Synonymy

Carex hostiana-C. demissa nodum Poore 1955b; Carex demissa-C. panicea nodum Poore 19556 p.p.; Flush vegetation Holdgate 1955a p.p.; Turfy marshes Pigott 1956a; Gravel flushes Pigott 1956«; Calcareous marsh Sinker 1960; Carex panicea-Campylium stellatum nodum McVean & Ratcliffe 1962; Schoenus nigricans provisional nodum McVean & Ratcliffe 1962 p.p.; Kobresieto-Caricetum Ratcliffe 1965 p.p.; Gymnostometo-Caricetum Ratcliffe 1965; Caricetum lepidocarpae-hostianae Shimwell 1968a; Carex panicea-Campylium stellatum Association Birks 1973; Eriophorum latifolium-Carex hostiana Association Birks 1973; Schoenus nigricans Association Birks 1973 p.p.; Pinguiculo-Caricetum dioicae Jones 1973 p.p.; Carex fens Proctor 1974 p.p.; Pinguiculo-Caricetum dioicae Jones 1973 emend. Wheeler 1975; Schoenus nigricans Community Birse & Robertson 1976; Caricetum hostiano-pulicaris (Birse & Robertson 1976) Birse 1980; Carici dioicae-Eleocharitetum quinqueflorae (Birse & Robertson 1976) Birse 1980p.p.; Anagallis tenella-Equisetum variegatum Association Birse 1980; Campylio-Caricetum dioicae Dierssen 1982; Eleocharitetum quinqueflorae Dierssen 1982; Schoenus ferrugineus stands Wheeler et al. 1983 p.p.

Constant species

Carex dioica, C. hostiana, C. lepidocarpa, C. panicea, C. pulicaris, Eriophorum angustifolium, Juncus articulatus, Pinguicula vulgaris, Aneura pinguis, Bryum pseudotriquetrum, Campylium stellatum, Ctenidium molluscum, Drepanocladus revolvens.

Rare species

Bartsia alpina, Carex capillaris, Equisetum variegatum, Juncus alpinus, Kobresia simpliciuscula, Minuartia stricta, M. verna, Primula farinosa, Schoenus ferrugineus, Sesleria albicans.

Physiognomy

The Pinguiculo-Caricetum dioicae includes some of the most distinctive of our more calcicolous flush vegetation in which small sedges, dicotyledons and bryophytes predominate, usually forming the bulk of a short sward, often hummocky and open. Although there is a strong contingent of constant species, the community is very variable in its composition, showing some marked differences in the proportions of its more frequent species and in the representation of groups of plants preferential to particular habitats or regions. And, where certain of these species are abundant, they can have a striking effect on the physiognomy of the vegetation. The habitat conditions, too, can have a marked influence on the appearance of the community. Most stands are grazed and the herbage is accordingly often cropped very short; where herbivore pressure is not so high, the vegetation can have a more luxuriant look, hemicryptophyte dicotyledons especially making an obvious contribution.