List of constant species in the British National Vegetation Classification
The following is a list of vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens which are constant species in one or more community of the British National Vegetation Classification system.
Vascular plants
Grasses
English name |
Scientific name |
Communities |
Brown Bent |
Agrostis vinealis |
H6 |
Common Bent |
Agrostis capillaris |
MG3, MG5, SD12, CG10, W11 |
Bristle Bent |
Agrostis curtisii |
H3, H4 |
Creeping Bent |
Agrostis stolonifera |
MG10, MG11, MG12, MG13, MC10, SD17 |
Marsh Foxtail |
Alopecurus geniculatus |
MG13 |
Meadow Foxtail |
Alopecurus pratensis |
MG4 |
Marram |
Ammophila arenaria |
SD12, SD19 |
Sweet Vernal-grass |
Anthoxanthum odoratum |
MG3, MG5, MG8, W11 |
False Oat-grass |
Arrhenatherum elatius |
MG1, MG2 |
Meadow Oat-grass |
Avenula pratensis |
CG2, CG6 |
Downy Oat-grass |
Avenula pubescens |
CG6 |
Tor-grass |
Brachypodium pinnatum |
CG4, CG5 |
Quaking Grass |
Briza media |
CG2, CG5 |
Upright Brome |
Bromus erectus |
CG3, CG5 |
Crested Dog's-tail |
Cynosurus cristatus |
MG4, MG5, MG6, MG8 |
Cock's-foot |
Dactylis glomerata |
MG3, MG5, MG1, MG2, MC4, CG1 |
Tufted Hair-grass |
Deschampsia cespitosa ssp. cespitosa |
MG9, H21 |
Wavy Hair-grass |
Deschampsia flexuosa |
H2, W11, H9, H12, H14, H15, H16, H17, H18, H19, H20, H22 |
Smooth Finger-grass |
Digitaria ischaemum |
OV5 |
Sea Couch |
Elymus pycnanthus |
SM24 |
Common Couch |
Elytrigia repens |
OV5 |
Tall Fescue |
Festuca arundinacea |
MG12 |
Sheep's Fescue |
Festuca ovina |
H1, H5, H7, H20, CG1, CG2, CG3, CG4, CG5, CG7, U6, SD12, CG10 |
Red Fescue |
Festuca rubra |
MG2, MG3, MG4, MG5, MG6, MG8, MG11, MG12, MC1, MC2, MC3, MC4, MC5, MC6, MC10, CG6, CG10, SD19, MC12 |
Viviparous Fescue |
Festuca vivipara |
H20 |
Yorkshire-fog |
Holcus lanatus |
MG3, MG4, MG5, MG6, MG8, MG9, MG10, H7, MC12 |
Creeping Soft-grass |
Holcus mollis |
W11 |
Crested Hair-grass |
Koeleria macrantha |
CG2 |
Perennial Rye-grass |
Lolium perenne |
MG4, MG6 |
Purple Moor-grass |
Molinia caerulea |
H3, H4, H5 |
Common Reed |
Phragmites australis |
W2 |
Annual Meadow-grass |
Poa annua |
OV4, OV5, OV20 |
Smooth Meadow-grass |
Poa pratensis |
SD12 |
MG3, Rough Meadow-grass |
Poa trivialis |
MG2, MG8 |
Sand Cat's-tail |
Phleum arenarium |
SD19 |
Common Saltmarsh-grass |
Puccinellia maritima |
SM10 |
Sedges and rushes
English name |
Scientific name |
Communities |
Sand Sedge |
Carex arenaria |
SD11, SD12, SD19, H11 |
Stiff Sedge |
Carex bigelowii |
H19, H20 |
Tufted Sedge |
Carex elata |
S1 |
Glaucous Sedge |
Carex flacca |
CG2, CG3, CG4, CG5, H6 |
Common Sedge |
Carex nigra |
SD17 |
Flea Sedge |
Carex pulicaris |
H5 |
Bottle Sedge |
Carex rostrata |
W3, M4 |
Deergrass |
Cirpus cespitosus |
H15 |
Common Cottongrass |
Eriophorum angustifolium |
M1, M2, M3, M20 |
Hare's-tail Cottongrass |
Eriophorum vaginatum |
M20 |
Soft Rush |
Juncus effusus |
MG10 |
Heath Rush |
Juncus squarrosus |
U6 |
Black Bog-rush |
Schoenus nigricans |
H5 |
Trees
English name |
Scientific name |
Communities |
Field Maple |
Acer campestre |
W8 |
Alder |
Alnus glutinosa |
W5, W6, W7 |
Silver Birch |
Betula pendula |
W11 |
Downy Birch |
Betula pubescens |
W2, W4, W11 |
Hazel |
Corylus avellana |
W8, W9 |
Ash |
Fraxinus excelsior |
W8, W9 |
Juniper |
Juniperus communis |
W19 |
Alpine Juniper |
Juniperus communis ssp. nana |
H15 |
Scots Pine |
Pinus sylvestris |
W18 |
English Oak |
Quercus robur |
W10 |
Sessile Oak |
Quercus petraea |
W11, W17 |
Grey Willow |
Salix cinerea |
W1, W2, W3 |
Bay Willow |
Salix pentandra |
W3 |
Yew |
Taxus baccata |
W13 |
Other dicotyledons
English name |
Scientific name |
Communities |
A lady's-mantle |
Alchemilla glabra |
MG3 |
Bog pimpernel |
Anagallis tenella |
H5 |
Wild Angelica |
Angelica sylvestris |
W3, MG2 |
Alpine bearberry |
Arctostaphylos alpinu |
H17 |
Bearberry |
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi |
H16 |
Thyme-leaved Sandwort |
Arenaria serpyllifolia |
SD19 |
Thrift |
Armeria maritima |
MC1, MC2, MC3, MC5 |
Spear-leaved Orache |
Atriplex prostata agg. |
MC6 |
Sea Beet |
Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima |
MC6 |
Wild Cabbage |
Brassica oleracea |
MC4 |
Sea Rocket |
Cakile maritima |
SD2 |
Heather |
Calluna vulgaris |
H1, H2, H3, H4, H7, H8, H9, H10, H11, H12, H13, H14, H15, H16, H17, H21, H22 |
Marsh-marigold |
Caltha palustris |
W3, MG8 |
Harebell |
Campanula rotundifolia |
CG10 |
Cuckooflower |
Cardamine pratensis |
W3 |
Carline Thistle |
Carlina vulgaris |
CG1 |
Black Knapweed |
Centaurea nigra |
MG5 |
Sea Mouse-ear |
Cerastium diffusum ssp. diffusum |
MC5 |
Common Mouse-ear |
Cerastium fontanum |
MG3, MG4, MG6, MG8 |
Corn Marigold |
Chrysanthemum segetum |
OV4 |
Pignut |
Conopodium majus |
MG3 |
Dwarf cornel |
Cornus suecica |
H22 |
Smooth Hawk's-beard |
Crepis capillaris |
OV5 |
Rock Samphire |
Crithmum maritimum |
MC1 |
Crosswort |
Cruciata laevipes |
MG2 |
Ivy-leaved Toadflax |
Cymbalaria muralis |
OV42 |
Sea Carrot |
Daucus carota ssp. gummifer |
MC4 |
Round-leaved Sundew |
Drosera rotundifolia |
M2 |
Crowberry |
Empetrum nigrum ssp nigrum |
H13 |
Mountain Crowberry |
Empetrum nigrum ssp hermaphroditum |
H20, H22 |
Broad-leaved Willowherb |
Epilobium montanum |
MG2 |
Bell Heather |
Erica cinerea |
H2, H3, H4, H6, H7, H8, H10, H15, H16 |
Cross-leaved Heath |
Erica tetralix |
M2, H3, H4, H5 |
Cornish Heath |
Erica vagans |
H5, H6 |
Common Stork's-bill |
Erodium cicutarium |
OV5 |
Meadowsweet |
Filipendula ulmaria |
W3, MG4, MG2, H6 |
Cleavers |
Galium aparine |
SD3 |
Common Marsh-bedstraw |
Galium palustre |
W1, W3 |
Heath Bedstraw |
Galium saxatile |
W11, H18, H20, |
Dove's-foot Crane's-bill |
Geranium molle |
OV5 |
Wood Crane's-bill |
Geranium sylvaticum |
MG3 |
Water Avens |
Geum rivale |
MG2, W3 |
Yellow Horned-poppy |
Glaucium flavum |
SD1 |
Common Rock-rose |
Helianthemum nummularium |
CG5 |
Common Hogweed |
Heracleum sphondylium |
MG2 |
Mouse-ear Hawkweed |
Hieracium pilosella |
CG1, CG2, CG5, CG7 |
Sea Sandwort |
Honkenya peploides |
SD2 |
Common Cat's-ear |
Hypochaeris radicata |
H7 |
Meadow Vetchling |
Lathyrus pratensis |
MG4 |
Autumn Hawkbit |
Leontodon autumnalis |
MG4, MG8 |
Rough Hawkbit |
Leontodon hispidus |
CG2, CG5, CG7 |
Scots Lovage |
Ligusticum scoticum |
MC2 |
Fairy Flax |
Linum catharticum |
CG2 |
Honeysuckle |
Lonicera periclymenum |
W10 |
Bird's-foot Trefoil |
Lotus corniculatus |
MG5, CG1, CG2, CG3, CG5, CG6, H7 |
Sea Mayweed |
Matricaria maritima |
MC6, SD3 |
Bogbean |
Menyanthes trifoliata |
M1 |
Dog's Mercury |
Mercurialis perennis |
MG2, W8, W9 |
Wood-sorrel |
Oxalis acetosella |
W9, W11 |
Pellitory-of-the-wall |
Parietaria diffusa |
OV41 |
Buck's-horn Plantain |
Plantago coronopus) |
MC5, MC10 |
Ribwort Plantain |
Plantago lanceolata |
MG3, MG4, MG5, CG1, CG2, CG3, H7, MC10, CG10 |
Sea Plantain |
Plantago maritima |
H7, MC10 |
Knotgrass |
Polygonum aviculare |
OV4 |
Silverweed |
Potentilla anserina |
MG11, SD17 |
Tormentil |
Potentilla erecta |
W11, H4, H5, H7, CG10, H10, H15, H21 |
Self-heal |
Prunella vulgaris |
CG10 |
Meadow Buttercup |
Ranunculus acris |
MG3, MG4, MG8 |
Creeping Buttercup |
Ranunculus repens |
MG10 |
Roseroot |
Rhodiola rosea |
MC3 |
Cloudberry |
Rubus chamaemorus |
H22 |
Bramble |
Rubus fruticosus agg. |
W8, W10 |
Common Sorrel |
Rumex acetosa |
MG3, MG4, MG8, MC3, MC12 |
Curled Dock |
Rumex crispus |
SD1 |
Procumbent Pearlwort |
Sagina procumbens |
OV20 |
annual species of glasswort |
Salicornia spp. |
SM10 |
Salad Burnet |
Sanguisorba minor |
CG1, CG2, CG3, CG5 |
Great Burnet |
Sanguisorba officinalis) |
MG3, MG4 |
Small Scabious |
Scabiosa columbaria |
CG2 |
Biting Stonecrop |
Sedum acre |
MC5 |
English Stonecrop |
Sedum anglicum |
MC5 |
Groundsel |
Senecio vulgaris |
OV5 |
Saw-wort |
Serratula tinctoria |
H5 |
Red Campion |
Silene dioica |
MG2 |
Corn Spurrey |
Spergula arvensis |
OV4, OV5 |
Greater Sea-spurrey |
Spergularia rupicola |
MC1 |
Common Chickweed |
Stellaria media |
MC7, OV5 |
Annual Sea-blite |
Suaeda maritima |
SM10 |
Devil's-bit Scabious |
Succisa pratensis |
H5 |
Dandelion |
Taraxacum officinale agg. |
MG4, CG6 |
Wild Thyme |
Thymus praecox |
CG1, CG2, CG5, CG7, H7, CG10 |
Large Thyme |
Thymus pulegioides |
CG7 |
Red Clover |
Trifolium pratense) |
MG4, MG5 |
White Clover |
Trifolium repens) |
MG3, MG4, MG5, MG6, MG8 |
Common Gorse |
Ulex europaeus |
H6 |
Western Gorse |
Ulex gallii |
H4, H5, H6, H8 |
Dwarf Gorse |
Ulex minor |
H2, H3 |
Stinging Nettle |
Urtica dioica |
MG2 |
Bilberry |
Vaccinium myrtillus |
H12, H18, H19, H20, H21, H22 |
Cowberry |
Vaccinium vitis-idaea |
H16, H19, H22 |
Marsh Valerian |
Valeriana dioica |
W3 |
Common Valerian |
Valeriana officinalis |
MG2 |
Common Dog-violet |
Viola riviniana |
W9, W11, H6, CG10 |
Other monocotyledons
English name |
Scientific name |
Communities |
Bluebell |
Hyacinthoides non-scripta |
MC12 |
Broad-leaved Pondweed |
Potamogeton natans |
A9 |
Spring Squill |
Scilla verna |
H7 |
Narrow-leaved Eelgrass |
Zostera angustifolia |
SM1 |
Eelgrass |
Zostera marina |
SM1 |
Dwarf Eelgrass |
Zostera noltei |
SM1 |
Ferns
English name |
Scientific name |
Communities |
Wall-rue |
Asplenium ruta-muraria |
OV39 |
Maidenhair Spleenwort |
Asplenium trichomanes |
OV39 |
Hard fern |
Blechnum spicant |
H21 |
Male Fern |
Dryopteris filix-mas |
W9, MG2 |
Bracken |
Pteridium aquilinum |
W10, W11 |
Clubmosses
English name |
Scientific name |
Communities |
Fir clubmoss |
Huperzia selago |
H17 |
Bryophytes
Mosses
English name |
Scientific name |
Communities |
Pointed Spear-moss |
Calliergon cuspidatum |
W3, SD17 |
Yellow Starry Feather-moss |
Campylium stellatum |
H5 |
Broom Fork-moss |
Dicranum scoparium sensu lato |
H1, H12, H16, H18, H21, H22 |
Common Feather-moss |
Eurhynchium praelongum |
W8, W9 |
Common Striated Feather-moss |
Eurhynchium striatum |
W9 |
Swartz's Feather-moss |
Eurhynchium swartzii |
MG2 |
Silky Wall Feather-moss |
Homalothecium sericeum |
OV39 |
Glittering Wood-moss |
Hylocomium splendens |
CG10, W11, H16, H20, H21, H22 |
Cypress-leaved Plait-moss and allied species |
Hypnum cupressiforme sensu lato |
H1, CG7, H14, H15, H21 |
Heath Plait-moss |
Hypnum jutlandicum |
H12, H16 |
Swan's-neck Thyme-moss |
Mnium hornum |
W3 |
Hart's-tongue Thyme-moss |
Plagiomnium undulatum |
MG2, W9 |
Dented Silk-moss |
Plagiothecium denticulatum |
MG2 |
Waved Silk-moss |
Plagiothecium undulatum |
H21 |
Pleurozium schreberi |
Pleurozium schreberi |
H12, H16, H18, H20, H21, H22 |
Nodding Thread-moss |
Pohlia nutans |
H9 |
Common Haircap |
Polytrichum commune |
M4, U6 |
Neat Feather-moss |
Pseudoscleropodium purum |
W11, CG6 |
Woolly Fringe-moss |
Racomitrium lanuginosum |
H13, H14, H15, H17, H19, H20 |
Little Shaggy-moss |
Rhytidiadelphus loreus |
H20, H21, H22 |
Springy Turf-moss |
Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus |
W11 |
Dotted Thyme-moss |
Rhizomnium punctatum |
W3 |
Seaside Grimmia |
Schistidium maritimum |
MC2 |
Cow-horn Bog-moss |
Sphagnum auriculatum |
M1 |
Acute-leaved bog-moss |
Sphagnum capillifolium |
H21, H22 |
Feathery Bog-moss |
Sphagnum cuspidatum |
M1, M2, M4 |
Flat-topped / Flexuous Bog-mosses |
Sphagnum recurvum |
M2, M4 |
Common Tamarisk-moss |
Thuidium tamariscinum |
W9, W11 |
Liverworts
English name |
Scientific name |
Communities |
Bifid Crestwort |
Lophocolea bidentata sensu lato |
MG2, U6 |
Purple spoonwort |
Pleurozia purpurea |
H15 |
Wall Scalewort |
Porella platyphylla |
OV39 |
Lichens
English name |
Scientific name |
Communities |
Alectoria nigricans |
Alectoria nigricans |
H13 |
Iceland moss |
Cetraria islandica |
H13, H19 |
Cladonia arbuscula |
Cladonia arbuscula |
H13, H14, H17, H19, H22 |
Cladonia impexa |
Cladonia impexa |
H16 |
Reindeer lichen |
Cladonia rangiferina |
H13 |
Cladonia uncialis |
Cladonia uncialis |
H15, H17, H19, H20 |
Cornicularia aculeata |
Cornicularia aculeata |
SD11, H13 |