British NVC community U6

NVC community U6 (Juncus squarrosus - Festuca ovina grassland) is one of the calcifugous grassland communities in the British National Vegetation Classification system.

It is a comparatively localised community. There are four subcommunities.

Community composition

The following constant species are found in this community:

• Sheep's Fescue (Festuca ovina)
• Heath Rush (Juncus squarrosus)
• Common Haircap Polytrichum commune
• Bifid Crestwort Lophocolea bidentata sensu lato

One rare species is associated with the community, Greater Pawwort, Barbilophozia lycopodioides.

Distribution

This community is found locally in the uplands of Wales, northern England and Scotland.

Subcommunities

There are four subcommunities:

• the Sphagnum spp. subcommunity
• the Carex nigra - Calypogeia trichomanis subcommunity
• the Vaccinium myrtillus subcommunity
• the Agrostis capillaris - Luzula multiflora subcommunity

References

• Rodwell, J. S. (1992) British Plant Communities Volume 3 - Grasslands and montane communities ISBN 0-521-39166-0 (hardback), ISBN 0-521-62719-2 (paperback)