British NVC community MG5 (''
Cynosurus cristatus -
Centaurea nigra
''Centaurea nigra'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common names lesser knapweed, common knapweed and black knapweed. A local vernacular name is hardheads.
It is native to Europe but it is known on other ...
'' grassland) is one of the
mesotrophic grassland communities
A community is a Level of analysis, social unit (a group of living things) with commonality such as place (geography), place, Norm (social), norms, religion, values, Convention (norm), customs, or Identity (social science), identity. Communiti ...
in the
British National Vegetation Classification
__NOTOC__
The British National Vegetation Classification or NVC is a system of classifying natural habitat types in Great Britain according to the vegetation they contain.
A large scientific meeting of ecologists, botanists, and other related pr ...
system. It is one of four such communities associated with well-drained permanent pastures and meadows.
This community is widely distributed community though common only in certain regions. There are three
subcommunities.
This type of
plant community was described in 1952 as Centaureo-Cynosuretum cristati
Br.-Bl. & Tx..
Community composition
The following
constant species are found in this community:
*
Common Bent (''
Agrostis
''Agrostis'' (bent or bentgrass) is a large and very nearly cosmopolitan genus of plants in the grass family, found in nearly all the countries in the world. It has been bred as a GMO creeping bent grass.
Species
* '' Agrostis aequivalvi'' ...
capillaris'')
*
Sweet Vernal-grass (''Anthoxanthum odoratum'')
*
Black Knapweed
''Centaurea nigra'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common names lesser knapweed, common knapweed and black knapweed. A local vernacular name is hardheads.
It is native to Europe but it is known on other ...
(''
Centaurea nigra'')
*
Crested Dog's-tail (''Cynosurus cristatus'')
*
Cock's-foot (''Dactylis glomerata'')
*
Red Fescue (''Festuca rubra'')
*
Yorkshire-fog (''Holcus lanatus'')
*
Common Bird's-foot Trefoil (''Lotus corniculatus'')
*
Ribwort Plantain (''Plantago lanceolata'')
*
Red Clover (''Trifolium pratense'')
*
White Clover (''Trifolium repens'')
One
rare species,
Tuberous Thistle (''Cirsium tuberosum''), is associated with this community.
Distribution
This community is widespread in lowland areas in England, Wales and Scotland, but its abundance varies between regions. It is uncommon in southern England and East Anglia, for instance, but strong concentrations occur in the Midlands and Yorkshire.
Subcommunities
There are three
subcommunities:
* the ''Lathyrus pratensis'' subcommunity
* the ''Galium verum'' subcommunity
* the ''Danthonia decumbens'' subcommunity
References
*
Rodwell, J. S.
John S. Rodwell (1946 – present) is an ecologist who was based at the University of Lancaster, noted for his role in the development of the British National Vegetation Classification and as editor of the five volumes of ''British Plant Commu ...
(1992) ''
British Plant Communities Volume 3 - Grasslands and montane communities'' (hardback), (paperback)
* National Vegetation Classification: MG5 grassland, by
Natural England, 2 April 2013, downloadable from websit
here{{NVC-MG
MG05