R541 Sub-Atlantic Pteridium aquilinum fields

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Description

Clonal, rapidly expanding dense bracken stands on acid, deep, humid but non-waterlogged soils, typically invading recently abandoned grasslands in the lowlands.

Protection

This habitat is not protected under the EU Habitat Directive.

Floristic Composition

Frequent species

Pteridium aquilinum 100%, Potentilla erecta 68%, Viola riviniana aggr. 53%, Calluna vulgaris 51%, Festuca rubra 46%, Ulex europaeus aggr. 43%, Brachypodium pinnatum 38%, Erica vagans 34%, Agrostis curtisii 33%, Helictotrichon thorei 31%, Avenella flexuosa 30%, Carex caryophyllea 26%, Stachys officinalis 24%, Agrostis capillaris 23%, Erica cinerea 23%, Quercus robur 21%, Daboecia cantabrica 21%, Vaccinium myrtillus 20%, Carex pilulifera 20%, Pilosella officinarum 20%, Polygala serpyllifolia 20%, Danthonia decumbens 17%, Ranunculus tuberosus aggr. 17%, Centaurea nigra 16%, Nardus stricta 16%, Stellaria holostea 15%, Lathyrus linifolius 15%, Blechnum spicant 15%, Genista pilosa 15%, Hypochaeris radicata 14%, Molinia caerulea 14%, Polygala vulgaris 14%, Anthoxanthum odoratum 14%, Dactylis glomerata 13%, Hypericum pulchrum 12%, Lotus corniculatus 12%, Teucrium scorodonia 12%, Cirsium filipendulum 12%, Erica ciliaris 11%, Veronica officinalis 11%, Galium saxatile 11%, Scilla verna 10%, Clinopodium vulgare 10%, Fragaria vesca 10%, Ulex minor aggr. 10%, Asphodelus albus 9%, Arenaria montana 9%, Gentiana pneumonanthe 9%, Cruciata glabra 9%, Cytisus scoparius 9%, Solidago virgaurea 9%, Glandora diffusa 8%, Galium pumilum aggr. 8%, Cardamine pratensis 8%, Smilax aspera 7%, Campanula rotundifolia aggr. 7%, Trifolium pratense 7%, Rubus ulmifolius 7%, Omphalodes nitida 7%, Picris hieracioides 7%, Helictochloa marginata 7%, Centaurea debeauxii 7%, Cuscuta epithymum 7%, Plantago lanceolata 6%, Daucus carota 6%, Trisetum flavescens 6%, Achillea millefolium 6%, Carex flacca 6%, Euphorbia angulata 6%, Wahlenbergia hederacea 6%, Jasione montana 6%, Prunella grandiflora 6%, Eupatorium cannabinum 6%, Campanula scheuchzeri 5%, Potentilla montana 5%, Veronica chamaedrys 5%, Cirsium palustre 5%, Pulicaria dysenterica 5%, Crataegus monogyna 5%, Thymus praecox 5%, Pulmonaria longifolia 5%, Lilium martagon 5%, Digitalis purpurea 5%, Rumex acetosa 5%, Scorzonera humilis 5%, Euphorbia hyberna 5%

Relations with other habitat types

R1M2 is particularly prone to invasion by this habitat, often in mosaic with S33 and S42m, which tend to prevail eventually unless fire or clearings, to which bracken is particularly resistant through its underground rhizomes, occur.

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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