Acid alpine and subalpine grassland

General Information Species Legal instrument Next sub-divisions Natura

Common name:

Habitat code:

E4.3

Description:

Alpine and subalpine grasslands developed over crystalline rocks and other lime-deficient substrates or on decalcified soils of mountains. On boreal mountains, [Carex] and [Juncus trifidus] often dominate. The acid alpine grasslands of central Europe are more mixed, with [Armeria], [Euphrasia minima], [Gentiana lutea], [Geum montanum], [Juncus trifidus], [Phyteuma], [Pulsatilla], [Ranunculus], [Sempervivum], [Botrychium lunaria].

References:

Hill, M.O., Moss, D. & Davies, C.E., 2004

Important species scientific name	Corresponding species comments
Botrychium lunaria (Linnaeus, 1753) Swartz, 1802	Species mentioned in habitat definition as characterising
Botrychium simplex Hitchc., 1823	Annex II species - habitat relation; source Unit of Vegetation Science, Lancaster, 2000
Gentiana lutea Linnaeus, 1753	Annex II species - habitat relation; source Unit of Vegetation Science, Lancaster, 2000
Geum montanum Linnaeus, 1753	Species mentioned in habitat definition as characterising
Euphrasia minima Jacq. ex DC., 1805	Species mentioned in habitat definition as characterising
Juncus trifidus Linnaeus, 1753	Species mentioned in habitat definition as characterising

Code in legal instrument
Legal instrument	Habitat type legal name	Habitat type legal code
EU Habitats Directive Annex I	Species-rich Nardus grasslands, on silicious substrates in mountain areas (and submountain areas in	6230

Next sub-divisions
EUNIS Code	Type Name	Name
E4.3B	Illyrian alpine and subalpine acid open grasslands	Illyrian alpine and subalpine acid open grasslands
E4.34	Alpigenous acidophilous grassland	Alpigenous acidophilous grassland
E4.35	Oro-Hellenic closed grassland	Oro-Hellenic closed grassland
E4.36	Oro-Iberian acidophilous grassland	Oro-Iberian acidophilous grassland
E4.37	Oro-Corsican grassland	Oro-Corsican grassland
E4.38	Oro-Apennine closed grassland	Oro-Apennine closed grassland
E4.39	Oro-Moesian acidophilous grassland	Oro-Moesian acidophilous grassland
E4.3A	Western Asian acidophilous alpine grassland	Western Asian acidophilous alpine grassland
E4.31	Alpic mat-grass swards and related communities	Alpic [Nardus stricta] swards and related communities
E4.32	Oroboreal acidocline grassland	Oroboreal acidocline grassland
E4.33	Thermo-Alpigenous subalpine acidophilous grassland	Thermo-Alpigenous subalpine acidophilous grassland

Sites in which this biotope type has been recorded
EUNIS Site Code	Greek Natura 2000 code	Site name
A00010206	GR1330001	OROS VOURINOS (MESIANO NERO)
F00002401	F00002401	PARANGALITSA
J021SV008	J021SV008	12 APOSTOLI
A00040021	GR1330002	KORYFES OROUS SINIATSIKO
A00010208	GR1310003	ETHNIKOS DRYMOS PINDOU (VALIA KALDA) (EURITERI PERIOCHI)
A00040022	A00040022	KOILADA MESIANO NERO KAI PSILES KORYFES OROUS VOURINOS
A00040024	GR2130002	KORYFES OROUS SMOLIKAS
A00040028	GR2130006	Periochi Metsovou