OV26: Epilobium hirsutum community

Summary

Synonymy

Epilobium hirsutum-Filipendula ulmaria community Wheeler 1980 p.p.

Constant species

Epilobium hirsutum, Urtica dioica.

Physiognomy

The Epilobium hirsutum community comprises often species-poor tall-herb vegetation in which E. hirsutum is a constant and generally very abundant feature. It is usually accompanied by Urtica dioica, overall a subordinate element in the cover but locally abundant in a patchy canopy of the two species that is often over 1 m tall. No other plants are frequent throughout but Filipendula ulmaria, Arrhenatherum elatius and Cirsium arvense are common in various of the sub-communities and occasional are Carex acutiformis, Phalaris arundinacea, Deschampsia cespitosa, Galium aparine and Rumex crispus. Patches of Calliergon cuspidatum and Brachythecium rutabulum are sometimes to be seen over the soil and stools.

Sub-communities

Juncus effusus-Ranunculus repens sub-community. E. hirsutum is overwhelmingly dominant here with only occasional and usually not very abundant U. dioica. Ranunculus repens is frequent, creeping among the willow-herb stools, and tussocks of Juncus effusus can be prominent. Occasionally, there is some Cardamine flexuosa, Angelica sylvestris, Mentha aquatica, Holcus lanatus, Poa trivialis and Deschampsia cespitosa.

Phragmites australis-Iris pseudacorus sub-community. E. hirsutum remains dominant in this sub-community but it is typically accompanied by patches of U. dioica and Phragmites, with scattered individuals of Iris pseudacorus, Filipendula ulmaria, Eupatorium cannabinum, Lythrum salicaria, Lycopus europaeus, Lysimachia vulgaris and sprawling Solanum dulcamara, Calystegia sepium and Galium palustre. More locally, Glyceria maxima, Carex riparia or C. paniculata can occur with some abundance.