List of constant species in the British National Vegetation Classification
The following is a list of vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens which are constant species in one or more community of the British National Vegetation Classification system.
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (August 2008) |
Vascular plants
Grasses
English name | Scientific name | Communities |
Brown bent | Agrostis vinealis | H6 |
Common bent | Agrostis capillaris | MG3, MG5, SD12, CG10, W11 |
Bristle bent | Agrostis curtisii | H3, H4 |
Creeping bent | Agrostis stolonifera | MG10, MG11, MG12, MG13, MC10, SD17 |
Marsh foxtail | Alopecurus geniculatus | MG13 |
Meadow foxtail | Alopecurus pratensis | MG4 |
Marram | Ammophila arenaria | SD12, SD19 |
Sweet vernal-grass | Anthoxanthum odoratum | MG3, MG5, MG8, W11 |
False oat-grass | Arrhenatherum elatius | MG1, MG2 |
Meadow oat-grass | Avenula pratensis | CG2, CG6 |
Downy oat-grass | Avenula pubescens | CG6 |
Tor-grass | Brachypodium pinnatum | CG4, CG5 |
Quaking grass | Briza media | CG2, CG5 |
Upright brome | Bromus erectus | CG3, CG5 |
Crested dog's-tail | Cynosurus cristatus | MG4, MG5, MG6, MG8 |
Cock's-foot | Dactylis glomerata | MG3, MG5, MG1, MG2, MC4, CG1 |
Tufted hair-grass | Deschampsia cespitosa ssp. cespitosa | MG9, H21 |
Wavy hair-grass | Deschampsia flexuosa | H2, W11, H9, H12, H14, H15, H16, H17, H18, H19, H20, H22 |
Smooth finger-grass | Digitaria ischaemum | OV5 |
Sea couch | Elymus pycnanthus | SM24 |
Common couch | Elytrigia repens | OV5 |
Tall fescue | Festuca arundinacea | MG12 |
Sheep's fescue | Festuca ovina | H1, H5, H7, H20, CG1, CG2, CG3, CG4, CG5, CG7, U6, SD12, CG10 |
Red fescue | Festuca rubra | MG2, MG3, MG4, MG5, MG6, MG8, MG11, MG12, MC1, MC2, MC3, MC4, MC5, MC6, MC10, CG6, CG10, SD19, MC12 |
Viviparous fescue | Festuca vivipara | H20 |
Yorkshire-fog | Holcus lanatus | MG3, MG4, MG5, MG6, MG8, MG9, MG10, H7, MC12 |
Creeping soft-grass | Holcus mollis | W11 |
Crested hair-grass | Koeleria macrantha | CG2 |
Perennial rye-grass | Lolium perenne | MG4, MG6 |
Purple moor-grass | Molinia caerulea | H3, H4, H5 |
Common reed | Phragmites australis | W2 |
Annual meadow-grass | Poa annua | OV4, OV5, OV20 |
Smooth meadow-grass | Poa pratensis | SD12 |
MG3, rough meadow-grass | Poa trivialis | MG2, MG8 |
Sand cat's-tail | Phleum arenarium | SD19 |
Common saltmarsh-grass | Puccinellia maritima | SM10 |
Sedges and rushes
English name | Scientific name | Communities |
Sand sedge | Carex arenaria | SD11, SD12, SD19, H11 |
Stiff sedge | Carex bigelowii | H19, H20 |
Tufted sedge | Carex elata | S1 |
Glaucous sedge | Carex flacca | CG2, CG3, CG4, CG5, H6 |
Common sedge | Carex nigra | SD17 |
Flea sedge | Carex pulicaris | H5 |
Bottle sedge | Carex rostrata | W3, M4 |
Deergrass | Cirpus cespitosus | H15 |
Common cottongrass | Eriophorum angustifolium | M1, M2, M3, M20 |
Hare's-tail cottongrass | Eriophorum vaginatum | M20 |
Soft rush | Juncus effusus | MG10 |
Heath rush | Juncus squarrosus | U6 |
Black bog-rush | Schoenus nigricans | H5 |
Trees
English name | Scientific name | Communities |
Field maple | Acer campestre | W8 |
Alder | Alnus glutinosa | W5, W6, W7 |
Silver birch | Betula pendula | W11 |
Downy birch | Betula pubescens | W2, W4, W11 |
Hazel | Corylus avellana | W8, W9 |
Ash | Fraxinus excelsior | W8, W9 |
Juniper | Juniperus communis | W19 |
Alpine juniper | Juniperus communis ssp. nana | H15 |
Scots pine | Pinus sylvestris | W18 |
English oak | Quercus robur | W10 |
Sessile oak | Quercus petraea | W11, W17 |
Grey willow | Salix cinerea | W1, W2, W3 |
Bay willow | Salix pentandra | W3 |
Yew | Taxus baccata | W13 |
Other dicotyledons
English name | Scientific name | Communities |
A lady's-mantle | Alchemilla glabra | MG3 |
Bog pimpernel | Anagallis tenella | H5 |
Wild angelica | Angelica sylvestris | W3, MG2 |
Alpine bearberry | Arctostaphylos alpinu | H17 |
Bearberry | Arctostaphylos uva-ursi | H16 |
Thyme-leaved sandwort | Arenaria serpyllifolia | SD19 |
Thrift | Armeria maritima | MC1, MC2, MC3, MC5 |
Spear-leaved orache | Atriplex prostata agg. | MC6 |
Sea beet | Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima | MC6 |
Wild cabbage | Brassica oleracea | MC4 |
Sea rocket | Cakile maritima | SD2 |
Heather | Calluna vulgaris | H1, H2, H3, H4, H7, H8, H9, H10, H11, H12, H13, H14, H15, H16, H17, H21, H22 |
Marsh-marigold | Caltha palustris | W3, MG8 |
Harebell | Campanula rotundifolia | CG10 |
Cuckooflower | Cardamine pratensis | W3 |
Carline thistle | Carlina vulgaris | CG1 |
Black knapweed | Centaurea nigra | MG5 |
Sea mouse-ear | Cerastium diffusum ssp. diffusum | MC5 |
Common mouse-ear | Cerastium fontanum | MG3, MG4, MG6, MG8 |
Corn marigold | Chrysanthemum segetum | OV4 |
Pignut | Conopodium majus | MG3 |
Dwarf cornel | Cornus suecica | H22 |
Smooth hawk's-beard | Crepis capillaris | OV5 |
Rock samphire | Crithmum maritimum | MC1 |
Crosswort | Cruciata laevipes | MG2 |
Ivy-leaved toadflax | Cymbalaria muralis | OV42 |
Sea carrot | Daucus carota ssp. gummifer | MC4 |
Round-leaved sundew | Drosera rotundifolia | M2 |
Crowberry | Empetrum nigrum ssp nigrum | H13 |
Mountain crowberry | Empetrum nigrum ssp hermaphroditum | H20, H22 |
Broad-leaved willowherb | Epilobium montanum | MG2 |
Bell heather | Erica cinerea | H2, H3, H4, H6, H7, H8, H10, H15, H16 |
Cross-leaved heath | Erica tetralix | M2, H3, H4, H5 |
Cornish heath | Erica vagans | H5, H6 |
Common stork's-bill | Erodium cicutarium | OV5 |
Meadowsweet | Filipendula ulmaria | W3, MG4, MG2, H6 |
Cleavers | Galium aparine | SD3 |
Common marsh-bedstraw | Galium palustre | W1, W3 |
Heath bedstraw | Galium saxatile | W11, H18, H20, |
Dove's-foot crane's-bill | Geranium molle | OV5 |
Wood crane's-bill | Geranium sylvaticum | MG3 |
Water avens | Geum rivale | MG2, W3 |
Yellow horned-poppy | Glaucium flavum | SD1 |
Common rock-rose | Helianthemum nummularium | CG5 |
Common hogweed | Heracleum sphondylium | MG2 |
Mouse-ear hawkweed | Hieracium pilosella | CG1, CG2, CG5, CG7 |
Sea sandwort | Honkenya peploides | SD2 |
Common cat's-ear | Hypochaeris radicata | H7 |
Meadow vetchling | Lathyrus pratensis | MG4 |
Autumn hawkbit | Leontodon autumnalis | MG4, MG8 |
Rough hawkbit | Leontodon hispidus | CG2, CG5, CG7 |
Scots lovage | Ligusticum scoticum | MC2 |
Fairy flax | Linum catharticum | CG2 |
Honeysuckle | Lonicera periclymenum | W10 |
Bird's-foot trefoil | Lotus corniculatus | MG5, CG1, CG2, CG3, CG5, CG6, H7 |
Sea mayweed | Matricaria maritima | MC6, SD3 |
Bogbean | Menyanthes trifoliata | M1 |
Dog's mercury | Mercurialis perennis | MG2, W8, W9 |
Wood-sorrel | Oxalis acetosella | W9, W11 |
Pellitory-of-the-wall | Parietaria diffusa | OV41 |
Buck's-horn plantain | Plantago coronopus) | MC5, MC10 |
Ribwort plantain | Plantago lanceolata | MG3, MG4, MG5, CG1, CG2, CG3, H7, MC10, CG10 |
Sea plantain | Plantago maritima | H7, MC10 |
Knotgrass | Polygonum aviculare | OV4 |
Silverweed | Potentilla anserina | MG11, SD17 |
Tormentil | Potentilla erecta | W11, H4, H5, H7, CG10, H10, H15, H21 |
Self-heal | Prunella vulgaris | CG10 |
Meadow buttercup | Ranunculus acris | MG3, MG4, MG8 |
Creeping buttercup | Ranunculus repens | MG10 |
Roseroot | Rhodiola rosea | MC3 |
Cloudberry | Rubus chamaemorus | H22 |
Bramble | Rubus fruticosus agg. | W8, W10 |
Common sorrel | Rumex acetosa | MG3, MG4, MG8, MC3, MC12 |
Curled dock | Rumex crispus | SD1 |
Procumbent pearlwort | Sagina procumbens | OV20 |
Annual species of glasswort | Salicornia spp. | SM10 |
Salad burnet | Sanguisorba minor | CG1, CG2, CG3, CG5 |
Great burnet | Sanguisorba officinalis) | MG3, MG4 |
Small scabious | Scabiosa columbaria | CG2 |
Biting stonecrop | Sedum acre | MC5 |
English stonecrop | Sedum anglicum | MC5 |
Groundsel | Senecio vulgaris | OV5 |
Saw-wort | Serratula tinctoria | H5 |
Red campion | Silene dioica | MG2 |
Corn spurrey | Spergula arvensis | OV4, OV5 |
Greater sea-spurrey | Spergularia rupicola | MC1 |
Common chickweed | Stellaria media | MC7, OV5 |
Annual sea-blite | Suaeda maritima | SM10 |
Devil's-bit scabious | Succisa pratensis | H5 |
Dandelion | Taraxacum officinale agg. | MG4, CG6 |
Wild thyme | Thymus praecox | CG1, CG2, CG5, CG7, H7, CG10 |
Large thyme | Thymus pulegioides | CG7 |
Red clover | Trifolium pratense) | MG4, MG5 |
White clover | Trifolium repens) | MG3, MG4, MG5, MG6, MG8 |
Common gorse | Ulex europaeus | H6 |
Western gorse | Ulex gallii | H4, H5, H6, H8 |
Dwarf gorse | Ulex minor | H2, H3 |
Stinging nettle | Urtica dioica | MG2 |
Bilberry | Vaccinium myrtillus | H12, H18, H19, H20, H21, H22 |
Cowberry | Vaccinium vitis-idaea | H16, H19, H22 |
Marsh valerian | Valeriana dioica | W3 |
Common valerian | Valeriana officinalis | MG2 |
Common dog-violet | Viola riviniana | W9, W11, H6, CG10 |
Other monocotyledons
English name | Scientific name | Communities |
Bluebell | Hyacinthoides non-scripta | MC12 |
Broad-leaved pondweed | Potamogeton natans | A9 |
Spring squill | Scilla verna | H7 |
Narrow-leaved eelgrass | Zostera angustifolia | SM1 |
Eelgrass | Zostera marina | SM1 |
Dwarf eelgrass | Zostera noltei | SM1 |
Ferns
English name | Scientific name | Communities |
Wall-rue | Asplenium ruta-muraria | OV39 |
Maidenhair spleenwort | Asplenium trichomanes | OV39 |
Hard fern | Blechnum spicant | H21 |
Male fern | Dryopteris filix-mas | W9, MG2 |
Bracken | Pteridium aquilinum | W10, W11 |
Clubmosses
English name | Scientific name | Communities |
Fir clubmoss | Huperzia selago | H17 |
Bryophytes
Mosses
English name | Scientific name | Communities |
Pointed spear-moss | Calliergon cuspidatum | W3, SD17 |
Yellow starry feather-moss | Campylium stellatum | H5 |
Broom fork-moss | Dicranum scoparium sensu lato | H1, H12, H16, H18, H21, H22 |
Common feather-moss | Eurhynchium praelongum | W8, W9 |
Common striated feather-moss | Eurhynchium striatum | W9 |
Swartz's feather-moss | Eurhynchium swartzii | MG2 |
Silky wall feather-moss | Homalothecium sericeum | OV39 |
Glittering wood-moss | Hylocomium splendens | CG10, W11, H16, H20, H21, H22 |
Cypress-leaved plait-moss and allied species | Hypnum cupressiforme sensu lato | H1, CG7, H14, H15, H21 |
Heath plait-moss | Hypnum jutlandicum | H12, H16 |
Swan's-neck thyme-moss | Mnium hornum | W3 |
Hart's-tongue thyme-moss | Plagiomnium undulatum | MG2, W9 |
Dented silk-moss | Plagiothecium denticulatum | MG2 |
Waved silk-moss | Plagiothecium undulatum | H21 |
Pleurozium schreberi | H12, H16, H18, H20, H21, H22 | |
Nodding thread-moss | Pohlia nutans | H9 |
Common haircap | Polytrichum commune | M4, U6 |
Neat feather-moss | Pseudoscleropodium purum | W11, CG6 |
Woolly fringe-moss | Racomitrium lanuginosum | H13, H14, H15, H17, H19, H20 |
Little shaggy-moss | Rhytidiadelphus loreus | H20, H21, H22 |
Springy turf-moss | Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus | W11 |
Dotted thyme-moss | Rhizomnium punctatum | W3 |
Seaside grimmia | Schistidium maritimum | MC2 |
Cow-horn bog-moss | Sphagnum auriculatum | M1 |
Acute-leaved bog-moss | Sphagnum capillifolium | H21, H22 |
Feathery bog-moss | Sphagnum cuspidatum | M1, M2, M4 |
Flat-topped / flexuous bog-mosses | Sphagnum recurvum | M2, M4 |
Common tamarisk-moss | Thuidium tamariscinum | W9, W11 |
Liverworts
English name | Scientific name | Communities |
Bifid crestwort | Lophocolea bidentata sensu lato | MG2, U6 |
Purple spoonwort | Pleurozia purpurea | H15 |
Wall scalewort | Porella platyphylla | OV39 |
Lichens
English name | Scientific name | Communities |
Alectoria nigricans | H13 | |
Iceland moss | Cetraria islandica | H13, H19 |
Cladonia arbuscula | H13, H14, H17, H19, H22 | |
Cladonia impexa | H16 | |
Reindeer lichen | Cladonia rangiferina | H13 |
Cladonia uncialis | H15, H17, H19, H20 | |
Cornicularia aculeata | SD11, H13 |
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Woodlands and scrub |
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Mires | |
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Heaths |
Mesotrophic grasslands | |
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Calcicolous grasslands | |
Calcifugous grasslands and montane communities |
Aquatic communities | |
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Swamps and tall-herb fens |
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Salt-marshes | |
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Shingle, strandline and sand-dunes | |
Maritime cliff communities | |
Vegetation of open habitats |
- Full list of communities
- British Plant Communities
- List of constant species
- List of rare species