Synonymy

Dune grassland Pearsall 1934; Dune pasture Gimingham 1964a p.p.; Astragalo-Festucetum arenariae Birse 1980 p.p.

Constant species

Agrostis capillaris, Ammophila arenaria, Carex arenaria, Festuca ovina, Poa pratensis.

Rare species

Astragalus danicus.

Physiognomy

The Carex arenaria-Festuca ovina-Agrostis capillaris community comprises short, generally closed swards dominated by various mixtures of Carex arenaria and a number of grasses, of which Festuca ovina, Agrostis capillaris and Poa pratensis s. l. are the most frequent and abundant. F. rubra also occurs quite commonly, and Anthoxanthum odoratum, Luzula campestris and Holcus lanatus are variously represented in the different sub-communities, with Koeleria macrantha occasional. Ammophila arenaria persists at high frequency, too, though it hardly ever shows any vigour, being usually reduced to sparse and debilitated shoots.

Dicotyledonous herbs are rather few in number, but the assemblage is distinctive, with Galium saxatile, Lotus corniculatus, Galium verum, Cerastium fontanum and Rumex acetosella occasional to frequent throughout. In some stands, Hypochoeris radicata, Thymus praecox and Hieracium pilosella become more common, with Campanula rotundifolia, Viola riviniana and Achillea millefolium occurring more often in others. Compared with more open dune swards, however, ephemeral plants are noticeably scarce. There are very occasionally some scattered bushes of Calluna vulgaris, frequently nibbled down, but any increase in the cover of ericoid sub-shrubs usually marks a transition to heath.

Bryophytes are fairly numerous and sometimes abundant in the sward and, though Dicranum scoparium is very common, it is bigger pleurocarps that are generally more obvious, with frequent records for Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Hylocomium splendens and Pleurozium schreberi and more occasional occurrences of Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus and Hypnum cupressiforme.