EUNIS habitat classification 2017 > U - Inland habitats with no or little soil and mostly with sparse vegetation > U3 - Inland cliffs, rock pavements and outcrops > U32 - Temperate high-mountain siliceous inland cliff

Temperate high-mountain siliceous inland cliff

Description (English)

Siliceous cliffs and rock faces of acidic, mostly Palaeozoic, rocks in the high mountains of the nemoral zone. Slow weathering of these resistant rocks creates few niches for colonisation, and the vascular flora of the crevices and on ledges is rather species-poor but rich in epilithic lichens.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type	code U32
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 rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation	8220	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]
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 siliceous inland cliffs	H3.1	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 Androsace vandellii

Ferns Asplenium septentrionale

Flowering Plants Primula latifolia

Flowering Plants Jovibarba heuffelii

Flowering Plants Silene lerchenfeldiana

Flowering Plants Saxifraga pubescens

Flowering Plants Veronica bachofenii

Flowering Plants Primula hirsuta

Flowering Plants Cardamine resedifolia

Flowering Plants Phyteuma hemisphaericum

Flowering Plants Dianthus henteri

Flowering Plants Thymus comosus

Flowering Plants Eritrichium nanum

Flowering Plants Galium tendae

Flowering Plants Saxifraga retusa

Flowering Plants Alchemilla saxatilis

Flowering Plants Phyteuma humile

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
Androsace vandellii		Flowering Plants
Asplenium septentrionale		Ferns
Primula latifolia		Flowering Plants
Jovibarba heuffelii		Flowering Plants
Silene lerchenfeldiana		Flowering Plants
Saxifraga pubescens		Flowering Plants
Veronica bachofenii		Flowering Plants
Primula hirsuta		Flowering Plants
Cardamine resedifolia		Flowering Plants
Phyteuma hemisphaericum		Flowering Plants
Dianthus henteri		Flowering Plants
Thymus comosus		Flowering Plants
Eritrichium nanum		Flowering Plants
Galium tendae		Flowering Plants
Saxifraga retusa		Flowering Plants
Alchemilla saxatilis		Flowering Plants
Phyteuma humile		Flowering Plants

Ferns Asplenium septentrionale

Flowering Plants Androsace vandellii

Flowering Plants Phyteuma hemisphaericum

Flowering Plants Cardamine resedifolia

Flowering Plants Poa nemoralis

Flowering Plants Jovibarba heuffelii

Flowering Plants Sedum brevifolium

Flowering Plants Primula latifolia

Ferns Polypodium vulgare

Flowering Plants Sempervivum arachnoideum

Flowering Plants Saxifraga paniculata

Flowering Plants Saxifraga bryoides

Flowering Plants Primula hirsuta

Ferns Asplenium trichomanes

Flowering Plants Juncus trifidus

Ferns Cystopteris fragilis

Flowering Plants Alchemilla saxatilis

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
Asplenium septentrionale		Ferns
Androsace vandellii		Flowering Plants
Phyteuma hemisphaericum		Flowering Plants
Cardamine resedifolia		Flowering Plants
Poa nemoralis		Flowering Plants
Jovibarba heuffelii		Flowering Plants
Sedum brevifolium		Flowering Plants
Primula latifolia		Flowering Plants
Polypodium vulgare		Ferns
Sempervivum arachnoideum		Flowering Plants
Saxifraga paniculata		Flowering Plants
Saxifraga bryoides		Flowering Plants
Primula hirsuta		Flowering Plants
Asplenium trichomanes		Ferns
Juncus trifidus		Flowering Plants
Cystopteris fragilis		Ferns
Alchemilla saxatilis		Flowering Plants

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

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)	H3.1	Acid siliceous inland cliffs	narrower
European Red List of Habitats	H3.1b	Temperate high-mountain siliceous inland cliff	same

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

History

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	H3.1	Acid siliceous inland cliffs	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	H3.1	Acid siliceous inland cliffs	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	H3.1	Acid siliceous inland cliffs	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	H3.1	Acid siliceous inland cliffs	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811	H3.1	Acid siliceous inland cliffs	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712	H3.2	Acid siliceous inland cliffs	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905	62.2	Vegetated siliceous inland cliffs	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997	62.2	Vegetated siliceous inland cliffs	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996	62.2		same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993	62.2		same
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991	62.2		same
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989	62.2		same

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