BG2F Trichophorum cespitosum/germanicum – Eriophorum angustifolium peatland
Vegetation
Trichophorum cespitosum/germanicum is the main component of this community, forming large wefts of mottled brown stems later in the year. Calluna vulgaris and Erica tetralix form the patchy dwarf shrub layer. Other constants are Eriophorum angustifolium, Molinia caerulea, Potentilla erecta and Narthecium ossifragum. In the bryophyte layer, cushions of Racomitrium lanuginosum are the most regular feature but it tends not to dominate and is frequently joined by Sphagnum tenellum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum papillosum, Hypnum jutlandicum and Pleurozia purpurea. Further investigation amongst these plants will often yield some diminutive strands of Odontoschisma sphagni and Diplophyllum albicans. Several other species of sphagna are occasional.
Ecology
This is a community of upland peatlands (mean altitude 367 m, n = 125; mean slope = 5.3°, n = 116) occurring on wet, acidic and infertile peats. Mainly these are the deep, ombrogenous peats of upland blanket bog, but this vegetation also occurs on shallower soils as wet heath. Mean extent of bare peat = 5.2%, n = 127.
Sub-communities
No sub-communities have been described for this community.
Similar communities
In no other community does Trichophorum attain such dominance. In the HE4A Molinia caerulea – Trichophorum cespitosum/germanicum peatland, Molinia caerulea tends to be more abundant than in the present community and Eriophorum angustifolium is much less frequent. In the HE2E Calluna vulgaris – Trichophorum cespitosum/germanicum heath, Calluna vulgaris is more abundant and there is less cover of Sphagnum species.
Conservation value
This is on average a species-rich community (species/4 m2 = 19.2, n = 152). Most vegetation samples assigned to this community qualify as EU HD Annex I habitat 7130 Blanket bog (active)*, but some examples from shallower soils could be regarded as habitat 4010 Wet heath.
Management
These bogs are used as rough grazing land, typically for sheep, and often occur within commonages. The main threats are overgrazing, erosion, burning and afforestation. Turf-cutting and drainage may also occur on deeper peat.