W12 - Fagus Sylvatica-Mercurialis Perennis Woodland

Summary

Synonymy

Beechwood association Moss et al. 1910p.p.; Fagetum sylvaticae calcareum Tansley & Rankin 1911; Fagetum sylvaticae beech woods on Chalk Adamson 1921; Beech associes, seres 3 & 4 Watt 1924; Beech consociation, Juniper and Hawthorn seres Watt 1934a; Beech consociation, seres 3 & 4 Watt 19346; Fagetum sylvaticae calcicolum Tansley 1939; Fagetum rubosum Tansley 1939 p.p.; Beech-Ash-Yew Association McNeil 1961; Beech-Oak-Ash Association McNeill 1961 p.p.; Cotswold beechwoods Barkham & Norris 1967 p.p.; Beechwood Rackham 1980 p.p.; Beech stand types 8Cb & 8Cc Peterken 1981; Woodland plot types 1 & 8 Bunce 1982 p.p.

Constant species

Fagus sylvatica, Mercurialis perennis.

Rare species

Buxus sempervirens, Cephalanthera longifolia, C. rubra, Cynoglossum germanicum, Epipactis leptochila, Epipogium aphyllum, Hordelymus europaeus, Orchis purpurea.

Physiognomy

The Fagus sylvatica-Mercurialis perennis woodland is one of three woodland communities in Britain characterised by the great pre-eminence of Fagus sylvatica. In this community, Fagus is the only woody species that is constant throughout and is always the most abundant tree: in mature stands, it is an overwhelming dominant in a usually quite distinct topmost tier to the canopy. In general, though, and especially on the more shallow soils of the Sanicula and Taxus sub-communities, the individual trees do not attain the majestic stature so typical of the Fagus sylvatica-Rubus fruticosus woodland. There can also be considerable variation in the overall canopy height and in the distribution and physiognomy of the trees according to the age of the woodland and younger sub-spontaneous stands can continue to betray the pattern of invasion by Fagus for some time. In some of the woodlands which Watt (1924, 1934a) examined, for example, he detected varied mixtures of pioneers, families and groups of different sizes and degrees of maturity and noted a contrast between the stocky, richlybranched early invaders with their spreading crowns and individuals of subsequent generations with taller, thinner boles, often obliquely set and with lop-sided crowns crowded by the existing trees. With increasing age, however, the Fagus cover takes on a more even and regular look and younger trees become progressively confined to gaps with slow and sometimes sporadic regeneration.