Irish Vegetation Classification (IVC) www.biodiversityireland.ie/ivc Community Synopsis
Scientific name Calluna vulgaris – Nardus stricta heath Common name Heather – Mat-grass heath Community code HE3C
Vegetation Cover in this usually low-growing community is largely provided by a mixture of Nardus stricta , Calluna vulgaris and Racomitrium lanuginosum . Potentilla erecta , Agrostis capillaris, Erica cinerea and Juncus squarrosus are also constants, whilst Trichophorum cespitosum/germanicum , Carex binervis , Carex panicea and Galium saxatile are frequent. In the bryophyte layer, Racomitrium is joined by Hypnum jutlandicum and frequently Rhytidiadelphus loreus . Pale green shoots of Huperzia selago are only occasional but conspicuous.
Ecology This Calluna vulgaris – Nardus stricta community is one of upper slopes, ridges and plateaux (mean altitude 519 m, n = 53) primarily occurring as montane heath on shallow, acidic soils particularly where there is some disturbance such as overgrazing.
Sub-communities No sub-communities have been described for this community.
Similar communities There are some similarities with GL4B Nardus stricta – Potentilla erecta grassland but in that community the cover of dwarf shrubs and Racomitrium lanuginosum is much lower. The abundance of Nardus stricta helps differentiate the present community from the others in the HE3 Vaccinium myrtillus – Racomitrium lanuginosum group.
Records and distribution
Number of records (all) Clearly assigned: 92 Transitional: 14 Total: 106
Number of records (mapped) 2001-2015: 39 1986-2000: 40 1971-1985: 0 Pre-1971: 5 Total: 84
Number of hectads (most recent records) 2001-2015: 21 1986-2000: 7 1971-1985 0 Pre-1971: 3 Total: 31
Number of hectads (all mapped records) 2001-2015: 21 1986-2000: 11 1971-1985 0 Pre-1971: 4
Synoptic table ( n = 82) Species Frequency Cover Species Frequency Cover (from I-V) min (med) max (from I-V) min (med) max Nardus stricta V 2-(5)-8 Hylocomium splendens II +-(2)-5 Calluna vulgaris V 1-(5)-8 Molinia caerulea II 1-(3)-5 Potentilla erecta V +-(3)-5 Narthecium ossifragum II 1-(3)-5 Racomitrium lanuginosum V 1-(5)-9 Deschampsia flexuosa II 2-(3)-7 Hypnum jutlandicum IV +-(3)-7 Campylopus flexuosus II +-(2)-5 Juncus squarrosus IV 2-(4)-8 Festuca vivipara II 1-(2)-5 Agrostis capillaris IV +-(3)-8 Scapania gracilis II +-(2)-3 Erica cinerea IV 1-(3)-7 Pleurozia purpurea II +-(2)-5 Trichophorum cesp./germanicum III 2-(3)-7 Plagiothecium undulatum I +-(2)-5 Cladonia uncialis III +-(2)-4 Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus I +-(2)-3 Carex panicea III +-(3)-5 Dicranum scoparium I +-(2)-3 Rhytidiadelphus loreus III 1-(2)-8 Eriophorum angustifolium I +-(3)-5 Galium saxatile III +-(2)-4 Pleurozium schreberi I +-(2)-3 Carex binervis III 1-(3)-5 Polygala serpyllifolia I +-(1)-3 Vaccinium myrtillus II +-(2)-6 Carex viridula I 1-(3)-5 Agrostis canina/vinealis II 1-(2)-5 Cladonia subcervicornis I +-(2)-2 Sphagnum capillifolium II 1-(3)-5 Campylopus atrovirens I +-(2)-3 Diplophyllum albicans II +-(2)-5 Sphagnum subnitens I 1-(3)-4 Huperzia selago II +-(2)-3 Polytrichum commune I 1-(2)-3 Cladonia portentosa II +-(2)-5 Carex pilulifera I +-(3)-5
Affinities GHI: HH4 Montane heath ZM: LOI-01A Loiseleurio procumbentis – Vaccinion Br.-Bl in Br.-Bl. et Jenny 1926 EUNIS: E1.712 Sub-Atlantic Nardus-Galium grasslands / F2.251 Hiberno-Scotian dwarf mountain heaths NVC: U5e Nardus stricta – Galium saxatile grassland Racomitrium lanuginosum sub-community (71.5%) Annex I: 4060 Alpine and subalpine heath
Proxy environmental data Light: 6.8 Reaction: 2.4 Wetness: 6.0 Fertility: 1.8 Salinity: 0.0
Conservation value Most of the examples of this vegetation qualify as EU Annex I habitat 4060 Alpine and subalpine heath, but also included here are somewhat degraded upland examples of 7130 Blanket bog (active)*. This is on average a heath community of middling diversity (species/4 m 2 = 18.4 n = 70).
Management These heaths, which often form parts of commonages, may be used as rough grazing land (typically for sheep) and overgrazing can be a problem. Climate change threatens arctic-alpine species which are restricted to montane communities such as this.
Key references Perrin, P.M., Barron, S.J., Roche, J.R. & O’Hanrahan, B. (2014) Guidelines for a national survey and conservation assessment of upland vegetation and habitats in Ireland. Irish Wildlife Manuals , No. 79. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
Synopsis version: V1.0 Synopsis date: November 2017 Synopsis author(s): P.M. Perrin
Photo 1. HE3C Calluna vulgaris – Nardus stricta heath, Poulagower, Killarney National Park, Kerry (R. Hodd, July 2011)
Photo 2. HE3C Calluna vulgaris – Nardus stricta heath, Glenkeen, Sheeffry Hills (P. Perrin/J. Conaghan, September 2010)