British NVC community OV18 (''Polygonum aviculare'' - ''Chamomilla suavolens'' community) is one of the
open habitat 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 six communities characteristic of gateways, tracksides and courtyards.
This community is found throughout the lowlands and upland fringes of Britain on loamy and sandy soils that are disturbed or moderately trampled.
There are two
subcommunities.
Community composition
The following
constant species are found in this community:
* Shepherd's-purse (''
Capsella bursa-pastoris'')
* Scented mayweed (''
Matricaria chamomilla
''Matricaria chamomilla'' (synonym: ''Matricaria recutita''), commonly known as chamomile (also spelled camomile), German chamomile, Hungarian chamomile (kamilla), wild chamomile, blue chamomile, or scented mayweed, is an annual plant of the com ...
) (
syn.
The Botanical and Zoological Codes of nomenclature treat the concept of synonymy differently.
* In botanical nomenclature, a synonym is a scientific name that applies to a taxon that (now) goes by a different scientific name. For example, Linnae ...
Chamomilla suavolens'')
* Perennial rye-grass (''
Lolium perenne'')
* Annual meadow-grass (''
Poa annua'')
* Knotgrass (''
Polygonum aviculare'')
There are no
rare species associated with the community.
Distribution
This ephemeral community is widely distributed throughout the lowlands and upland fringes of Britain. It occurs on loamy and sandy soils that are subjected to disturbance and moderate trampling, such as around tracks and gateways on agricultural land, on wasteland, and in recreational areas. Where trampling is heavier, it is replaced by the ''Poa annua'' - ''Plantago major'' community,
OV21.
Subcommunities
There are two
subcommunities:
* the ''Sisymbrium officinale - Polygonum arenastrum'' subcommunity
* the ''Plantago major'' subcommunity
References
{{NVC-OV
OV18