MC9: Festuca rubra-Holcus lanatus maritime grassland

Synonymy Holcetum lanati Gillham 1953 p.p. , Goodman & Gillham 1954 p.p.; Sileno maritimae-Festucetum pruinosae R. Tx. 1963 p.p., Armerieto maritimae-Daucetum gummiferi Géhu 1964 p.p. , includes Festuco-Dactyletum maritimae Malloch 1971. Constant species Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Plantago lanceolata, Armeria maritima . Rare species Allium schoenoprasum, Astragalus danicus, Oxytropis halleri, Primula scotica, Scilla verna, Senecio integrifolius ssp. maritimus, Trifolium occidentale . Physiognomy The Festuca-Holcus maritime grassland generally has a closed fairly low-growing but rather rank and often tussocky sward. It is almost always dominated by grasses of which F. rubra is usually the most prominent, though H. lanatus and, to a lesser extent, Dactylis glomerata , are often abundant. Herbaceous dicotyledons are generally an important component of the vegetation and many of these are non-maritime species. Armeria maritima and Plantago lanceolata are both constant and Plantago maritima, Rumex acetosa and Trifolium repens are frequent throughout. Bryophytes and lichens are rare. Sub-communities Plantago maritima sub-community . F. rubra is the usual dominant in the thick sward of this sub-community, though H. lanatus and, less frequently, Agrostis stolonifera and, in the north, Poa subcaerulea , may be abundant in particular stands. Plantago maritima, Trifolium repens and Lotus corniculatus are additional constants here and P. maritima is sometimes so abundant as to be a co-dominant, especially where there is a shorter grazed turf. Scilla verna is frequent, though never abundant, and Astragalus danicus, Primula scotica and Senecio integrifolius ssp. maritimus occur occasionally within their ranges of distribution.