OV22: Poa annua-Taraxacum officinale community

Summary

Constant species

Poa annua, Taraxacum officinale agg.

Physiognomy

The Poa annua-Taraxacum officinale agg. community comprises more or less open coarse weedy vegetation in which Poa annua and various dandelions are the sole constants. Plantago major is frequent throughout and Senecio vulgaris, Chamomilla suaveolens, Lolium perenne and Stellaria media are common in various of the sub-communities but otherwise only Sagina procumbens and Bromus sterilis are more than scarce.

Sub-communities

Senecio vulgaris sub-community. Apart from the two community constants and Plantago major, only Senecio vulgaris and S. squalidus are frequent here with Cerastium fontanum, Matricaria maritima, Holcus lanatus and Veronica arvensis occasional.

Cirsium vulgare-C. arvense sub-community. L. perenne and C. suaveolens join Poa annua and Taraxacum officinale agg. as constants in this sub-community and Stellaria media and Trifolium repens are common but more distinctive is the high frequency of the coarse tall herbs Cirsium vulgare, C. arvense, Rumex obtusifolius, R. crispus and Chenopodium album.

Crepis vesicaria-Epilobium adenocaulon sub-community. C. suaveolens and P. major remain as frequent associates here but more distinctively preferential are Crepis vesicaria and Epilobium adenocaulon with Sonchus oleraceus, Poa trivialis, Trifolium dubium, Cardamine hirsuta, Coronopus didymus and Capsella bursa-pastoris occasional.

Habitat

The Poa-Taraxacum community occurs on disturbed, but only lightly trampled, loamy soils along tracksides, pathways, wall-bottoms, pavement edges and road verges, in gardens, farm fields and on waste ground.