Oceanic valley mire

Description (English)

Topogenous wetlands in which the peat-forming vegetation depends on water draining from the surrounding landscape. Most valley mires are habitat complexes including poor fens, transition mires and pools. Acid valley mires often have vegetation resembling that of bogs, especially in those parts relatively distant from flowing water. Basic and neutral valley mires support mainly poor-fen vegetation, but in large mire systems, this is accompanied by acid wet grassland, large sedges and reeds. Sphagnum hummocks form locally, and transition mires or littoral and spring communities colonize small depressions. Excluded are rich-fen valley mires.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type code Q21
Relation to Annex I habitat types (EU Habitats Directive)

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Not available

Indicator species

Diagnostic species
Constant species
Dominant species
Flowering Plants Narthecium ossifragum
Flowering Plants Erica tetralix
Mosses & Liverworts Sphagnum papillosum
Mosses & Liverworts Odontoschisma sphagni
Flowering Plants Eriophorum angustifolium
Flowering Plants Drosera rotundifolia
Mosses & Liverworts Sphagnum tenellum
Flowering Plants Eriophorum vaginatum
Mosses & Liverworts Sphagnum capillifolium
Flowering Plants Calluna vulgaris
Flowering Plants Molinia caerulea
Mosses & Liverworts Sphagnum subnitens
Mosses & Liverworts Sphagnum rubellum
Flowering Plants Rhynchospora alba
Mosses & Liverworts Sphagnum magellanicum
Flowering Plants Vaccinium oxycoccos

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
Narthecium ossifragum Flowering Plants
Erica tetralix Flowering Plants
Sphagnum papillosum Mosses & Liverworts
Odontoschisma sphagni Mosses & Liverworts
Eriophorum angustifolium Flowering Plants
Drosera rotundifolia Flowering Plants
Sphagnum tenellum Mosses & Liverworts
Eriophorum vaginatum Flowering Plants
Sphagnum capillifolium Mosses & Liverworts
Calluna vulgaris Flowering Plants
Molinia caerulea Flowering Plants
Sphagnum subnitens Mosses & Liverworts
Sphagnum rubellum Mosses & Liverworts
Rhynchospora alba Flowering Plants
Sphagnum magellanicum Mosses & Liverworts
Vaccinium oxycoccos Flowering Plants
Flowering Plants Erica tetralix
Flowering Plants Eriophorum angustifolium
Flowering Plants Calluna vulgaris
Flowering Plants Narthecium ossifragum
Flowering Plants Molinia caerulea
Mosses & Liverworts Sphagnum papillosum
Flowering Plants Drosera rotundifolia
Flowering Plants Eriophorum vaginatum
Mosses & Liverworts Odontoschisma sphagni
Mosses & Liverworts Sphagnum capillifolium
Flowering Plants Potentilla erecta
Flowering Plants Vaccinium oxycoccos
Mosses & Liverworts Sphagnum tenellum
Mosses & Liverworts Sphagnum magellanicum
Flowering Plants Andromeda polifolia
Mosses & Liverworts Sphagnum recurvum
Flowering Plants Rhynchospora alba
Fungi Cladonia portentosa

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
Erica tetralix Flowering Plants
Eriophorum angustifolium Flowering Plants
Calluna vulgaris Flowering Plants
Narthecium ossifragum Flowering Plants
Molinia caerulea Flowering Plants
Sphagnum papillosum Mosses & Liverworts
Drosera rotundifolia Flowering Plants
Eriophorum vaginatum Flowering Plants
Odontoschisma sphagni Mosses & Liverworts
Sphagnum capillifolium Mosses & Liverworts
Potentilla erecta Flowering Plants
Vaccinium oxycoccos Flowering Plants
Sphagnum tenellum Mosses & Liverworts
Sphagnum magellanicum Mosses & Liverworts
Andromeda polifolia Flowering Plants
Sphagnum recurvum Mosses & Liverworts
Rhynchospora alba Flowering Plants
Cladonia portentosa Fungi
Flowering Plants Calluna vulgaris
Mosses & Liverworts Sphagnum papillosum
Flowering Plants Erica tetralix
Flowering Plants Narthecium ossifragum
Flowering Plants Molinia caerulea
Flowering Plants Eriophorum vaginatum
Mosses & Liverworts Sphagnum magellanicum
Mosses & Liverworts Sphagnum capillifolium
Mosses & Liverworts Sphagnum recurvum
Flowering Plants Eriophorum angustifolium

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
Calluna vulgaris Flowering Plants
Sphagnum papillosum Mosses & Liverworts
Erica tetralix Flowering Plants
Narthecium ossifragum Flowering Plants
Molinia caerulea Flowering Plants
Eriophorum vaginatum Flowering Plants
Sphagnum magellanicum Mosses & Liverworts
Sphagnum capillifolium Mosses & Liverworts
Sphagnum recurvum Mosses & Liverworts
Eriophorum angustifolium Flowering Plants

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) D2.1 Valley mires same
European Red List of Habitats D2.1 Oceanic valley bog same
For relation to plant communities (syntaxa), see Vegetation types

History

Classification Code Habitat type name Relationship type Comment
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 D2.1 Valley mires same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 D2.1 Valley mires same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 D2.1 Valley mires same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 D2.1 Valley mires same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 D2.1 Valley bogs same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 D2.1 Valley bogs same
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