- Source: British NVC community MG3
British NVC community MG3 (Anthoxanthum odoratum - Geranium sylvaticum grassland) is one of the mesotrophic grassland communities in the British National Vegetation Classification system. It is one of four such communities associated with well-drained permanent pastures and meadows.
This community is a localised community of northern England. There are three subcommunities.
Community composition
The following constant species are found in this community:
Common Bent (Agrostris capillaris)
The lady's-mantle (Alchemilla glabra)
Sweet Vernal-grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum)
Common Mouse-ear (Cerastium fontanum)
Pignut (Conopodium majus)
Cock's-foot (Dactylis glomerata)
Red Fescue (Festuca rubra)
Wood Crane's-bill (Geranium sylvaticum)
Yorkshire-fog (Holcus lanatus)
Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata)
Rough Meadow-grass (Poa trivialis)
Meadow Buttercup (Ranunculus acris)
Common Sorrel (Rumex acetosa)
Great Burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis)
White Clover (Trifolium repens)
Five rare species of lady's-mantle Alchemilla are associated with this community: A. acutiloba, A. glomerulans, A. monticola, A. subcrenata and A. wichurae.
Distribution
This community, although widespread in the past, is now almost confined to a few upland valleys in County Durham, North Yorkshire and Cumbria.
Subcommunities
There are three subcommunities:
the Bromus hordaceus ssp. hordaceus subcommunity
the Briza media subcommunity
the Arrhenatherum elatius subcommunity
References
Rodwell, J. S. (1992) British Plant Communities Volume 3 - Grasslands and montane communities ISBN 0-521-39166-0 (hardback), ISBN 0-521-62719-2 (paperback)