Subalpine and subarctic deciduous scrub
Description (English)
Low scrub, including krummholz, dominated by various deciduous trees and shrubs, on moist but free-draining, sometimes quite fertile, soils on high-mountain slopes throughout Europe, often with long snow-lie and prone to natural disturbance due to avalanche and scree slides, after which it is well able to recover and recolonise. The associated flora can be rich in tall mountain herbs. It can also be found as a secondary succession stage in abandoned subalpine pastures and meadows.
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
| EUNIS habitat type | code S25 |
|---|
Vegetation types
Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)
Not availableIndicator species
Flowering Plants
Alnus viridis
Flowering Plants
Peucedanum ostruthium
Flowering Plants
Adenostyles alliariae
Flowering Plants
Achillea macrophylla
Flowering Plants
Saxifraga rotundifolia
Flowering Plants
Viola biflora
Ferns
Athyrium distentifolium
Flowering Plants
Lactuca alpina
Flowering Plants
Aconitum napellus
Flowering Plants
Salix silesiaca
Flowering Plants
Salix helvetica
Flowering Plants
Veratrum album
Flowering Plants
Geranium sylvaticum
Flowering Plants
Salix lapponum
Flowering Plants
Salix bicolor
Flowering Plants
Salix appendiculata
Flowering Plants
Chaerophyllum hirsutum
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Alnus viridis | Flowering Plants | |
| Peucedanum ostruthium | Flowering Plants | |
| Adenostyles alliariae | Flowering Plants | |
| Achillea macrophylla | Flowering Plants | |
| Saxifraga rotundifolia | Flowering Plants | |
| Viola biflora | Flowering Plants | |
| Athyrium distentifolium | Ferns | |
| Lactuca alpina | Flowering Plants | |
| Aconitum napellus | Flowering Plants | |
| Salix silesiaca | Flowering Plants | |
| Salix helvetica | Flowering Plants | |
| Veratrum album | Flowering Plants | |
| Geranium sylvaticum | Flowering Plants | |
| Salix lapponum | Flowering Plants | |
| Salix bicolor | Flowering Plants | |
| Salix appendiculata | Flowering Plants | |
| Chaerophyllum hirsutum | Flowering Plants |
Flowering Plants
Alnus viridis
Flowering Plants
Viola biflora
Flowering Plants
Geranium sylvaticum
Flowering Plants
Adenostyles alliariae
Flowering Plants
Vaccinium myrtillus
Flowering Plants
Rubus idaeus
Flowering Plants
Deschampsia cespitosa
Flowering Plants
Saxifraga rotundifolia
Flowering Plants
Sorbus aucuparia
Flowering Plants
Solidago virgaurea
Flowering Plants
Peucedanum ostruthium
Flowering Plants
Veratrum album
Flowering Plants
Oxalis acetosella
Flowering Plants
Chaerophyllum hirsutum
Flowering Plants
Senecio nemorensis
Flowering Plants
Homogyne alpina
Ferns
Dryopteris dilatata
Ferns
Athyrium distentifolium
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Alnus viridis | Flowering Plants | |
| Viola biflora | Flowering Plants | |
| Geranium sylvaticum | Flowering Plants | |
| Adenostyles alliariae | Flowering Plants | |
| Vaccinium myrtillus | Flowering Plants | |
| Rubus idaeus | Flowering Plants | |
| Deschampsia cespitosa | Flowering Plants | |
| Saxifraga rotundifolia | Flowering Plants | |
| Sorbus aucuparia | Flowering Plants | |
| Solidago virgaurea | Flowering Plants | |
| Peucedanum ostruthium | Flowering Plants | |
| Veratrum album | Flowering Plants | |
| Oxalis acetosella | Flowering Plants | |
| Chaerophyllum hirsutum | Flowering Plants | |
| Senecio nemorensis | Flowering Plants | |
| Homogyne alpina | Flowering Plants | |
| Dryopteris dilatata | Ferns | |
| Athyrium distentifolium | Ferns |
Flowering Plants
Alnus viridis
Flowering Plants
Adenostyles alliariae
Flowering Plants
Salix lapponum
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Alnus viridis | Flowering Plants | |
| Adenostyles alliariae | Flowering Plants | |
| Salix lapponum | Flowering Plants |
Other classifications
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) | F2.3 | Subalpine deciduous scrub | same |
| European Red List of Habitats | F2.3 | Subalpine deciduous scrub | wider |
History
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | F2.3 | Subalpine deciduous scrub | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | F2.3 | Subalpine deciduous scrub | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | F2.3 | Subalpine and oroboreal bush communities | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | F2.3 | Subalpine deciduous scrub | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 | F1.1 | Montane and subalpine scrub | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | F1.1 | Montane and subarctic scrub | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 | 31.6 | Subalpine bush communities | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 | 31.6 | Subalpine bush communities | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 | 31.6 | same | ||
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 | 31.6 | same | ||
| CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991 | 31.6 | same | ||
| CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989 | 31.6 | same |
