Snow buttercup snowbed communities
Open snowbed communities of the alpine level of the boreal and arcto-alpine zones of Scandinavian mountains forming on level calcareous substrates often waterlogged the whole year, in the proximity of melting snow or cold springs, on north-facing slopes, with prolonged snow-lie. Vascular plants are characteristically scattered, with great variation in the ground layer, with an often broken moss carpet, bare patches of gravel and stones. Characteristic species, often hygrophilous, include [Ranunculus nivalis], [Ranunculus sulphureus], [Salix herbacea], [Arabis alpina], [Polygonum viviparum] ([Bistorta vivipara]), [Cerastium cerastoides], [Minuartia biflora], [Oxyria digyna], [Taraxacum croceum], [Viola biflora], [Saxifraga oppositifolia], [Saxifraga rivularis], [Saxifraga nivalis], [Saxifraga tenuis], [Saussurea alpina], [Sibbaldia procumbens], [Juncus biglumis], [Poa alpina].
Important species scientific name | Corresponding species comments |
---|---|
Saussurea alpina (L.) DC. | Species mentioned in habitat definition as characterising |
Arabis alpina L. | Species mentioned in habitat definition as characterising |
Minuartia biflora (L.) Schinz & Thell. | Species mentioned in habitat definition as characterising |
Cerastium cerastoides (L.) Britton | Species mentioned in habitat definition as characterising |
Ranunculus nivalis L. | Species mentioned in habitat definition as characterising |
Ranunculus sulphureus Phipps | Species mentioned in habitat definition as characterising |
Polygonum viviparum L. | Species mentioned in habitat definition as characterising |
Oxyria digyna (L.) Hill | Species mentioned in habitat definition as characterising |
Sibbaldia procumbens L. | Species mentioned in habitat definition as characterising |
Saxifraga nivalis L. | Species mentioned in habitat definition as characterising |
Saxifraga oppositifolia L. | Species mentioned in habitat definition as characterising |
Saxifraga rivularis L. | Species mentioned in habitat definition as characterising |
Saxifraga tenuis (Wahlenb.) Harry Sm. ex Lindm. | Species mentioned in habitat definition as characterising |
Salix herbacea L. | Species mentioned in habitat definition as characterising |
Juncus biglumis L. | Species mentioned in habitat definition as characterising |
Poa alpina L. | Species mentioned in habitat definition as characterising |
Taraxacum croceum Dahlst. | Species mentioned in habitat definition as characterising |