British NVC community OV38
Encyclopedia
British NVC community OV38 (Gymnocarpium robertianum - Arrhenatherum elatius community) is one of the open habitat
communities in the British National Vegetation Classification
system. It is one of six communities of crevice, scree and spoil vegetation.
This is a localised community, which is restricted to areas of calcareous bedrock, mostly Carboniferous limestone
, in England and Wales.
There are no subcommunities.
There are no rare species associated with the community.
in England and Wales. It is an early coloniser of limestone scree
s and slopes, but is only able to persist if the talus if especially coarse or if there is limited grazing, both conditions which inhibit invasion by scrub and woodland species.
This community was first described in Britain by Shimwell, who assigned it to the Gymnocarpietum robertianae (Kuhn 1937), previously described from Germany.
Vegetation of open habitats in the British National Vegetation Classification system
This article gives an overview of the plant communities formed by vegetation of open habitats in the British National Vegetation Classification system.-Introduction:...
communities in the British National Vegetation Classification
British National Vegetation Classification
The British National Vegetation Classification or NVC is a system of classifying natural habitat types in Great Britain according to the vegetation they contain....
system. It is one of six communities of crevice, scree and spoil vegetation.
This is a localised community, which is restricted to areas of calcareous bedrock, mostly Carboniferous limestone
Carboniferous limestone
Carboniferous Limestone is a term used to describe a variety of different types of limestone occurring widely across Great Britain and Ireland which were deposited during the Dinantian epoch of the Carboniferous period. They were formed between 363 and 325 million years ago...
, in England and Wales.
There are no subcommunities.
Community composition
The following constant species are found in this community:- False oat-grass (Arrhenatherum elatiusArrhenatherum elatius-Introduction:Arrhenatherum elatius, with the common names false oat-grass, tall oat-grass, tall meadow oat, onion couch and tuber oat-grass, is a perennial species of grass, common in the temperate regions of Europe....
) - Red/Sheep's-fescue (Festuca rubraFestuca rubraFestuca rubra is a species of grass known by the common name red fescue. It is found worldwide and can tolerate many habitats and climates; it generally needs full sun to thrive...
/Festuca ovina) - Herb-Robert (Geranium robertianum)
- Limestone fern (Gymnocarpium robertianumGymnocarpium robertianumGymnocarpium robertianum is a fern of the family Woodsiaceae.-Description:Gymnocarpium robertianum has small , deltate, two to three pinnate fronds. Fronds arise from creeping rhizomes and have long, delicate rachis. The sori are borne in round clumps on the underside of the blade and lack an...
) - Wood sage (Teucrium scorodoniaTeucrium scorodoniaTeucrium scorodonia, common name the Wood Sage or Woodland germander, is a perennial herb belonging to the genus Teucrium of the Lamiaceae family. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in gardens.-Description:...
) - Comb-moss (Ctenidium molluscum)
There are no rare species associated with the community.
Distribution
This is a local community, found mainly on Carboniferous limestoneCarboniferous limestone
Carboniferous Limestone is a term used to describe a variety of different types of limestone occurring widely across Great Britain and Ireland which were deposited during the Dinantian epoch of the Carboniferous period. They were formed between 363 and 325 million years ago...
in England and Wales. It is an early coloniser of limestone scree
Scree
Scree, also called talus, is a term given to an accumulation of broken rock fragments at the base of crags, mountain cliffs, or valley shoulders. Landforms associated with these materials are sometimes called scree slopes or talus piles...
s and slopes, but is only able to persist if the talus if especially coarse or if there is limited grazing, both conditions which inhibit invasion by scrub and woodland species.
This community was first described in Britain by Shimwell, who assigned it to the Gymnocarpietum robertianae (Kuhn 1937), previously described from Germany.