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, at higher elevation and in 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.

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Citation: IBEROATLANTICA – Flora and Habitats of the Cantabrian Mixed Forests ecoregion.
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