British NVC community SD12

NVC community SD12 (Carex arenaria - Festuca ovina - Agrostis capillaris dune grassland) is one of the 16 sand-dune communities in the British National Vegetation Classification system.

It is one of four communities associated with fixed dunes.

It is a very localised community. There are two subcommunities.

Community composition

The following constant species are found in this community:

• Common Bent (Agrostis capillaris)
• Marram (Ammophila arenaria)
• Sand Sedge (Carex arenaria)
• Sheep's Fescue (Festuca ovina)
• Smooth Meadow-grass (Poa pratensis)

The following rare species is also associated with the community:

• Purple Milk-vetch (Astragalus danicus)

Distribution

This community is found in five coastal localities - one in northeast Scotland, two in southwest Scotland, one in Cumbria and one in Wales.

Subcommunities

There are two subcommunities:

• the Anthoxanthaum odoratum subcommunity
• the Holcus lanatus subcommunity

References

• Rodwell, J. S. (2000) British Plant Communities Volume 5 - Maritime communities and vegetation of open habitats ISBN 0-521-39167-9 (hardback), ISBN 0-521-64476-3 (paperback)