SM4C Festuca rubra – Armeria maritima saltmarsh
Vegetation
In this saltmarsh community, the vegetation is typically dominated by Festuca rubra, with Plantago maritima and Armeria maritima also fairly plentiful. Glaux maritima is the only other constant species. Aster tripolium is a frequent plant in this assemblage, while Triglochin maritimum, Cochlearia officinalis, Plantago coronopus and Agrostis stolonifera are occasional. Mean maximum vegetation height = 49.0 cm, n = 6.
Ecology
This is an upper saltmarsh community that is infrequently inundated. Conditions are circumneutral (mean pH = 6.9, n = 6).
Sub-communities
No sub-communities have been described for this community
Similar communities
Plantago maritima and Armeria maritima are both far more abundant here than in the other communities of group SM4, but tend to not quite reach the levels of cover that are found in the communities of group SM3, within which Festuca rubra is less frequent.
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 = 7.0, n = 167) and contains some specialist species.
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.