SM3B Plantago maritima – Puccinellia maritima saltmarsh
Vegetation
This is typically a low vegetation community that is dominated by a mixture of Plantago maritima, Armeria maritima and Puccinellia maritima (mean maximum vegetation height = 20.4 cm, n = 17). Aster tripolium is the only other constant but Glaux maritima, Triglochin maritimum and Limonium humile are frequent. Limonium can be abundant. Occasionally, one finds some stems of Spergularia media or Salicornia agg
Ecology
This is a middle marsh community that is occasionally inundated. Conditions are circumneutral (mean pH = 7.1, n = 17).
Sub-communities
No sub-communities have been described for this community
Similar communities
Plantago maritima and Armeria maritima also dominate in community SM3A, but there Puccinellia maritima, if present, is subordinate. Limonium humile can also be an eye-catching feature of community SM2C but Plantago maritima and Armeria maritima are only occasional in that assemblage.
Conservation value
Almost all examples of this vegetation qualify as EU HD Annex I habitat 1330 Atlantic salt meadows. It is typically a medium richness saltmarsh community (species/4 m2 = 6.8, n = 192) and the species that are present are specialists.
Management
The main immediate threat to this saltmarsh community is probably grazing by livestock. Sea-level rises as a result of climate change will have an impact, particularly in areas susceptible to coastal squeeze.