DU2B Festuca rubra – Syntrichia ruraliformis duneland
Vegetation
In this fairly diverse duneland community, the grass Festuca rubra is a constant, but typically does not dominate. In season, it usually is accompanied by the yellow flowers of Hypochaeris radicata, Lotus corniculatus and Galium verum. Frequently, there are also tussocks of Ammophila arenaria and some low cover of Taraxacum officinale agg., Senecio jacobaea, Cerastium diffusum or Anthyllis vulneraria. Other species may include the duneland indicators Elytrigia juncea and Carex arenaria. Notable in this community is the well-developed yellow-green moss layer, usually formed of Syntrichia ruraliformis with Homalothecium lutescens frequently present. Mean maximum vegetation height = 50.6 cm, n = 14.
Ecology
This is a fixed dune (or grey dune) community of slightly calcareous and often disturbed sands found landward of the mobile marram dunes. Mean altitude = 6.5 m, n = 55; mean extent of bare sand = 19.4%, n = 55.
Sub-communities
No sub-communities are described.
Similar communities
From the other duneland communities of the DU2 Festuca rubra – Galium verum group, the present community is chiefly distinguished by its high cover of bryophytes. The number of sand-loving species serve to differentiate it from Festuca rubra swards of the GL3 grassland group.
Conservation value
Most examples of this vegetation correspond to EU HD Annex I habitat *2130 Fixed dunes (grey dunes). Species/4 m2 = 16.0, n = 86.
Management
Fixed dunes are often grazed by livestock and rabbits, and overgrazing or undergrazing can be a problem, as can recreation in popular coastal areas.