West European tall herb ash-alder forests

Description (English)

Alnus glutinosa or Fraxinus excelsior-Alnus glutinosa-Ulmus riparian woods on eutrophic, moist soils of alluvial terraces, levees and floodplains of the lower courses of rivers of Atlantic and sub-Atlantic regions of the British Isles and the western seaboard of the European mainland, with Salix cinerea and Urtica dioica, often rich in tall herbs, in particular Cirsium oleraceum, Eupatorium cannabinum, Epilobium hirsutum, Dipsacus pilosus, Symphytum officinale, Aconitum napellus and creepers Humulus lupulus, Solanum dulcamara, Calystegia sepium; Ribes rubrum, Iris pseudacorus, Equisetum telmateia, Equisetum fluviatile are locally characteristic; tall sedges, in particular Carex acutiformis and Carex paniculata dominate some of the wettest communities. Typical sub-communities of British Alnus glutinosa-Urtica dioica woodland are included, as are drier Sambucus nigra sub-communities in situations where they are adjacent. Formations of this unit are now rare, having for the most part been replaced by poplar plantations.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification