R1Hx Iberian Festuca frost-influenced grassland

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Description

Calcareous grasslands with a short growing season, subjected to high solar radiation and harsh winters that result in freeze-thaw cycles (cryoturbation), dominated by open communities of dwarf plants.

Protection

This habitat is not protected under the EU Habitat Directive.

Floristic Composition

Frequent species

Festuca hystrix 99%, Koeleria vallesiana 86%, Helianthemum oelandicum 85%, Arenaria grandiflora 52%, Anthyllis vulneraria 48%, Carex humilis 47%, Thymus mastigophorus 40%, Teucrium expasssum 35%, Thymus praecox 33%, Coronilla minima 31%, Jurinea humilis 30%, Teucrium chamaedrys 29%, Arenaria erinacea 26%, Helictochloa pratensis 25%, Seseli montanum 25%, Linum appressum 24%, Crepis albida 23%, Sedum album 21%, Dianthus pungens 21%, Paronychia kapela 19%, Fumana procumbens 18%, Aphyllanthes monspeliensis 18%, Chaenorhinum origanifolium 18%, Oreochloa confusa 18%, Genista pulchella 18%, Sedum sediforme 17%, Globularia vulgaris 17%, Helianthemum apenninum 16%, Helichrysum stoechas 15%, Asperula cynanchica 15%, Saxifraga conifera 15%, Plantago discolor 14%, Pimpinella tragium 14%, Ononis striata 13%, Poa ligulata 13%, Sideritis hyssopifolia 13%, Klasea nudicaulis 12%, Erinus alpinus 12%, Globularia nudicaulis 12%, Trinia glauca 12%, Bromus erectus aggr. 12%, Campanula rotundifolia aggr. 12%, Lavandula latifolia 11%, Teucrium pyrenaicum 11%, Galium pumilum aggr. 11%, Fumana ericifolia 10%, Odontites longiflorus 10%, Matthiola perennis 10%, Coris monspeliensis 10%, Androsace villosa 10%, Carthamus mitissimus 10%, Minuartia verna 10%, Sedum acre 10%, Globularia repens 10%, Juniperus communis 10%, Ononis pusilla 10%, Draba dedeana 9%, Carex sempervirens 8%, Asperula aristata 8%, Thymus vulgaris 8%, Sanguisorba minor 8%, Genista hispanica 8%, Saxifraga paniculata 8%, Argyrolobium zanonii 7%, Euphrasia salisburgensis 7%, Asplenium ruta-muraria 7%, Potentilla tabernaemontani 7%, Erica vagans 7%, Buxus sempervirens 7%, Teucrium capitatum 7%, Genista scorpius 7%, Silene ciliata 6%, Festuca summilusitana 6%, Hippocrepis comosa 6%, Lithodora fruticosa 6%, Helictotrichon sedenense 6%, Potentilla crantzii 6%, Pilosella officinarum 6%, Brassica repanda 6%, Festuca lambinonii 6%, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 6%, Hieracium mixtum aggr. 6%, Galium pyrenaicum 6%, Achillea odorata 6%, Scabiosa columbaria 6%, Carex halleriana 6%, Allium sphaerocephalon 6%, Festuca ovina 5%, Dethawia splendens 5%, Arabis scabra 5%, Saxifraga canaliculata 5%

Phytosociology

  • Arenario cantabricae-Festucetum hystricis
  • Festuco hystricis-Genistetum eliassennenii
  • Festuco hystricis-Thymetum mastigophori
  • Koelerio vallesianae-Thymetum mastigophori
  • Ononido pusillae-Thymetum zygidis
  • Plantagini discoloris-Thymetum mastigophori

Relations with other habitat types

The vegetation described here, often occuring in a dynamic mosaic with shrublands of the unit S23z, is errouneously assigned to R1G in the official EUNIS classification.

Regional distribution

Though generally found at lower elevations, in the strongly continental valleys of the southern side of the Cantabrian mountains, this habitat may reach high elevations, replacing R443, in the exposed summits of some limestone massifs.

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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