Boreo-alpine fern snowbed grassland
Description (English)
Acidophilous snowbed communities of alpine and arcto-alpine levels of the Fennoscandian mountains, of Iceland and of the Scottish Highlands dominated by ferns, characteristic of screes with prolonged snow cover, related to the tall-herb communities of unit E5.5. Cryptogramma crispa, Athyrium distentifolium (Athyrium alpestre), Athyrium filix-femina, Dryopteris expansa (Dryopteris assimilis) or Dryopteris filix-mas can dominate the communities. Galium saxatile, Calamagrostis purpurea, Barbilophozia floerkii, Polytrichum alpinum are among the associates.
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
| EUNIS habitat type | code E4.14 |
|---|
Vegetation types
Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)
Not availableSpecies mentioned in habitat description
Ferns
Athyrium alpestre
Ferns
Athyrium distentifolium
Ferns
Athyrium filix-femina
Ferns
Cryptogramma crispa
Ferns
Dryopteris assimilis
Ferns
Dryopteris expansa
Ferns
Dryopteris filix-mas
Flowering Plants
Calamagrostis purpurea
Flowering Plants
Galium saxatile
Mosses & Liverworts
Polytrichum alpinum
| Species scientific name | English common name | Species group |
|---|---|---|
| Athyrium alpestre | Ferns | |
| Athyrium distentifolium | Ferns | |
| Athyrium filix-femina | Ferns | |
| Cryptogramma crispa | Ferns | |
| Dryopteris assimilis | Ferns | |
| Dryopteris expansa | Ferns | |
| Dryopteris filix-mas | Ferns | |
| Calamagrostis purpurea | Flowering Plants | |
| Galium saxatile | Flowering Plants | |
| Polytrichum alpinum | Mosses & Liverworts |
Other classifications
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 200112 | 36.1125 | Boreo-alpine fern snowbed communities | source |
| CORINE Land Cover | 3.3.3. | Sparsely vegetated areas | n/a |
| National Vegetation Classification (UK) | U18 | Cryptogramma crispa-Athyrium distentifolium snow-bed | narrower |
History
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | E4.14 | Boreo-alpine fern snowbed grassland | same |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | E4.14 | Boreo-alpine fern snow-bed grassland | same |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | E4.14 | Boreo-alpine fern snow-bed grassland | same |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | E4.14 | Boreo-alpine fern snow-bed communities | same |
