British NVC community W9
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NVC community W9 (Fraxinus excelsior - Sorbus aucuparia - Mercurialis perennis woodland) is one of the woodland communities in the British National Vegetation Classification system. It is one of the six communities falling in the "mixed deciduous and oak/birch woodlands" group.
This is a community of northern and western Britain, particularly widespread in Scotland and Wales. There are two subcommunities.
[edit] Community composition
Ten constant species are found in this community:
- Ash (Fraxinus excelsior)
- Hazel (Corylus avellana)
- Male Fern (Dryopteris filix-mas)
- Dog's-mercury (Mercurialis perennis)
- Wood-sorrel (Oxalis acetosella)
- Common Dog-violet (Viola riviniana)
- Common Feather-moss (Eurhynchium praelongum)
- Common Striated Feather-moss (Eurhynchium striatum)
- Hart's-tongue Thyme-moss (Plagiomnium undulatum)
- Common Tamarisk-moss (Thuidium tamariscinum)
The following rare species are also associated with the community:
- Baneberry (Actaea spicata)
- Lesser Hairy-brome (Bromus benekenii)
- Northern Hawk's-beard (Crepis mollis)
- Yellow Star-of-Bethlehem (Gagea lutea)
- Whorled Solomon's-seal (Polygonatum verticillatum)
[edit] Distribution
This community is widespread throughout upland areas in northern and western Britain, where is replaces community W8. It is particularly well-represented in Scotland and Wales, and the far northern counties of England. It has also been recorded at a single site in Devon.
[edit] Subcommunities
There are two subcommunities:
- the so-called "typical" subcommunity
- the Crepis paludosa subcommunity
Woodlands and scrub • Mires • Heaths • Mesotrophic grasslands • Calcicolous grasslands • Calcifugous grasslands and montane communities • Aquatic communities • Swamps and tall-herb fens • Saltmarshes • Shingle, strandline and sand-dunes • Maritime cliff communities • Vegetation of open habitats
Full list of communities • Terminology • British Plant Communities • List of constant species • List of rare species
