Barren Icelandic lava flows
Description (English)
Lava flows, fields, dykes, necks, domes, cones of Iceland devoid of vegetation or sparsely vegetated by algae, lichens and mosses, which constitute the first stage of colonisation, with covers of up to 20-40%. The main constituents of the vegetation are the lichens Stereocaulon vesubianum, Stereocaulon alpinum, Stereocaulon arcticum, Alectoria ochroleuca, Cladonia pyxidata, Lecidea spp., Lecanora spp. and the mosses Grimmia spp., Andreaea rupestris, Andreaea obovata, Racomitrium canescens, Polytrichum spp. accompanied by a very few vascular plants, including Festuca richardsonii, Thymus praecox ssp. arcticus, Poa subcaerulea.
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
| EUNIS habitat type | code H6.241 |
|---|---|
| Bern Convention | Included in a Resolution 4 habitat type at a higher level (H6) |
Vegetation types
Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)
Not availableSpecies mentioned in habitat description
Fungi
Cladonia pyxidata
Mosses & Liverworts
Andreaea rupestris
Mosses & Liverworts
Racomitrium canescens
| Species scientific name | English common name | Species group |
|---|---|---|
| Cladonia pyxidata | Fungi | |
| Andreaea rupestris | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Racomitrium canescens | Mosses & Liverworts |
Other classifications
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 200112 | 66.311 | Barren Icelandic lava flows | source |
| CORINE Land Cover | 3.3.3. | Sparsely vegetated areas | n/a |
History
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | H6.241 | Barren Icelandic lava flows | same |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | H6.241 | Barren Icelandic lava flows | same |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | H6.241 | Barren Icelandic lava flows | same |
