Irish Vegetation Classification (IVC)

www.biodiversityireland.ie/ivc

Community Synopsis

Scientific name Racomitrium lanuginosum – Festuca vivipara heath

Common name Woolly Fringe-moss – Viviparous Fescue heath

Community code HE3E

Vegetation

This is a low-growing, rather sparsely vegetated community with Racomitrium lanuginosum often the only plentiful

species. Growing alongside the mounds of this moss are usually found sprigs of Vaccinium myrtillus and Calluna vulgaris,

and a few tufts of Agrostis capillaris, Festuca vivipara and Deschampsia flexuosa, together with some prostrate shoots of

Galium saxatile. The other typical members of the bryophyte layer are Hypnum jutlandicum, Diplophyllum albicans,

Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Scapania gracilis and Hylocomium splendens, but acrocarpous mosses such as Polytrichum alpinum,

Dicranum scoparium and Dicranella heteromalla are also frequent. Occasionally one will find here patches of Herbertus

aduncus or Carex bigelowii.

Ecology

This is a heath community of the highest mountain slopes, saddles, ridges and plateaux (mean altitude = 662 m, n = 68)

where there is high exposure. The substrate is usually very rocky with thin, acidic and infertile soils.

Sub-communities

Three sub-communities have been described for this community. The Hymenophyllum wilsonii – Bazzania tricrenata sub-

community (HE3Ei) is a liverwort-variant with Scapania gracilis, Pleurozia purpurea, Bazzania tricrenata, Herbertus

aduncus and Plagiochila spinulosa all constant, as are Saxifraga spathularis and Hymenophyllum wilsonii. The Carex

bigelowii – Salix herbacea sub-community (HE3Eii) is a very exposed community in which the titular arctic-alpines are

each frequent, with Potentilla erecta and Dicranella heteromalla constant and dense cushions of Armeria maritima

occasional. The third sub-community lacks any particular indicators and is referred to as the typical sub-community

(HE3Eiii).

Similar communities

The most similar community is HE3D Calluna vulgaris – Racomitrium lanuginosum heath which also occurs on exposed

ground in the mountains. That community, however, tends to occur at slightly lower altitudes, with Calluna vulgaris much

more abundant.

Records and distribution

Number of records (all)

Clearly assigned: 77

Transitional: 8

Total: 85 Number of records (mapped)

2001-2015: 58

1986-2000: 3

1971-1985: 10

Pre-1971: 11

Total: 82 Number of hectads (most recent records)

2001-2015: 16

1986-2000: 3

1971-1985 2

Pre-1971: 1

Total: 22 Number of hectads (all mapped records)

2001-2015: 16

1986-2000: 3

1971-1985 4

Pre-1971: 4

Affinities

GHI: HH4 Montane heath

ZM: LOI-01A Loiseleurio procumbentis – Vaccinion Br.-Bl in Br.-Bl. et Jenny 1926

EUNIS: F2.251 Hiberno-Scotian dwarf mountain heaths

NVC: H20 Vaccinium myrtillus – Racomitrium lanuginosum heath (56.7%)

Annex I: 4060 Alpine and subalpine heath

Proxy environmental data

Light: 6.5 Reaction: 2.4 Wetness: 5.3 Fertility: 1.9 Salinity: 0.1

Conservation value

Almost all of the examples of this vegetation qualify as EU Annex I habitat 4060 Alpine and subalpine heath. This is on

average a moderately species-rich heath community (species/4 m2 = 22.9, n = 62).

Management

These heaths, which often form parts of commonages, may be used as rough grazing land (typically for sheep) and

overgrazing can be a problem. Climate change threatens arctic-alpine species which are restricted to montane

communities such as this.

Key references

Perrin, P.M., Barron, S.J., Roche, J.R. & O’Hanrahan, B. (2014) Guidelines for a national survey and conservation assessment

of upland vegetation and habitats in Ireland. Irish Wildlife Manuals, No. 79. National Parks and Wildlife Service,

Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

Synopsis version: V1.0 Synopsis date: November 2017 Synopsis author(s): P.M. Perrin

Synoptic table (n = 71) Species Frequency Cover Species Frequency Cover

(from I-V) min (med) max (from I-V) min (med) max

Racomitrium lanuginosum V 2-(7)-9 Pleurozia purpurea II 2-(3)-5

Vaccinium myrtillus V 2-(3)-9 Cladonia subcervicornis II 2-(2)-3

Hypnum jutlandicum V +-(2)-5 Hymenophyllum wilsonii II +-(3)-7

Agrostis capillaris V +-(3)-7 Saxifraga spathularis II 2-(2)-5

Diplophyllum albicans V +-(2)-5 Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus II +-(2)-5

Festuca vivipara V 2-(3)-5 Bazzania tricrenata II 2-(3)-7

Galium saxatile V 1-(2)-5 Luzula sylvatica II 1-(2)-7

Calluna vulgaris IV 2-(3)-8 Huperzia selago II 1-(2)-3

Rhytidiadelphus loreus IV 2-(3)-7 Empetrum nigrum II 2-(3)-5

Hylocomium splendens IV +-(2)-5 Carex bigelowii II 2-(3)-9

Deschampsia flexuosa IV +-(3)-5 Herbertus aduncus II 1-(3)-8

Scapania gracilis IV +-(2)-5 Agrostis canina/vinealis II 2-(3)-5

Lophozia ventricosa III +-(2)-3 Cladonia portentosa I 2-(2)-2

Polytrichum alpinum III 2-(3)-5 Carex binervis I 2-(2)-4

Dicranum scoparium III +-(2)-3 Plagiochila spinulosa I 2-(2)-3

Dicranella heteromalla III 2-(2)-5 Plagiothecium undulatum I 2-(2)-5

Cladonia uncialis III +-(2)-3 Andreaea rothii I 2-(2)-2

Potentilla erecta III +-(2)-2 Anthoxanthum odoratum I 2-(3)-5

Pleurozium schreberi III 1-(2)-5 Poa pratensis agg. I 2-(2)-7

Campylopus flexuosus II +-(2)-3 Armeria maritima I 2-(3)-5

Photo 1. HE3E Racomitrium lanuginosum – Festuca vivipara heath, Killelton, Slieve Mish Mountains, Kerry

(P. Perrin, June 2014)

Photo 2. HE3E Racomitrium lanuginosum – Festuca vivipara heath, Knocknagalty, Galtee Mountains, Limerick

(J. Fuller/P. Perrin, September 2011)