R443 Arctic-alpine calciphilous stepped and garland grassland

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Description

Patchy grasslands widespread in moderately cryoturbated, wind-swept high-mountain calcareous areas.

Protection

Protected under the code 6170 ("Alpine and subalpine calcareous grasslands") by the EU Habitat Directive.

Floristic Composition

Frequent species

Festuca burnatii 55%, Koeleria vallesiana 54%, Anthyllis vulneraria 46%, Helianthemum oelandicum 45%, Arenaria grandiflora 44%, Saxifraga conifera 44%, Saxifraga paniculata 40%, Saxifraga canaliculata 34%, Thymus praecox 32%, Globularia repens 31%, Poa alpina 30%, Anemone pavoniana 30%, Carex sempervirens 29%, Hieracium mixtum aggr. 27%, Festuca hystrix 25%, Minuartia verna 24%, Crepis albida 24%, Matthiola perennis 23%, Galium pumilum aggr. 22%, Pimpinella tragium 21%, Helictotrichon sedenense 20%, Asplenium trichomanes 19%, Hornungia alpina 19%, Armeria cantabrica 19%, Euphrasia salisburgensis 18%, Helianthemum apenninum 18%, Alchemilla hoppeana aggr. 18%, Erinus alpinus 17%, Arenaria purpurascens 17%, Silene acaulis 16%, Silene ciliata 15%, Draba dedeana 15%, Androsace villosa 15%, Galium pyrenaicum 15%, Sedum atratum 13%, Linum catharticum 12%, Chaenorhinum origanifolium 12%, Oreochloa confusa 12%, Campanula arvatica aggr. 12%, Dethawia splendens 12%, Helianthemum urrielense 12%, Globularia nudicaulis 12%, Sedum album 12%, Cystopteris fragilis aggr. 11%, Teucrium pyrenaicum 11%, Asplenium ruta-muraria 11%, Gypsophila repens 10%, Gentiana verna 10%, Iberis carnosa 10%, Daphne laureola 10%, Erodium glandulosum 9%, Saxifraga oppositifolia 9%, Arenaria erinacea 8%, Sempervivum vicentei 8%, Jurinea humilis 8%, Helictochloa pratensis 8%, Teucrium chamaedrys 8%, Sedum dasyphyllum 8%, Festuca rubra 8%, Jasione cavanillesii 8%, Euphorbia pyrenaica 8%, Juniperus communis 8%, Plantago alpina 8%, Asplenium viride 7%, Leucanthemum vulgare 7%, Clinopodium alpinum 7%, Biscutella laevigata aggr. 7%, Festuca lambinonii 7%, Campanula adsurgens 7%, Festuca glacialis 7%, Erigeron alpinus 7%, Sideritis hyssopifolia 7%, Arenaria moehringioides 6%, Asplenium ceterach 6%, Draba aizoides 6%, Potentilla nivalis 6%, Pedicularis pyrenaica 6%, Galium mollugo aggr. 6%, Rhinanthus angustifolius 6%, Ranunculus parnassiifolius aggr. 6%, Kobresia myosuroides 6%, Scabiosa columbaria 6%, Agrostis schleicheri 5%

Phytosociology

  • Helianthemo cantabrici-Festucetum hystricis
  • Jasiono cavanillesii-Helictotrichetum sedenensis
  • Oxytropidetum neglecto-halleri
  • Saxifrago coniferae-Festucetum burnatii
  • Saxifrago coniferae-Helianthemetum urrielensis

Relations with other habitat types

These grasslands, interpretable as a calcicolous analogue of R43x, occur in mosaic with S23x or above the level where such scrub is viable. Their position is somewhat intermediate between R441 (occupying snowy, cooler and less exposed areas) and R1Hx, which occurs in areas warmer during the day, at lower elevations or in steep south-facing slopes. The regional representations of this habitat are recognised by EUNIS at level V as R4435 (“Oro-Iberian calciphilous stripped grasslands").

Regional distribution

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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