Barren Icelandic lava flows

Description (English)

Lava flows, fields, dykes, necks, domes, cones of Iceland devoid of vegetation or sparsely vegetated by algae, lichens and mosses, which constitute the first stage of colonisation, with covers of up to 20-40%. The main constituents of the vegetation are the lichens Stereocaulon vesubianum, Stereocaulon alpinum, Stereocaulon arcticum, Alectoria ochroleuca, Cladonia pyxidata, Lecidea spp., Lecanora spp. and the mosses Grimmia spp., Andreaea rupestris, Andreaea obovata, Racomitrium canescens, Polytrichum spp. accompanied by a very few vascular plants, including Festuca richardsonii, Thymus praecox ssp. arcticus, Poa subcaerulea.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type code U6121

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Not available

Species mentioned in habitat description

Flowering Plants Thymus praecox
Fungi Cladonia pyxidata
Species scientific name English common name Species group
Thymus praecox Flowering Plants
Cladonia pyxidata Fungi

Other classifications

Classification Code Habitat type name Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) H6.241 Barren Icelandic lava flows same
For relation to plant communities (syntaxa), see Vegetation types

History

Classification Code Habitat type name Relationship type Comment
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 H6.241 Barren Icelandic lava flows same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 H6.241 Barren Icelandic lava flows same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 H6.241 Barren Icelandic lava flows same
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