MC9: Festuca rubra-Holcus lanatus maritime grassland

Summary

Synonymy

Holcetum lanati Gillham 1953 p.p., Goodman & Gillham 1954 p.p.; Sileno maritimae-Festucetum pruinosae R. Tx. 1963 p.p., Armerieto maritimae-Daucetum gummiferi Géhu 1964 p.p., includes Festuco-Dactyletum maritimae Malloch 1971.

Constant species

Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Plantago lanceolata, Armeria maritima.

Rare species

Allium schoenoprasum, Astragalus danicus, Oxytropis halleri, Primula scotica, Scilla verna, Senecio integrifolius ssp. maritimus, Trifolium occidentale.

Physiognomy

The Festuca-Holcus maritime grassland generally has a closed fairly low-growing but rather rank and often tussocky sward. It is almost always dominated by grasses of which F. rubra is usually the most prominent, though H. lanatus and, to a lesser extent, Dactylis glomerata, are often abundant. Herbaceous dicotyledons are generally an important component of the vegetation and many of these are non-maritime species. Armeria maritima and Plantago lanceolata are both constant and Plantago maritima, Rumex acetosa and Trifolium repens are frequent throughout. Bryophytes and lichens are rare.

Sub-communities

Plantago maritima sub-community. F. rubra is the usual dominant in the thick sward of this sub-community, though H. lanatus and, less frequently, Agrostis stolonifera and, in the north, Poa subcaerulea, may be abundant in particular stands. Plantago maritima, Trifolium repens and Lotus corniculatus are additional constants here and P. maritima is sometimes so abundant as to be a co-dominant, especially where there is a shorter grazed turf. Scilla verna is frequent, though never abundant, and Astragalus danicus, Primula scotica and Senecio integrifolius ssp. maritimus occur occasionally within their ranges of distribution.