R1A4 Sub-Atlantic very dry calcareous grassland

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Description

Open formations dominated by xerophytic grasses and chamaephytes on south-facing, abrupt or otherwise drought-prone calcareous sites.

Protection

Protected under the code 6210 ("Semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates (Festuco-Brometalia)") by the EU Habitat Directive, with priority in those localities rich in orchids.

Floristic Composition

Frequent species

Bromus erectus aggr. 70%, Koeleria vallesiana 67%, Thymus praecox 51%, Carthamus mitissimus 46%, Potentilla tabernaemontani 45%, Festuca lambinonii 45%, Plantago lanceolata 43%, Lotus corniculatus 42%, Helictochloa pratensis 41%, Pilosella officinarum 39%, Coronilla minima 37%, Carex humilis 36%, Sanguisorba minor 34%, Anthyllis vulneraria 31%, Eryngium campestre 31%, Medicago lupulina 29%, Galium pumilum aggr. 27%, Seseli montanum 27%, Helianthemum oelandicum 27%, Briza media 26%, Teucrium pyrenaicum 25%, Thymus vulgaris 25%, Carex caryophyllea 24%, Teucrium chamaedrys 24%, Bellis perennis 23%, Scabiosa columbaria 23%, Carex flacca 22%, Helianthemum apenninum 22%, Plantago media 21%, Brachypodium pinnatum 20%, Brachypodium retusum 20%, Helianthemum nummularium 20%, Dorycnium pentaphyllum 19%, Asperula cynanchica 19%, Festuca ovina 18%, Clinopodium alpinum 18%, Aphyllanthes monspeliensis 18%, Trifolium pratense 17%, Genista scorpius 17%, Linum catharticum 17%, Dactylis glomerata 17%, Galium verum 16%, Blackstonia perfoliata 16%, Geum sylvaticum 16%, Colchicum montanum 16%, Astragalus monspessulanus 16%, Achillea millefolium 15%, Globularia vulgaris 14%, Hippocrepis comosa 14%, Thymelaea ruizii 14%, Galium lucidum 14%, Hypochaeris radicata 14%, Sedum album 13%, Festuca nigrescens 13%, Arenaria grandiflora 13%, Onobrychis conferta 13%, Ranunculus bulbosus 12%, Brachypodium phoenicoides 12%, Asperula pyrenaica 11%, Ononis pusilla 11%, Thesium humifusum 11%, Argyrolobium zanonii 11%, Agrostis capillaris 11%, Catananche caerulea 11%, Thrincia saxatilis aggr. 10%, Potentilla montana 10%, Cerastium arvense 10%, Erica vagans 10%, Trifolium campestre 10%, Lavandula latifolia 9%, Festuca marginata 9%, Linum appressum 9%, Helictochloa bromoides 9%, Carex halleriana 9%, Daucus carota 9%, Trifolium repens aggr. 8%, Phleum pratense aggr. 8%, Ononis spinosa 8%, Genista hispanica 8%, Poa alpina 8%, Prunella laciniata 8%, Bellis sylvestris 8%, Phyteuma orbiculare 8%, Filipendula vulgaris 7%, Aira caryophyllea 7%, Coris monspeliensis 7%, Trifolium ochroleucon 7%, Thalictrum tuberosum 7%, Rhinanthus pumilus 7%, Leucanthemum vulgare 7%, Prunella hyssopifolia 7%, Linum narbonense 7%, Glandora diffusa 6%, Sherardia arvensis 6%, Erinus alpinus 6%, Dianthus pungens 6%, Trifolium montanum 6%, Silene nutans 6%, Santolina ericoides 6%, Conopodium majus aggr. 6%, Trifolium scabrum 6%, Campanula rotundifolia aggr. 6%, Bupleurum baldense 5%, Euphorbia flavicoma 5%, Ononis striata 5%, Crepis albida 5%, Leucanthemum pallens 5%, Helichrysum stoechas 5%, Alchemilla hoppeana aggr. 5%, Carlina corymbosa 5%, Arabis scabra 5%, Cerastium fontanum 5%, Trisetum flavescens 5%

Phytosociology

  • Calamintho acini-Seselietum montanae
  • Thymelaeo ruizii-Aphyllanthetum monspeliensis

Relations with other habitat types

Interpretable as a calcicolous analogue of R1R2 and, similarly, intermingled with short ephemeral swards rich in annuals, in this case referable to R13x. Alternatively, it can be understood as a xerophilous analogue of R1A3, forming pasture-mediated mosaics with the drier variants of S73x. In severely cryoturbated, higher-elevation and more continental areas, it is replaced by R1Hx.

Regional distribution

In the study area this habitat occurs mainly in the eastern transitions between subatlantic and pre-Pyrenean continental Mediterranean climates.

Known occurrences and potential area of occupancy of the habitat type in the study region.