Boreo-alpine fern snowbed grassland

English name: 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 available

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

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
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