N316 Atlantic sea-cliff communities
Description
Assemblages from a pretty rich pool of specialised salt-tolerant species growing on hard substrates. The height above the sea, combined with the exposure of the cliff to wind and surf, generates a certain variability which might warrant further subdivision. The lowest, most exposed belt is occupied by a patchier vegetation composed by aerodynamic cushion plants retaining soil particles, whereas denser, grassier communities develop in upper levels. Seabird breeding colonies, on their part, determine the local establishment of taller stands of halonitrophilous species evoking the block V38.
Floristic Composition
Frequent species
Festuca rubra
0.9,
Armeria maritima
0.57,
Daucus carota
0.57,
Crithmum maritimum
0.55,
Plantago maritima
0.54,
Anthyllis vulneraria
0.4,
Silene uniflora
0.29,
Lotus corniculatus
0.27,
Rumex acetosa
0.25,
Plantago coronopus
0.24,
Dactylis glomerata
0.22,
Leucanthemum ircutianum
0.19,
Koeleria pyramidata
0.17,
Limbarda crithmoides
0.16,
Trifolium repens aggr.
0.15,
Limonium binervosum
0.15,
Plantago lanceolata
0.14,
Spergularia rupicola
0.14,
Hypochaeris radicata
0.11,
Armeria pubigera
0.11,
Agrostis stolonifera
0.11,
Juncus maritimus
0.1,
Brachypodium pinnatum
0.1,
Trifolium pratense
0.1,
Thrincia saxatilis aggr.
0.1,
Tripleurospermum maritimum
0.09,
Frankenia laevis
0.08,
Sonchus oleraceus
0.08,
Holcus lanatus
0.08,
Euphorbia portlandica
0.07,
Angelica pachycarpa
0.07,
Stenotaphrum secundatum
0.07,
Brassica oleracea
0.07,
Schoenus nigricans
0.06,
Carex extensa
0.06,
Picris hieracioides
0.06,
Asparagus prostratus
0.06,
Elytrigia atherica
0.06,
Plantago media
0.06,
Parietaria judaica
0.06,
Cochlearia danica
0.06,
Allium ericetorum
0.05,
Atriplex prostrata
0.05
view more...
Indicator species
Festuca rubra 0.9
,
Armeria maritima 0.57
,
Daucus carota 0.56
,
Plantago maritima 0.54
,
Crithmum maritimum 0.52
,
Anthyllis vulneraria 0.38
,
Silene uniflora 0.29
,
Lotus corniculatus 0.26
,
Rumex acetosa 0.25
,
Plantago coronopus 0.23
,
Dactylis glomerata 0.22
,
Leucanthemum ircutianum 0.18
,
Limbarda crithmoides 0.16
,
Trifolium repens aggr. 0.15
,
Limonium binervosum 0.15
,
Spergularia rupicola 0.14
,
Agrostis stolonifera 0.11
,
Armeria pubigera 0.11
,
Juncus maritimus 0.1
,
Brachypodium pinnatum 0.1
,
Trifolium pratense 0.1
,
Hypochaeris radicata 0.1
,
Tripleurospermum maritimum 0.09
,
Plantago lanceolata 0.09
,
Frankenia laevis 0.08
,
Holcus lanatus 0.08
,
Angelica pachycarpa 0.07
,
Brassica oleracea 0.07
,
Stenotaphrum secundatum 0.06
,
Schoenus nigricans 0.06
,
Euphorbia portlandica 0.06
,
Sonchus oleraceus 0.06
,
Carex extensa 0.06
,
Asparagus prostratus 0.06
,
Picris hieracioides 0.06
,
Plantago media 0.06
,
Cochlearia danica 0.06
,
Elytrigia atherica 0.06
,
Parietaria judaica 0.05
,
Allium ericetorum 0.05
,
Asplenium marinum 0.05
,
Scilla verna 0.05
,
Paspalum vaginatum 0.04
,
Samolus valerandi 0.04
,
Sedum anglicum 0.04
,
Carex distans 0.04
,
Atriplex prostrata 0.04
,
Malva arborea 0.03
,
Erica vagans 0.03
,
Cochlearia aestuaria 0.03
,
Centaurea nigra 0.03
view more...
Regional distribution
