Wet heath
Description (English)
Heath with prominent Erica tetralix on shallow, acid, nutrient-poor peats and peaty mineral soils, kept moist for much of the year and often seasonally waterlogged, through the Atlantic and sub-Atlantic lowlands and foothills of Europe. Typically occurring in wet depressions and seepage areas within dry heaths or as a marginal zone around bogs where drainage of deeper peats can increase its extent. In milder oceanic climates, other Erica and Ulex spp. occur in richer humid heath. Frequently influenced by burning, grazing and sod-cutting.
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
| EUNIS habitat type | code S4-1 |
|---|---|
| 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
Flowering Plants
Erica tetralix
Mosses & Liverworts
Sphagnum compactum
Flowering Plants
Trichophorum cespitosum
Flowering Plants
Calluna vulgaris
Flowering Plants
Narthecium ossifragum
Flowering Plants
Juncus squarrosus
Flowering Plants
Drosera rotundifolia
Mosses & Liverworts
Sphagnum tenellum
Mosses & Liverworts
Sphagnum papillosum
Flowering Plants
Drosera intermedia
Mosses & Liverworts
Odontoschisma sphagni
Flowering Plants
Salix repens
Flowering Plants
Gentiana pneumonanthe
Mosses & Liverworts
Hypnum jutlandicum
Fungi
Cladonia portentosa
Flowering Plants
Eriophorum angustifolium
Flowering Plants
Rhynchospora alba
Flowering Plants
Rhynchospora fusca
Flowering Plants
Polygala serpyllifolia
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Erica tetralix | Flowering Plants | |
| Sphagnum compactum | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Trichophorum cespitosum | Flowering Plants | |
| Calluna vulgaris | Flowering Plants | |
| Narthecium ossifragum | Flowering Plants | |
| Juncus squarrosus | Flowering Plants | |
| Drosera rotundifolia | Flowering Plants | |
| Sphagnum tenellum | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Sphagnum papillosum | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Drosera intermedia | Flowering Plants | |
| Odontoschisma sphagni | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Salix repens | Flowering Plants | |
| Gentiana pneumonanthe | Flowering Plants | |
| Hypnum jutlandicum | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Cladonia portentosa | Fungi | |
| Eriophorum angustifolium | Flowering Plants | |
| Rhynchospora alba | Flowering Plants | |
| Rhynchospora fusca | Flowering Plants | |
| Polygala serpyllifolia | Flowering Plants |
Flowering Plants
Erica tetralix
Flowering Plants
Calluna vulgaris
Flowering Plants
Potentilla erecta
Flowering Plants
Trichophorum cespitosum
Flowering Plants
Eriophorum angustifolium
Flowering Plants
Drosera rotundifolia
Flowering Plants
Narthecium ossifragum
Flowering Plants
Juncus squarrosus
Mosses & Liverworts
Hypnum jutlandicum
Mosses & Liverworts
Sphagnum papillosum
Mosses & Liverworts
Sphagnum compactum
Flowering Plants
Carex panicea
Flowering Plants
Salix repens
Flowering Plants
Betula pubescens
Mosses & Liverworts
Sphagnum tenellum
Conifers
Pinus sylvestris
Mosses & Liverworts
Hypnum cupressiforme
Flowering Plants
Eriophorum vaginatum
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 | |
| Calluna vulgaris | Flowering Plants | |
| Potentilla erecta | Flowering Plants | |
| Trichophorum cespitosum | Flowering Plants | |
| Eriophorum angustifolium | Flowering Plants | |
| Drosera rotundifolia | Flowering Plants | |
| Narthecium ossifragum | Flowering Plants | |
| Juncus squarrosus | Flowering Plants | |
| Hypnum jutlandicum | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Sphagnum papillosum | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Sphagnum compactum | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Carex panicea | Flowering Plants | |
| Salix repens | Flowering Plants | |
| Betula pubescens | Flowering Plants | |
| Sphagnum tenellum | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Pinus sylvestris | Conifers | |
| Hypnum cupressiforme | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Eriophorum vaginatum | Flowering Plants | |
| Cladonia portentosa | Fungi |
Flowering Plants
Erica tetralix
Flowering Plants
Calluna vulgaris
Mosses & Liverworts
Sphagnum papillosum
Mosses & Liverworts
Sphagnum compactum
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Erica tetralix | Flowering Plants | |
| Calluna vulgaris | Flowering Plants | |
| Sphagnum papillosum | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Sphagnum compactum | Mosses & Liverworts |
Other classifications
History
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) | F4.1 | Wet heaths | same | new description |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | F4.1 | Wet heaths | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | F4.1 | Wet heaths | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | F4.1 | Wet heaths | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | F4.1 | Wet heaths | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 | F4.1 | Wet heaths | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | F4.1 | Wet heaths | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 | 31.1 | European wet heaths | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 | 31.1 | European wet heaths | same | |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 | 31.1 | same | ||
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 | 31.1 | same | ||
| CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991 | 31.1 | same | ||
| CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989 | 31.1 | same |
