Alkaline, calcareous, carbonate-rich small-sedge spring fen
Description (English)
Short-sedge fens, spring fens and fen grasslands kept continually wet by base-rich, nutrient-poor waters, occurring through the lowlands and mountains of temperate Europe and more locally in the boreal zone. They are most common, rich and diverse in the limestone massifs of central European mountains, especially the Alps and Carpathians. The soil is rich in organic matter and has high pH, often with precipitation of carbonate or tufa. Small basiphilous sedges dominate the vegetation with rich associated flora and a patchy carpet of fen bryophytes while sphagna are absent.
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
| EUNIS habitat type | code Q41 |
|---|---|
| Relation to | Annex I habitat types (EU Habitats Directive) |
| Relation to | Resolution 4 habitat type (used for designation of Emerald sites) |
Legal status
Relation to other habitat types mentioned in legal instruments
Vegetation types
Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)
Not availableIndicator species
Diagnostic species
Constant species
Dominant species
Flowering Plants
Carex davalliana
Flowering Plants
Eleocharis quinqueflora
Flowering Plants
Eriophorum latifolium
Flowering Plants
Carex panicea
Flowering Plants
Carex lepidocarpa
Mosses & Liverworts
Palustriella commutata
Mosses & Liverworts
Scorpidium revolvens
Mosses & Liverworts
Campylium stellatum
Flowering Plants
Carex hostiana
Flowering Plants
Juncus alpinoarticulatus
Mosses & Liverworts
Philonotis calcarea
Mosses & Liverworts
Bryum pseudotriquetrum
Flowering Plants
Parnassia palustris
Flowering Plants
Pinguicula vulgaris
Mosses & Liverworts
Fissidens adianthoides
Flowering Plants
Primula farinosa
Flowering Plants
Valeriana dioica
Flowering Plants
Carex flava
Flowering Plants
Tofieldia calyculata
Ferns
Equisetum palustre
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Carex davalliana | Flowering Plants | |
| Eleocharis quinqueflora | Flowering Plants | |
| Eriophorum latifolium | Flowering Plants | |
| Carex panicea | Flowering Plants | |
| Carex lepidocarpa | Flowering Plants | |
| Palustriella commutata | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Scorpidium revolvens | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Campylium stellatum | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Carex hostiana | Flowering Plants | |
| Juncus alpinoarticulatus | Flowering Plants | |
| Philonotis calcarea | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Bryum pseudotriquetrum | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Parnassia palustris | Flowering Plants | |
| Pinguicula vulgaris | Flowering Plants | |
| Fissidens adianthoides | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Primula farinosa | Flowering Plants | |
| Valeriana dioica | Flowering Plants | |
| Carex flava | Flowering Plants | |
| Tofieldia calyculata | Flowering Plants | |
| Equisetum palustre | Ferns |
Flowering Plants
Carex panicea
Flowering Plants
Potentilla erecta
Mosses & Liverworts
Campylium stellatum
Flowering Plants
Carex davalliana
Flowering Plants
Eriophorum latifolium
Flowering Plants
Parnassia palustris
Mosses & Liverworts
Scorpidium revolvens
Flowering Plants
Molinia caerulea
Ferns
Equisetum palustre
Flowering Plants
Carex nigra
Mosses & Liverworts
Bryum pseudotriquetrum
Flowering Plants
Juncus articulatus
Flowering Plants
Carex lepidocarpa
Flowering Plants
Pinguicula vulgaris
Flowering Plants
Eriophorum angustifolium
Flowering Plants
Eleocharis quinqueflora
Mosses & Liverworts
Calliergonella cuspidata
Flowering Plants
Valeriana dioica
Mosses & Liverworts
Palustriella commutata
Flowering Plants
Carex flacca
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Carex panicea | Flowering Plants | |
| Potentilla erecta | Flowering Plants | |
| Campylium stellatum | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Carex davalliana | Flowering Plants | |
| Eriophorum latifolium | Flowering Plants | |
| Parnassia palustris | Flowering Plants | |
| Scorpidium revolvens | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Molinia caerulea | Flowering Plants | |
| Equisetum palustre | Ferns | |
| Carex nigra | Flowering Plants | |
| Bryum pseudotriquetrum | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Juncus articulatus | Flowering Plants | |
| Carex lepidocarpa | Flowering Plants | |
| Pinguicula vulgaris | Flowering Plants | |
| Eriophorum angustifolium | Flowering Plants | |
| Eleocharis quinqueflora | Flowering Plants | |
| Calliergonella cuspidata | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Valeriana dioica | Flowering Plants | |
| Palustriella commutata | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Carex flacca | Flowering Plants |
Mosses & Liverworts
Scorpidium revolvens
Flowering Plants
Carex davalliana
Mosses & Liverworts
Palustriella commutata
Mosses & Liverworts
Campylium stellatum
Flowering Plants
Eleocharis quinqueflora
Flowering Plants
Carex panicea
Flowering Plants
Carex lepidocarpa
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Scorpidium revolvens | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Carex davalliana | Flowering Plants | |
| Palustriella commutata | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Campylium stellatum | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Eleocharis quinqueflora | Flowering Plants | |
| Carex panicea | Flowering Plants | |
| Carex lepidocarpa | Flowering Plants |
Other classifications
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) | D4.1 | Rich fens, including eutrophic tall-herb fens and calcareous flushes and soaks | narrower |
| European Red List of Habitats | D4.1a | Small-sedge base-rich fen and calcareous spring mire | narrower |
History
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | D4.1 | Rich fens, including eutrophic tall-herb fens and calcareous flushes and soaks | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | D4.1 | Rich fens, including eutrophic tall-herb fens and calcareous flushes and soaks | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | D4.1 | Rich fens, including eutrophic tall-herb fens and calcareous flushes and soaks | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | D4.1 | Rich fens, including eutrophic tall-herb fens and calcareous flushes and soaks | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 | D4.1 | Rich fens, including eutrophic tall-herb fens and calcareous flushes and soaks | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | D4.1 | Rich fens, including eutrophic tall-herb fens and calcareous flushes and soaks | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 | 54.2 | Rich fens | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 | 54.2 | Rich fens | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 | 54.2 | same | ||
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 | 54.2 | same | ||
| CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991 | 54.2 | same | ||
| CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989 | 54.2 | same |
