British NVC community H6

NVC community H6 (Erica vagans - Ulex europaeus heath) is one of the heath communities in the British National Vegetation Classification system. It is one of five communities categorised as lowland dry heaths.

It has a very localised distribution in southern England. There are four subcommunities.

Community composition

The following constant species are found in this community:

• Brown Bent (Agrostis vinealis)
• Glaucous Sedge (Carex flacca)
• Bell Heather (Erica cinerea)
• Cornish Heath (Erica vagans)
• Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria)
• Common Gorse (Ulex europaeus)
• Western Gorse (Ulex gallii)
• Common Dog-violet (Viola riviniana)

A number of rare species are associated with the community: Bristle Bent (Agrostis curtisii), Chives (Allium schoenoprasum), Cornish Heath (Erica vagans), Dwarf Rush (Juncus capitatus), Spring Squill (Scilla verna) and Twin-headed Clover (Trifolium bocconei).

Distribution

This community is confined to The Lizard peninsula in Cornwall.

Subcommunities

There are four subcommunities:

• the so-called typical subcommunity
• the Festuca ovina subcommunity
• the Agrostis curtisii subcommunity
• the Molinia caerulea subcommunity

References

• Rodwell, J. S. (1991) British Plant Communities Volume 2 - Mires and heaths ISBN 0-521-39165-2 (hardback), ISBN 0-521-62720-6 (paperback)