Subarctic and alpine dwarf Salix scrub
Description (English)
Salix-dominated dwarf scrub, often with abundant bryophytes and lichens, on skeletal calcareous or siliceous soils in late snow beds with a short growing-season, occurring in the Arctic and subarctic zones and in the high mountains of temperate Europe, increasingly local and fragmentary to the south.
Remark: This habitat also occurs in the Arctic zone (e.g. Svalbard), which is not reflected in its current name.
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
| EUNIS habitat type | code S21 |
|---|---|
| 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
Flowering Plants
Salix retusa
Flowering Plants
Salix herbacea
Flowering Plants
Salix reticulata
Flowering Plants
Silene acaulis
Flowering Plants
Poa alpina
Flowering Plants
Gnaphalium supinum
Flowering Plants
Kobresia myosuroides
Flowering Plants
Veronica aphylla
Flowering Plants
Bartsia alpina
Flowering Plants
Sibbaldia procumbens
Flowering Plants
Carex foetida
Flowering Plants
Veronica alpina
Flowering Plants
Sagina glabra
Flowering Plants
Ranunculus alpestris
Flowering Plants
Gentiana nivalis
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Salix retusa | Flowering Plants | |
| Salix herbacea | Flowering Plants | |
| Salix reticulata | Flowering Plants | |
| Silene acaulis | Flowering Plants | |
| Poa alpina | Flowering Plants | |
| Gnaphalium supinum | Flowering Plants | |
| Kobresia myosuroides | Flowering Plants | |
| Veronica aphylla | Flowering Plants | |
| Bartsia alpina | Flowering Plants | |
| Sibbaldia procumbens | Flowering Plants | |
| Carex foetida | Flowering Plants | |
| Veronica alpina | Flowering Plants | |
| Sagina glabra | Flowering Plants | |
| Ranunculus alpestris | Flowering Plants | |
| Gentiana nivalis | Flowering Plants |
Flowering Plants
Salix herbacea
Flowering Plants
Poa alpina
Flowering Plants
Salix retusa
Flowering Plants
Silene acaulis
Flowering Plants
Salix reticulata
Flowering Plants
Gnaphalium supinum
Flowering Plants
Bartsia alpina
Flowering Plants
Myosotis alpestris
Flowering Plants
Dryas octopetala
Flowering Plants
Homogyne alpina
Fungi
Cetraria islandica
Flowering Plants
Sibbaldia procumbens
Flowering Plants
Campanula scheuchzeri
Flowering Plants
Veronica alpina
Flowering Plants
Soldanella alpina
Flowering Plants
Saxifraga oppositifolia
Flowering Plants
Plantago alpina
Flowering Plants
Carex sempervirens
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Salix herbacea | Flowering Plants | |
| Poa alpina | Flowering Plants | |
| Salix retusa | Flowering Plants | |
| Silene acaulis | Flowering Plants | |
| Salix reticulata | Flowering Plants | |
| Gnaphalium supinum | Flowering Plants | |
| Bartsia alpina | Flowering Plants | |
| Myosotis alpestris | Flowering Plants | |
| Dryas octopetala | Flowering Plants | |
| Homogyne alpina | Flowering Plants | |
| Cetraria islandica | Fungi | |
| Sibbaldia procumbens | Flowering Plants | |
| Campanula scheuchzeri | Flowering Plants | |
| Veronica alpina | Flowering Plants | |
| Soldanella alpina | Flowering Plants | |
| Saxifraga oppositifolia | Flowering Plants | |
| Plantago alpina | Flowering Plants | |
| Carex sempervirens | Flowering Plants |
Flowering Plants
Salix herbacea
Flowering Plants
Salix retusa
Flowering Plants
Salix reticulata
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Salix herbacea | Flowering Plants | |
| Salix retusa | Flowering Plants | |
| Salix reticulata | Flowering Plants |
Other classifications
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) | F2.1 | Subarctic and alpine dwarf willow scrub | same |
| European Red List of Habitats | F2.1 | Subarctic and alpine dwarf Salix scrub | same |
History
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | F2.1 | Subarctic and alpine dwarf willow scrub | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | F2.1 | Snow-patch dwarf willow scrub | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | F2.1 | Snow-patch dwarf willow scrub | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | F2.1 | Snow-patch dwarf willow scrub | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 | F3.1 | Snow-patch dwarf willow scrub | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | F3.1 | Snow patch dwarf willow scrub | 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 |
