OV2: Briza minor-Silene gallica community

Summary

Synonymy

Airo multiculmis-Arnoseridetum minimae (Allorge 1922) R.Tx. 1950 sensu Silverside 1977.

Constant species

Anagallis arvensis, Briza minor, Rumex acetosella, Silene gallica, Trifolium dubium.

Rare species

Briza minor, Silene gallica, Trifolium suffocatum.

Physiognomy

In the Briza minor-Silene gallica community, common annuals like Anagallis arvensis, Trifolium dubium, Aphanes microcarpa and Vicia sativa ssp. nigra, together with Rumex acetosella, are very common constituents of the open cover. However, the more striking feature here is the constancy of the two nationally scarce annuals Silene gallica and Briza minor.

Other diminutive ephemeral grasses also figure with some frequency: Bromus hordeaceus ssp. thominei, Vulpia bromoides, the scarcer V. myuros, Aira caryophyllea (including plants sometimes distinguished as ssp. multiculmis) and A. praecox. There are also typically sporadic elements of the swards within which this assemblage develops, like sparse fronds of Pteridium aquilinum pushing up into open ground, and occasional Anthoxanthum odoratum, Hypochoeris radicata and Plantago lanceolata.

Other occasionals of the community include Geraniummolle, Chrysanthemum segetum, Sherardia arvensis, Veronica arvensis, Myosotis ramosissima, Ornithopus perpusillus and sometimes naturalised representatives of the bulb crops among which this vegetation often occurs, like Allium triquetrum and Gladiolus byzantinus. The nationally rare Trifolium suffocatum has been recorded here and three naturalised introductions that can occur are Briza maxima, Phalaris minor and Bromus diandrus.

Habitat

The Briza-Silene community is confined to disturbed sandy soils in the extreme oceanic climate of the far south-west of Britain where it now occurs most characteristically among the bulb fields of The Scillies.