IBEROATLANTICA

Description

Heaths of Erica tetralix or E. mackayana with Genista anglica s.l. and other endemic hygrophilous congeners like G. micrantha on almost permanently waterlogged soils, often fringing bogs or fens.

Protection

The EU Habitat Directive grants them priority protection under the code 4020* ("Temperate Atlantic wet heaths with Erica ciliaris and Erica tetralix"]).

Floristic Composition

Frequent species

Erica tetralix 87%, Calluna vulgaris 87%, Potentilla erecta 77%, Genista anglica aggr. 48%, Nardus stricta 47%, Juncus squarrosus 46%, Genista micrantha 45%, Molinia caerulea 25%, Agrostis capillaris 22%, Erica vagans 22%, Danthonia decumbens 22%, Vaccinium myrtillus 22%, Ulex minor aggr. 21%, Carex binervis 20%, Trocdaris verticillatum 18%, Gentiana pneumonanthe 17%, Helictochloa marginata 15%, Agrostis curtisii 14%, Succisa pratensis 14%, Euphorbia polygalifolia 14%, Carex echinata 14%, Agrostis hesperica 14%, Daboecia cantabrica 14%, Juncus acutiflorus 13%, Anthoxanthum odoratum 13%, Luzula multiflora 12%, Trichophorum cespitosum 12%, Dactylorhiza maculata aggr. 12%, Halimium alyssoides 11%, Serratula tinctoria 11%, Festuca rubra 10%, Drosera rotundifolia 10%, Juniperus communis 10%, Lotus corniculatus 10%, Avenella flexuosa 10%, Pilosella officinarum 9%, Parnassia palustris 9%, Juncus effusus 8%, Deschampsia cespitosa aggr. 7%, Erica cinerea 7%, Erica arborea 7%, Carex nigra 7%, Holcus lanatus 7%, Briza media 7%, Luzula campestris 7%, Vaccinium uliginosum 6%, Festuca rothmaleri 6%, Viola palustris 6%, Carex pilulifera 6%, Arnica montana 6%, Carex flacca 6%, Galium saxatile 5%, Achillea millefolium 5%, Lotus pedunculatus 5% view more...

Indicator species

Erica tetralix 0.86, Potentilla erecta 0.68, Calluna vulgaris 0.66, Genista anglica aggr. 0.47, Juncus squarrosus 0.46, Nardus stricta 0.44, Genista micrantha 0.44, Molinia caerulea 0.23, Carex binervis 0.19, Danthonia decumbens 0.18, Trocdaris verticillatum 0.17, Gentiana pneumonanthe 0.16, Carex echinata 0.14, Succisa pratensis 0.13, Agrostis hesperica 0.13, Juncus acutiflorus 0.13, Agrostis capillaris 0.13, Euphorbia polygalifolia 0.12, Luzula multiflora 0.12, Trichophorum cespitosum 0.12, Dactylorhiza maculata aggr. 0.12, Drosera rotundifolia 0.1, Anthoxanthum odoratum 0.09, Serratula tinctoria 0.09, Parnassia palustris 0.09, Juncus effusus 0.08, Helictochloa marginata 0.08, Carex nigra 0.07, Luzula campestris 0.07, Festuca rubra 0.06, Arnica montana 0.06, Deschampsia cespitosa aggr. 0.06, Festuca rothmaleri 0.05, Pilosella officinarum 0.05, Briza media 0.05, Lotus pedunculatus 0.05, Holcus lanatus 0.05, Festuca rivularis 0.05, Carex lepidocarpa aggr. 0.05, Carex panicea 0.05, Carex pilulifera 0.04, Achillea millefolium 0.04, Narthecium ossifragum 0.04, Juncus conglomeratus 0.04, Viola palustris 0.04, Pedicularis sylvatica 0.04, Thymus pulegioides aggr. 0.04, Carex flacca 0.04, Genista pilosa 0.03, Meum athamanticum 0.03 view more...

Phytosociology

Erico tetralicis-Ulicetum gallii
Euphorbio polygalifoliae-Ericetum tetralicis
Genisto anglicae-Ericetum tetralicis
Genisto anglicae-Ericetum vagantis
Genisto berberideae-Ericetum tetralicis

Relations with other habitat types

EUNIS, in the definition of S411 (“Northern wet heaths"), indicates that of such unit replaces the more general S412 in the most humid, central areas of northwestern Iberian wet heaths. Nonetheless, such distinction is very subtle to say the least, and the admission of one single regional unit, at least at level IV, is far more operational.