica bellidioides

Flowering Plants Festuca airoides

Flowering Plants Euphrasia minima

Flowering Plants Gentiana acaulis

Flowering Plants Campanula scheuchzeri

Flowering Plants Hieracium alpinum

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
Trifolium alpinum		Flowering Plants
Potentilla aurea		Flowering Plants
Geum montanum		Flowering Plants
Carex curvula		Flowering Plants
Agrostis rupestris		Flowering Plants
Poa alpina		Flowering Plants
Veronica bellidioides		Flowering Plants
Festuca airoides		Flowering Plants
Euphrasia minima		Flowering Plants
Gentiana acaulis		Flowering Plants
Campanula scheuchzeri		Flowering Plants
Hieracium alpinum		Flowering Plants

Flowering Plants Nardus stricta

Flowering Plants Poa alpina

Flowering Plants Potentilla aurea

Flowering Plants Anthoxanthum odoratum

Flowering Plants Geum montanum

Flowering Plants Festuca rubra

Flowering Plants Homogyne alpina

Flowering Plants Agrostis rupestris

Flowering Plants Campanula scheuchzeri

Flowering Plants Avenella flexuosa

Flowering Plants Vaccinium myrtillus

Flowering Plants Carex sempervirens

Flowering Plants Trifolium alpinum

Flowering Plants Luzula spicata

Flowering Plants Juncus trifidus

Flowering Plants Ligusticum mutellina

Flowering Plants Phleum alpinum

Flowering Plants Euphrasia minima

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
Nardus stricta		Flowering Plants
Poa alpina		Flowering Plants
Potentilla aurea		Flowering Plants
Anthoxanthum odoratum		Flowering Plants
Geum montanum		Flowering Plants
Festuca rubra		Flowering Plants
Homogyne alpina		Flowering Plants
Agrostis rupestris		Flowering Plants
Campanula scheuchzeri		Flowering Plants
Avenella flexuosa		Flowering Plants
Vaccinium myrtillus		Flowering Plants
Carex sempervirens		Flowering Plants
Trifolium alpinum		Flowering Plants
Luzula spicata		Flowering Plants
Juncus trifidus		Flowering Plants
Ligusticum mutellina		Flowering Plants
Phleum alpinum		Flowering Plants
Euphrasia minima		Flowering Plants

Flowering Plants Nardus stricta

Flowering Plants Carex curvula

Flowering Plants Festuca eskia

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 curvula		Flowering Plants
Festuca eskia		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)	E4.3	Acid alpine and subalpine grassland	narrower
European Red List of Habitats	E4.3b	Temperate acidophilous alpine grassland	same

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

History

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	E4.3	Acid alpine and subalpine grassland	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	E4.3	Acid alpine and subalpine grassland	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	E4.3	Acid alpine and subalpine grassland	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	E4.3	Acid alpine and subalpine grassland	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811	E4.2	Acid alpine and subalpine grassland	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712	E4.2	Boreal and alpine acid grassland	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905	36.3	Boreo-Alpic acidophilous alpine grasslands	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997	36.3	Boreo-Alpic acidophilous alpine grasslands	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996	36.3		same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993	36.3		same
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991	36.3		same
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989	36.3		same

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